Nomination withdrawn over the Republican Party's narrow majority in House

ANI WASHINGTON

The White House has withdrawn the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the United Nations, citing concerns over the Republican Party's narrow majority in the House of Representatives. The decision, announced by President Donald Trump, aims to preserve stability in the GOP-controlled chamber, ensuring that the party maintains enough votes to pass key legislative initiatives, CNN reported.

Trump stated that Stefanik's nomination, which had been stalled for months, would no longer move forward due to the importance of preserving the slim Republican majority in the House. He emphasised that keeping Stefanik in Congress was crucial for advancing his policy agenda and avoiding the potential risk of a special election in her district. He also pointed to Stefanik's strong popularity among voters in her upstate New York district as a reason for the decision.

"The people love Elise, and with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The sudden withdrawal of Stefanik's nomination came as a surprise to many within the House Republican leadership and the New York congressional delegation. Lawmakers had already been discussing the logistics of a potential special election to fill her seat, and her nomination was widely expected to proceed.

Stefanik, who had previously served as the No. 3 House Republican, had stepped down from that leadership position last year in preparation for joining Trump's Cabinet.