Elise Stefanik, representative from New York, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 22, 2025, as part of her confirmation hearing for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump. During her testimony, she articulated her commitment to promoting what she termed an "America First" agenda, seeking to align the U.N. more closely with U.S. values, particularly against the backdrop of growing Chinese influence.
If confirmed, Stefanik pledged to be a vocal advocate for U.S. interests within the organization, which she believes often operates counter to American values. "I am committed to making sure Taiwan has the most maximum meaningful participation within the UN system, as it should be in all international organizations," she stated, emphasizing her commitment to ensuring the participation of Taiwan, which China seeks to isolate diplomatically.
Throughout the hearing, she faced questions from committee members about her strategies for reforming U.N. practices and addressing international conflicts, including those involving countries like Sudan and Syria. Stefanik maintained, "Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities... counter to American interests, antisemitic or engaging in fraud, corruption or terrorism," outlining her approach to reevaluated U.S. funding for U.N. programs.
Stefanik's comments highlighted her view of the U.N. as harboring what she described as "antisemitic rot," citing the disproportionate number of resolutions aimed at Israel compared to other nations. "If you look at the antisemitic rot within the United Nations, there are more resolutions targeting Israel than any other country, any other crisis combined," she said, projecting herself as a champion for Israel within the international arena.
Meanwhile, she reaffirmed the importance of maintaining U.S. military strength as part of her diplomatic approach. "Peace through strength" is her guiding principle, as she believes effective diplomacy must be backed by military readiness. Stefanik's tough stance on Iran also surfaced during the hearing, where she declared, "Pushing back on Iran is a top priority." She criticized the previous administration's approach, arguing it had emboldened Iran's aggressive activities.
During the session, Democrats expressed their concern about the ramifications of withdrawing U.S. funding from certain humanitarian initiatives, particularly those deemed counterproductive. For her part, Stefanik reiterated her commitment to ensuring U.S. funding serves American interests, indicating she would conduct thorough reviews to determine which U.N. programs merit support and which should be cut. This point sparked conversation among committee members about the potential impacts on global humanitarian efforts.
She indicated her intent to reform the U.N. from within rather than support withdrawal efforts, which have been echoed by some members of her political party. "We have to be vigilant both in the long-term and the short-term to make sure China is not able to make significant inroads ... in international organizations," she warned, affirming her active engagement strategy.
The stakes are high as the U.S. continuously navigates its relationship with the U.N. amid competing interests from global players. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) highlighted the importance of U.N. peacekeeping missions, arguing they serve American security interests by preventing conflicts from boiling over. Despite differing views on U.N. engagements, both parties recognize the importance of U.S. representation at the global table.
Stefanik's confirmation is expected to navigate the waters of partisan divisions, especially as she champions views strongly aligned with Trump's administration—namely pulling the U.S. from agreements such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords. Her testimony suggests she wishes to steer U.S. foreign policy with clarity and commitment to Trump's objectives, gaining support from those who endorse this pivot.
She received mixed responses from senators across the aisle, with support from some Republicans focusing on her strong positions against perceived foreign adversaries, like China's growing reach at the U.N. While her perspectives clearly align with conservative interests, how she will balance U.N. relations amid bipartisan expectations remains uncertain.
Elise Stefanik’s ambition to refine the U.N. aligns closely with the U.S.'s strategic interests on the global stage. This confirmation hearing not only seeks to establish her role as ambassador but also signals the potential refocusing of U.S. diplomacy under Trump's administration toward assertive and impactful representation.