In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for the position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, just months after the idea was first floated.
The decision comes just days before crucial special elections in Florida, which have Republicans worried about the possibility of losing seats—even in strong Republican districts.
Stefanik Steps Back to Stay in the House
Semafor’s Burgess Everett confirmed that the White House had informed Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that Stefanik would no longer be nominated and would continue her role in the House of Representatives.
Stefanik had already given up her leadership position as chair of the House Republican Conference in anticipation of the ambassador role, according to reporter Reese Gorman. Now, she returns to Congress as a regular member.
“She would have been easily confirmed,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), expressing disappointment.
Trump: “We Must Keep Every Seat”
On Truth Social, Trump explained that the decision was all about preserving the GOP’s narrow majority in the House.
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” he posted. “There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations.”
His comments confirmed what many observers had already suspected—that the administration is increasingly worried about losing ground in upcoming elections.
Florida Special Elections Heighten GOP Anxiety
Two upcoming special elections in Florida’s 1st and 6th congressional districts are drawing national attention. While these are traditionally Republican strongholds, Democratic candidates are significantly out-raising their GOP opponents.
This financial edge has raised concerns that even deep-red seats might be at risk. As Jim Messina, former Obama campaign manager, noted, the move signals that Republicans are “freaking out” about potential upsets.
“They’re afraid of losing a special election in a +21 Trump district,” posted author Colin Dickey on Bluesky.
Critics Point to Broader Weaknesses
Political analysts and commentators say the decision reflects growing instability within the Trump administration’s political strategy. Some have tied it to the administration’s recent controversies, such as the Signal chat leak involving military plans.
Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen criticized the administration for dodging accountability while making desperate political moves.
“They could’ve fessed up about the Signal goof… but instead they’re pulling nominees because they know they’re losing ground,” he said.