Trump Asks Elise Stefanik To Stay In Congress Instead Of Becoming UN Ambassador | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON — Republicans have such a small majority within the House of Representatives that President Donald Trump has requested Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to remain within the House as an alternative of serving as ambassador to the United Nations.

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” Trump stated on Truth Social. “I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has repeatedly lamented that he has the narrowest House majority in historical past, making it tough to move laws with solely Republican votes — an crucial for signature payments, together with a significant tax and spending lower package deal Johnson hopes to move within the coming weeks.

Not lengthy after Trump tapped three House members for administration roles after successful the election in November, Johnson joked that he ought to lower it out. “I have begged and pleaded with the new president: Enough already, okay, because our numbers are small,” Johnson stated.

Republicans at the moment maintain 218 House seats to Democrats’ 213, with two vacancies on both sides. That means with full attendance, Johnson wants 216 votes for a majority, so he can lose solely two Republicans and nonetheless transfer partisan laws.

Stefanik continues to be a House member despite the fact that she already sat by a affirmation listening to and her nomination has been authorised by a Senate committee. Senate Republicans haven’t rushed to carry a closing affirmation vote, apparently in gentle of the House state of affairs. Trump tapped two different House Republicans for administration jobs: now-former Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), whose seats are nonetheless vacant.

The Stefanik change got here as a shock on Capitol Hill. Earlier on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated he was unaware of any choice to drag Stefanik’s nomination.

“I’ve not heard that, no,” Thune informed reporters Thursday.

House Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) famous that Trump gained Stefanik’s district by 21 factors in November.

“He withdrew her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador because the extremists are afraid they will lose the special election to replace her,” Jeffries stated. “The Republican agenda is extremely unpopular, they are crashing the economy in real time and House Republicans are running scared. What happened to their so-called mandate?”

Trump alluded to the potential issue of successful House races in his assertion.

“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day,” Trump wrote, including that Stefanik would return to her function on Johnson’s management group.