The White House is narrowing its search for its next nominee for ambassador to the United Nations after withdrawing Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination to keep the New York Republican in the House.
According to a source involved in the process, the two top contenders under consideration are both first-term Trump administration officials: former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism Ellie Cohanim.
While Friedman likely did not need to undergo vetting due to his former high-profile role, Cohanim has undergone formal vetting, sources say.
President Donald Trump said more than 30 people are interested in the role he described as a“star-making” position while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. Trump said that Friedman and Richard Grenell, the envoy for special missions and acting director of the Kennedy Center, are possibilities.
Grenell said he was a “hard no” on taking the role during an interview with Newsmax last week.
“This is not something that I want to do. I’ve got plenty to do,” said Grenell. “I care very deeply, actually, about the U.N. But, you know, Elise Stefanik, let’s just say, she would have been amazing. She is smart and passionate about world affairs. I think she would have been amazing.”
Friedman is a longtime friend of Trump who was instrumental in helping to craft the Abraham Accords, moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and pushing for the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
According to sources, Trump’s closest advisors may be reluctant to support Friedman, out of fear that his longstanding relationship with the president could undermine their authority.
Friedman recently shared a story about Trump visiting him during a blizzard in 2005 to pay his respects after the former ambassador’s father died.
“Even people down the block people called up and said ‘we’re sorry we can’t make it,’” Friedman said in an interview. “Around 2:00 in the afternoon I see in my hallway a lot of flash pictures are being taken…and he came from Manhattan 3.5 hours in the car.”
During shiva for David Friedman’s father, US President Donald Trump braved the storm—showing true friendship and respect when it mattered most.
Watch David Friedman share this memory. 👇#OneJewishState #DavidFriedman #Trump @DavidM_Friedman @Now14Israel @Tamir114 pic.twitter.com/u1qqz1nTRZ
— One Jewish State (@onejewishstate) April 1, 2025
Additionally, sources say the relationship between Friedman and Trump took a slightly sour turn when Friedman criticized Trump for meeting with anti-Semite Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
Friedman praised Trump’s plan for the United States to take control of Gaza in February, which he said would create a “permanent monument to the failure of radical Islamism” if executed correctly.
Cohanim, who prides herself on being the first Iranian-born State Department envoy, was involved with the Trump campaign’s “Jewish Voices for Trump” coalition. Cohanim’s positions align with Trump including her opposition to the rise of anti-Semitism and her fierce opposition to the Iranian regime, which forced her family to flee during the 1979 revolution.
Cohanim, who was a broadcast journalist before joining the first Trump administration, helped craft anti-Semitism policy for the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America in her former position. She was a member of the Abraham Accords’ Warm Peace Team and traveled the Arab world to help with initiatives such as speaking at the reopening ceremony of Egypt’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Alexandria.
Trump’s picking Cohanim would be in line with his track record of nominating women to the role including former UN Ambassadors Nikki Haley and Kelly Craft.
Stefanik, who appeared for her confirmation hearing in January, had her nomination held up due to New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul reportedly slow-walking the election to replace the congresswoman as the GOP grappled with its narrow House majority. Trump announced the withdrawal of her nomination last week, calling Stefanik one of his “biggest Allies.”
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump said.”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.”
Friedman and Cohanim did not respond to a request for comment.
