Republicans in the GOP-led House are struggling to reach an agreement for the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap being considered for President Donald Trump&#8217;s &#8220;one big, beautiful bill.&#8221;
In the 389-page tax package <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-gets-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> on Monday, there was a provision to increase the SALT deduction cap to $30,000 for individuals earning $400,000 or less, up from the current $10,000 limit from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that is set to expire at the end of this year.
The House Ways and Means Committee advanced the tax measure in a 26-19 vote along party lines on Wednesday morning, but Republicans from high-tax blue states such as New York, New Jersey, and California are fighting for a higher ceiling.
After Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) posted on X a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-works-fry-cooker-at-mcdonalds-roasts-kamala-ive-now-worked-15-minutes-more-than-she-has" target="_blank" rel="noopener">photo</a> of Trump at McDonald&#8217;s and saying, &#8220;Thanks for playing, @WaysMeansCmte,&#8221; Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) <a href="https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replied</a>, &#8220;You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You forgot to add SALT with those fries, Chairman. 🧂 🍟 <a href="https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla">https://t.co/QhGAUZjxla</a>
— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) <a href="https://twitter.com/lawler4ny/status/1922652928638173652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
GOP lawmakers who want a SALT deduction cap increase have star power in Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who is considering a run for New York governor after Trump pulled her nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She joined other New York Republicans for a May 8 statement that <a href="https://x.com/theblaze/status/1922021280120766600" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> a flat $30,000 SALT deduction cap would not get their support.
&#8220;[It] risks derailing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; they said. &#8220;New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get back — unlike many so-called &#8216;low-tax&#8217; states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isn’t a luxury. It’s a matter of fairness. We reject this offer.&#8221;
Some House conservatives, who are focused on cutting how much the federal government spends and reining in a national debt that is approaching $37 trillion, have voiced reservations about the SALT deduction cap.
&#8220;The top Congressional districts taking advantage of SALT (State &amp; Local Tax) deductions (i.e., they have high state &amp; local taxes on high incomes. Mostly Dem, heavily CA, Swamp (MD, VA), &amp; NY,&#8221; Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) <a href="https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1917715364605223414" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on X last month. &#8220;In fairness, property taxes in TX are horrible, but we shouldn’t subsidize that either!&#8221;
Democrats are pushing in the opposite direction.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) <a href="https://x.com/hakeemjeffries/status/1920839627113480620" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> that he would rather not have a SALT deduction cap at all, as it was before the 2017 tax law, saying on X that Republicans &#8220;must now fully restore it or be completely exposed for their phony advocacy.&#8221;
The New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/05/14/us-news/house-lawmakers-debate-medicaid-reform-salt-deductions-caps-in-contentious-marathon-markup-sessions-for-trumps-big-beautiful-bill/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) offered an amendment to increase the SALT deduction cap to $80,000 and pay for it by raising the tax rate on top earners from 37% to 39.6%, but that proposal was rejected by the Ways and Means Committee.
Trump himself seems to be on board with a change.
During the 2024 campaign, Trump <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/17/trump-salt-tax-law.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on Truth Social that he would &#8220;get SALT back.&#8221; CNBC <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/12/salt-deduction-trumps-tax-cuts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> that after Trump began his second term, he told Fox News that he would &#8220;love to see something happen on SALT.&#8221;
Lawmakers will now have to negotiate a resolution before the tax package is added to other parts of the &#8220;one big, beautiful bill&#8221; and a final vote by the full House. Republicans have a <a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">220-213 majority</a>, meaning there can only be a few defectors for the bill to pass if all Democrats vote against it.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reportedly <a href="https://x.com/thehill/status/1922650573746082114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a> that Republicans would need until the weekend to reach a deal on SALT. He&#8217;s been gunning to have the House finish up with the overall spending bill by Memorial Day.
&#8220;We have a delicate balance to maintain to get 218 votes on one of the largest and most comprehensive and complex pieces of legislation that&#8217;s ever been drafted by Congress,&#8221; Johnson said, per a <a href="https://x.com/mychaelschnell/status/1922654897213673641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> on X from a congressional journalist. &#8220;So yeah, my concern is always the vote total, but I&#8217;m very confident that we&#8217;ll be able to deliver that.&#8221;

President Trump

This Tax Deduction Cap Threatens To Derail Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’

California

Chip Roy

Congress

Donald Trump

Elise Stefanik

New Jersey

New York

Politics

Spending Bill

Taxes

U.S. House of Representatives

On Wednesday, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has been the leader in Congress grilling university presidents about their failure to confront antisemitism on campus, took apart Haverford College President Wendy Raymond, who consistently evaded giving direct answers and referred to a cheat sheet she brought with her.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The president of Haverford showed up to a congressional hearing on antisemitism with flashcards of pre-written answers. 
Not convictions. Not moral clarity. 
Flashcards.
This is what higher ed leadership looks like now—scripted, spineless, and coached to the bone. <a href="https://t.co/WHb90uJv0h">https://t.co/WHb90uJv0h</a> <a href="https://t.co/hGbVOWmFXd">pic.twitter.com/hGbVOWmFXd</a>
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik/status/1920179928537985284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stefanik asked about a statement from a student group on Haverford’s campus which called for the “complete dismantling of the apartheid settler colonial state of Israel by all means necessary,” asking, “What does ‘by all means necessary’ mean to you?&#8221;
Raymond answered with a quote from her cheat sheet, replying, “Invoking that kind of terminology is repugnant.”
When Stefanik asked if any disciplinary action was taken, there was a long pause before Raymond started to repeat, “Those kinds of statements are” — then looked at her notes.
“I’m not asking you if they’re repugnant; I’m asking about the disciplinary action,” Stefanik stated. “You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken, if any suspension or expulsions. So I am asking you: Was there any disciplinary action taken?”
“Disciplinary action can include expulsion and —,” Raymond began.
“I’m not asking what it can include; I’m asking, was it taken?” Stefanik pressed.
“I will not be talking about individual cases here,” Raymond dodged.
Stefanik asked about a professor who had said in the wake of the murderous Hamas massacre of more than 1200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023, “We should never have to apologize for celebrating these scenes of an imprisoned people breaking free from their chains. This was a historic moment to be recorded in your history books.”
“Jewish students have reported that you said, ‘This post could be perceived in many ways.’ Does this post simply depend on the context President Raymond, and were there any disciplinary actions taken against this professor?” Stefanik asked.
“Such posts have been incredibly harmful to our entire community and I disavow them and that outcome for us,” Raymond said.
When Stefanik asked if the professor had been investigated, Raymond dodged again, prompting Stefanik to assert, “This is a simple question. The other presidents are answering this straightforward as to disciplinary action; again, these university presidents, who are former presidents, failed to answer these direct questions. In this case, was there disciplinary action taken or an investigation of this professor?”
“Respectfully, representative, I will not be talking about individual cases,” Raymond said loftily.
“Respectfully, President of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of universities for their failure to answer straightforward questions,” Stefanik fired back.
After further attempts by Raymond to evade giving direct answers, Stefanik concluded, “For the American people watching, you still don’t get it. Haverford still doesn’t get it. It’s a very different testimony than the other presidents who are here today who are coming with specifics. So again this is completely unacceptable and it’s why this committee has stepped in, because higher education has failed to address the scourge of antisemitism putting Jewish students at risk at Haverford and at other campuses across the country.”
Text of exchange below:
<blockquote>
Stefanik: Let me ask you a specific question. There was a student group on Haverford’s campus who called for the “complete dismantling of the apartheid settler colonial state of Israel by all means necessary.” What does “by all means necessary” mean to you?
Raymond: Invoking that kind of terminology is repugnant because of what it can mean and I will not  —
Stefanik: So does that depend on the context?
Raymond: I will not defend that statement.
Stefanik: So what disciplinary action was taken against that group or those individuals who made that call? Any disciplinary action? (long pause) Was there any disciplinary action taken against that group or those individuals?
Raymond: Those kinds of statements are (looks at her notes)
Stefanik: I’m not asking you if they’re repugnant; I’m asking about the disciplinary action. You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken, if any suspension or expulsions. So I am asking you: Was there any disciplinary action taken?
Raymond: Disciplinary action can include expulsion and —
Stefanik: I’m not asking what it can include; I’m asking, was it taken?
Raymond: I will not be talking about individual cases here and I’m saying that that is —
Stefanik: So have there been any actions taken by Haverford  related to antisemitism? Any?
Raymond: Disciplinary actions are absolutely in our work against antisemitism?
Stefanik: Have they been taken? Have they been taken by Haverford?
Raymond: Yes, there have been some.
Stefanik: I want to ask you another example. There was a professor of mathematics and statistics who posted after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, “We should never have to apologize for celebrating these scenes of an imprisoned people breaking free from their chains. This was a historic moment to be recorded in your history books.” Jewish students have reported that you said. “This post could be perceived in many ways.” Does this post simply depend on the context President Raymond, and were there any disciplinary actions taken against this professor?
Raymond: Such posts have been incredibly harmful to our entire community and I disavow them and that outcome for us.
Stefanik: Was there an investigation of the professor?
Raymond: Investigations happen in all such cases.
Stefanik: So yes in this case.
Raymond: Investigations happen in all such cases, as I have said, and we follow —
Stefanik: This is a simple question. The other presidents are answering this straightforward as to disciplinary action; again, these university presidents, who are former presidents, failed to answer these direct questions. In this case, was there disciplinary action taken or an investigation of this professor?
Raymond: Respectfully, representative I will not be talking about individual cases.
Stefanik: Respectfully, president of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of universities for their failure to answer straightforward questions. Another question I have, because this is a theme at Haverford: There was an administrator who said that “racial minority students have never felt safe at Haverford” and that “Jewish perspective students should not expect to feel safe and should instead be brave.” This was according to litigation against your college. Was there any investigation into this administrator for making those statements?
Raymond: That report does not reflect administrators that I know, who stand strongly with me and the entire college against antisemitism.
Stefanik: So that didn’t happen is your position? Was that statement not made by that administrator?
Raymond: That statement does not comport with those administrators that I know.
Stefanik: I’m not asking if it comports with the administrators that you know. I’m saying, is it your testimony that statement did not happen even though it’s coming out in litigation? So are you saying it did not happen.
Raymond: What I am saying is that I cannot imagine that happening from those colleagues of mine.
Stefanik: Let me ask you: If it did happen, what disciplinary action would Haverford take against that administrator.
Raymond: We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment or bias.
Stefanik: And what does that mean, “not tolerate”? Does that mean suspension, firing of that individual, what does that mean?
Raymond: It means following all of our policies which begin with investigation and then can lead to any of the aspects that you listed.
Stefanik: For the American people watching, you still don’t get it. Haverford still doesn’t get it. It’s a very different testimony than the other presidents who are here today who are coming with specifics. So again this is completely unacceptable and it’s why this committee has stepped in, because higher education has failed to address the scourge of antisemitism putting Jewish students at risk at Haverford and at other campuses across the country.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WATCH: I questioned Haverford College President Wendy Raymond on her failure of leadership and the scourge of Antisemitism within her institution during the <a href="https://twitter.com/EdWorkforceCmte?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EdWorkforceCmte</a> hearing. <a href="https://t.co/YKPbLPXBIV">pic.twitter.com/YKPbLPXBIV</a>
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepStefanik/status/1920139825417519322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Stefanik Grills University Prez Who Brings Cheat Sheet On Antisemitism

antisemitism

Haverford College

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is reportedly weighing a run for New York governor and signaled that she could jump into the race with a statement on Wednesday blasting New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Stefanik, who served as House Republican Conference chair from 2021 to 2025, steadily rose through the ranks of the GOP after first winning her seat in 2014. The Republican Congresswoman has been encouraged to run for governor by New York Republicans and some of Trump&#8217;s allies, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/16/stefanik-considering-run-for-governor-of-new-york-00293028" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, citing &#8220;two people familiar with her thinking.&#8221; On Wednesday, Stefanik <a href="https://x.com/EliseStefanik/status/1912565080849555603" target="_blank" rel="noopener">blasted</a> Hochul, pointing to new <a href="https://maristpoll.marist.edu/polls/the-state-of-new-york-april-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">polling</a> from Marist that shows the Democratic governor&#8217;s approval rating at 39%.
&#8220;This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK,&#8221; Stefanik wrote. &#8220;Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close.&#8221;
&#8220;Her incompetence, corruption, and radical failed Far Left policies have destroyed our great state causing businesses and families to flee from crushing high taxes, out of control regulations, inept fiscal mismanagement, wide open border sanctuary city policies putting illegals first and NYers last, and an out of control crime crisis due to Democrats’ failed bail reform defund the police policies,&#8221; Stefanik added. &#8220;This polling shows that we can WIN &amp; SAVE NEW YORK.&#8221;
The Marist poll also showed that 57% of New Yorkers &#8220;do not want Hochul to run for re-election in 2026,&#8221; a number that includes 40% of Democrats. Sixty-four percent of the state&#8217;s voters say that New York&#8217;s economy is deteriorating, which is a big spike from the 51% who said the same a year ago.
President Donald Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114347490565859534" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised</a> Stefanik in an early morning Truth Social post on Wednesday, writing without context, &#8220;Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!&#8221;
Stefanik, who has been a loyal supporter of Trump, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tapped</a> by the president to serve as U.N. ambassador in the new Trump administration, but her nomination was pulled as Trump deemed it more important to keep her in the House and &#8220;maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.&#8221; Stefanik&#8217;s 21st Congressional District is a competitive area, and Democrats held the seat for more than 20 straight years before Stefanik took it back for the GOP.
Hochul, who took over after former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2021, has already declared her candidacy for 2026. Former Democratic Rep. Jamaal &#8220;fire alarm&#8221; Bowman has <a href="https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/12/13/i-wish-i-didn-t-pull-that-damn-fire-alarm---rep--bowman-reflects-on-time-in-congress--primary-loss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hinted</a> at a potential run for governor, as has Democratic Rep. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/22/torres-hochul-governor-campaign-00191249" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ritchie Torres</a>.
If Stefanik jumps into the race, she would likely be the leading Republican candidate. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) is also reportedly mulling a run.

‘We Must FIRE Kathy Hochul’: Rising Republican Star Signals Run For NY Governor

2026 Midterms

Kathy Hochul

Republican Party

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 <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/ric-grenell-u-n-ambassador-elise-stefanik/2025/03/27/id/1204682/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview with Newsmax</a> 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&#8217;s just say, she would have been amazing. She is smart and passionate about world affairs. I think she would have been amazing.&#8221;
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.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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. 👇<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OneJewishState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#OneJewishState</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidFriedman?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#DavidFriedman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#Trump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidM_Friedman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@DavidM_Friedman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Now14Israel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Now14Israel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Tamir114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@Tamir114</a> <a href="https://t.co/u1qqz1nTRZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/u1qqz1nTRZ</a>
— One Jewish State (@onejewishstate) <a href="https://twitter.com/onejewishstate/status/1907025151151243405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Additionally, sources say the relationship between Friedman and Trump took a slightly sour turn when Friedman <a href="https://x.com/DavidM_Friedman/status/1596259584703963136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized Trump</a> 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 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ambassador-david-friedman-make-u-s-controlled-gaza-a-monument-to-the-failure-of-radical-islamism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in February</a>, 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, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-launches-jewish-voices-for-trump-coalition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was involved</a> 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 <a href="https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-694668" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking at</a> 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 <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/10/2025/hochul-expected-to-slow-walk-election-to-replace-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> slow-walking the election to replace the congresswoman as the GOP <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grappled</a> 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.

Former President Trump Addresses International Christian Media Convention

These Are The Top Contenders For Trump’s Next UN Ambassador Pick

David Friedman

Israel

United Nations

Now that President Donald Trump has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulled</a> her nomination to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is back to putting higher-education institutions on notice over their responses to displays of anti-Semitism on campus. She even predicted that yet another university president will soon be forced to step aside.
During a Fox News interview on &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures,&#8221; host Maria Bartiromo asked Stefanik for a response to another Columbia University president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbia-president-steps-down-amid-turmoil-with-trump-admin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigning</a> and President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-vows-to-strip-federal-funding-from-colleges-that-allow-illegal-protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatening</a> to stop federal funding for schools and universities &#8220;that allow illegal protests&#8221; on their campuses.
&#8220;We have seen six high-profile university presidents resign, two of which are from Columbia, because these university presidents have failed to show moral strong leadership, and President Trump, as he campaigned on, is holding them accountable,&#8221; Stefanik said.
&#8220;The decision to withhold federal funding from Columbia, that&#8217;s what the American people wanted,&#8221; she added. &#8220;That is what they voted for, because these universities have failed to make sure that they are following their own rules. They have failed to protect Jewish students, and we will continue to highlight and spotlight.&#8221;
During a 2023 hearing following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the presidents of prestigious universities <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-top-university-presidents-balk-when-asked-if-genocidal-chants-against-jews-violate-codes-of-conduct" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dodged</a> on Stefanik&#8217;s question of whether calling for the genocide of Jews on campuses violated their schools’ policies on bullying and harassment. Columbia University’s newest interim president, Claire Shipman, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/columbias-new-prez-doesnt-appear-to-be-much-better-than-the-last-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referred</a> to congressional hearings over antisemitism on college campuses as &#8220;Capitol Hill nonsense,&#8221; as shown in a House Committee on Education and the Workforce report.
&#8220;The fact that we&#8217;re on the third Columbia University president, and this one, let&#8217;s be honest, Maria, is not going to last as well,&#8221; Stefanik told Bartiromo. &#8220;It&#8217;s already come out that she has criticized and belittled the House investigation and the accountability measures and has failed to protect Jewish students. So again, this is strong leadership from President Trump.&#8221;
She added: &#8220;I&#8217;m going to continue to lead this effort in holding higher ed accountable, standing up to be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and combating the rot and the scourge of antisemitism in higher ed.&#8221;
Pressed to respond to Shipman&#8217;s dismissal of the congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on college campuses, Stefanik went on to say, &#8220;It&#8217;s untenable for her to be in this position, and I think it is going to be a matter of weeks before she is forced to step down as well. They still don&#8217;t get it. The faculty doesn&#8217;t get it. These radical, far-left students don’t get it.&#8221;
Stefanik said Trump is &#8220;revoking the visas for the pro-Hamas, foreign agitators and anti-Semites on campus&#8221; and &#8220;withholding those federal dollars. These universities are not entitled to those federal dollars. They have to ensure that they are protecting Jewish students on campus. So again, we are just seeing a failure within higher education. The Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, has done a tremendous job forcing these universities to address this crisis on campus, and we&#8217;re going to continue to use our ability on Capitol Hill and our appropriations and our oversight of these higher ed dollars to hold them accountable.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="ICYMI: Stefanik Joins Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures To Discuss Advancing President Trump’s Agenda" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ag1aZ0i9-Ew?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Rep. Elise Stefanik

‘Untenable’: Stefanik Predicts Downfall Of Another University President

College

Columbia University

U.S.

One of the things I always warn folks against in politics is the belief that anything that happens is eternal — that the change is eternal and there will never be another loss in the future.
I&#8217;m old enough to remember when George W. Bush won reelection in 2004 and secured the Congress of the United States, that there were Republicans who thought the Republican Party would never lose again. It was the initiation of a brand-new era. Then, of course, by 2006 Democrats had taken the Congress, and by 2008 the presidency.
I&#8217;m also old enough to remember when, in the aftermath of Barack Obama&#8217;s 2012 victory, Democrats proclaimed they would never lose again. They had a brand-new, undefeatable coalition that would just continue to grow and Republicans would be in the minority forever. Within four years, however, Republicans had taken the presidency with Donald Trump.
Now I hear Republicans who sound triumphalist about the idea that Democrats can never win again, will never take power again. They say all the trends are against the Democrats. That&#8217;s true, the trends are against Democrats right now and that&#8217;s a good thing.
We see population movement from north to south, from blue states to red states, knowing electoral votes will follow. We see the Democrats failing to find any sort of leadership class in the aftermath of the Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders octogenarian triumvirate.
However, politics change quickly. Things happen. 
And there are warning signs on the horizon. The biggest one is that President Trump&#8217;s popularity is not transferable to every single other Republican candidate. You cannot just take President Trump, stamp him on a thing, and then hope that thing is going to be a winner. That is not how it works.
Barack Obama tried the same thing. It didn’t work with him either. 
Every politician has to build their own coalition. Every politician has to have their own group of people who follow them for their own personal reasons.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/bss-ep-2168-member-exclusive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: The Ben Shapiro Show</a></h3>
So this bizarre idea that everyone in politics seems to have, both on the Right and the Left — that you can take a very popular politician and then smear that popularity over the bread of normie politicians and expect it to taste exactly the same — that is not how it works. 
This is precisely why President Trump&#8217;s administration must be successful.
President Trump is doing very important work on everything from getting rid of DEI to completely restructuring education in the country to changing how we spend to eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. On foreign policy, he&#8217;s restoring a sense of American military power and deterrence. He&#8217;s actually doing peace through strength. And he&#8217;s looking with fresh eyes at difficult situations like the Middle East.
These are very important things that President Trump is doing. And that means no mistakes.
“No mistakes” should be the byword inside the Trump administration. And the warning signs are there. Pretending they are not is simply whistling past the graveyard.
I know Republicans are all very happy and we want to tell ourselves that President Trump won an extraordinarily broad-ranging victory in his race against Kamala Harris.
The truth is that the 2024 election result was actually far closer than people would like to acknowledge. And that is not a rip on President Trump by any measure. It was a narrow win and that means if a few votes shift, suddenly things are different. And that could happen. Pretending that it can&#8217;t happen is a fool&#8217;s errand.
In the end, President Trump won 77.3 million votes. And Kamala Harris, a horrendous candidate running on the back of a dead candidate, won 75 million votes. President Trump won 49.8% of the vote and Kamala Harris won 48.3% of the vote. That is a solid electoral victory but it&#8217;s not, by any stretch of the imagination, a giant blowout, which is why I&#8217;m saying Republicans need to be careful.
We are starting to see some early indicators of the fact that a Democratic electorate could revive itself. One of those warning signs came courtesy of this special election shocker in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which went for President Trump last year by 16 points. Democrats flipped the state Senate seat in Pennsylvania — a seat that the GOP had occupied for literally decades.
The reality is that in special election races, it&#8217;s very hard to generalize from those races because they tend to have lower turnout. And so what you get is opposition turning out at a higher rate and the home party turnout coming in at a low rate, believing that there&#8217;s not going to be any sort of competitive election.
But as The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/lancaster-county-special-election-pennsylvania-republicans-james-malone-josh-parsons-ken-martin-85a0644a?mod=hp_opin_pos_1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">points out</a>, Republicans might want to take the surprise loss in MAGA country as a warning.
That is not wrong.
It’s also true because on Thursday, Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), President Trump&#8217;s excellent nominee for the U.N. ambassador, had her nomination withdrawn by President Trump. It wasn’t because he doesn&#8217;t like Elise Stefanik — he thinks that she&#8217;s terrific. He is doing it because the margin in the Congress of the United States is simply too narrow.
President Trump had made a bunch of moves to take representatives from particular districts and put them in his Cabinet, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. That was going to include Elise Stefanik. There are three or four different congresspeople who&#8217;ve been pulled into the administration, leaving their districts open for an election.
President Trump is basically signaling here that the House of Representatives is on a knife&#8217;s edge and you can&#8217;t pull good congresspeople from their districts to serve in other aspects of the executive branch for fear the GOP might lose the district.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) put out <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1905330013244915791">a statement</a> saying he would immediately invite Elise Stefanik to return to the leadership table, adding, “It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Stefanik&#8217;s withdrawal was just a result of the political realities they&#8217;re grappling with in the House, that every vote counts.
For this, you can thank some congresspeople like Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who reliably votes “No” on every contentious vote in the House of Representatives, meaning that the majority shrinks by one every single time.
There is also concern in other districts where there really should not be any concern. In Florida&#8217;s sixth Congressional District, which is Mike Waltz’ old seat, there is now a special election and it&#8217;s really competitive. Democrats are pouring money into that particular race, which is far too close right now. This should not be a competitive district.
I expect that Republicans will hold the seat. But the fact that it&#8217;s even competitive signals that any sort of overweening confidence among Republicans is misguided.
We have to act like every possession matters. We can&#8217;t act like we’re up 30 points when in reality we’re up two and there are just a couple of minutes left in the ballgame.
None of us should be overconfident.

President Trump Swears-In Alina Habba As US Attorney For New Jersey

The Danger Of Overconfidence

Ben Shapiro

Democratic Party

Democrats

Elections

House Republicans

Opinion

Hours after President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pulled</a> her nomination to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) reacted by saying it was about &#8220;stepping up as a team.&#8221;
During an interview on Thursday evening, Stefanik pinned the decision on a &#8220;combination&#8221; of &#8220;the New York corruption&#8221; in the special election process and the House GOP&#8217;s narrow majority.
&#8220;This is about stepping up as a team, and I am doing that as a leader to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results,&#8221; Stefanik said on Fox News.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliseStefanik</a> displays PURE CLASS by stepping back from her UN Ambassador nomination to push President Trump’s agenda in Congress and serve her North Country constituents:
&quot;This is about stepping up as a team, and I’m doing that as a leader to ensure that we can take hold of… <a href="https://t.co/uPq9g5gBMR">pic.twitter.com/uPq9g5gBMR</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1905430337645429198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Stefanik, who spoke with host and former Trump spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany, mentioned budget reconciliation legislation with which the GOP aims to fulfill Trump&#8217;s domestic agenda priorities.
Although she testified in a confirmation hearing and advanced out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee back in January, Stefanik never got a final vote on the Senate floor.
Her nomination got held up as New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul was <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/10/2025/hochul-expected-to-slow-walk-election-to-replace-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> expected to slow-walk a special election and the House GOP <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-slow-walk-elise-stefanik-confirmation-un-ambassador-rcna192129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grappled</a> with a slim majority.
There are 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House. Two <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critical-florida-special-elections-for-gop-coming-on-tuesday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special elections</a> to fill GOP-won seats are set for next week in Florida. Two other vacancies are from Democrats who recently died.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> on Truth Social that he asked Stefanik to remain in Congress to help him deliver his &#8220;America First Agenda&#8221; on tax cuts, border security, energy, and more.
&#8220;With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,&#8221; Trump said, adding that there are &#8220;others that can do a good job at the United Nations.&#8221;
Also in his social media post, Trump mentioned that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was &#8220;thrilled&#8221; with the decision and he said Stefanik would &#8220;rejoin the House Leadership Team.&#8221;
Stefanik previously served as House GOP Conference chair, a role now held by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI). Johnson <a href="https://x.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1905330013244915791" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-welcomes-elise-stefanik-back-into-house-leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invite</a> Stefanik back to the leadership team, but did not specify a position.
In her interview, Stefanik <a href="https://x.com/Acyn/status/1905428658111873374" target="_blank" rel="noopener">insisted</a> there was &#8220;good news&#8221; because &#8220;the American people will be hearing a lot more from me&#8221; as she no longer has limitations associated with a pending confirmation.
Stefanik also teased what comes next, saying she &#8220;looked forward to continuing to hold higher education accountable for their failures, as well as all of my work &#8230; in the national security space.&#8221;

‘Stepping Up As A Team’: Stefanik Reacts After Trump Withdraws Nomination

Presidential nomination

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) offered Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) a seat back at the leadership table after the Trump administration withdrew her nomination for U.N. Ambassador over concerns about House Republicans&#8217; narrow majority in Congress.
&#8220;There is no doubt she would have served with distinction as our ambassador to the United Nations, but we are grateful for her willingness to sacrifice that position and remain in Congress to help us save the country,&#8221; Johnson said. &#8220;I will invite her to return to the leadership table immediately.&#8221;
He said that Stefanik agreeing to give up her nomination for the sake of helping the team showed that she was a &#8220;devoted patriot&#8221; and &#8220;deeply devoted to her country and fully committed to see President Trump’s agenda succeed in Congress.&#8221;
&#8220;It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Elise Stefanik is truly a great leader and a devoted patriot. Today’s selfless decision shows America what those of us who work with her already know. She is deeply devoted to her country and fully committed to see President Trump’s agenda succeed in Congress. It is well known…
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1905330013244915791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador?topStoryPosition=undefined" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> earlier in the day that he withdrew Stefanik&#8217;s nomination because it was &#8220;essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.&#8221;
&#8220;We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” Trump said. “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.”
Trump added: “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. 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. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pulls-stefanik-nomination-united-nations-ambassador?topStoryPosition=undefined">Trump Pulls Stefanik Nomination To Become United Nations Ambassador</a>

Mike Johnson Welcomes Elise Stefanik Back Into House Leadership

Mike Johnson

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that he withdrew the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik appeared for a confirmation back in January, when she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-nominee-elise-stefanik-blasts-anti-semitic-rot-within-the-united-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> the &#8220;anti-Semitic rot&#8221; within the United Nations, and advanced out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. However, she never got a vote on the Senate floor.
&#8220;As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114235745233828789" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on Truth Social. &#8220;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.&#8221;
Trump added: &#8220;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. 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. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!&#8221;
Over the past couple of months, Stefanik&#8217;s nomination got held up as New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul was <a href="https://www.semafor.com/article/03/10/2025/hochul-expected-to-slow-walk-election-to-replace-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> expected to slow-walk the election to replace the congresswoman and as Republicans <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-slow-walk-elise-stefanik-confirmation-un-ambassador-rcna192129" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grappled</a> with a slim majority in the House.
<a href="https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Currently</a>, there are 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House. Special elections to find replacements for Trump&#8217;s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Matt Gaetz — both Republicans from Florida — are set for next week. The other two vacancies are from Democrats who recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-congressman-raul-grijalva-dies-of-cancer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a>.
Except for Stefanik, the GOP-led Senate has confirmed all members of Trump&#8217;s picks for his second-term <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/the-cabinet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cabinet</a>. Stefanik, who has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/speaker-johnson-predicts-house-gop-will-expand-majority-in-2026-with-dems-in-disarray" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replaced</a> in the third-ranking position of House GOP Conference chair since her nomination, was even <a href="https://x.com/RepStefanik/status/1897117031926997233" target="_blank" rel="noopener">participating</a> in Cabinet meetings.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> in November that he was &#8220;honored&#8221; to nominate Stefanik to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, adding that the congresswoman &#8220;is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.&#8221;
In declaring her acceptance of the nomination, Stefanik said that she stood &#8220;ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations.&#8221;
Stefanik also <a href="https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/11/statement-on-accepting-president-donald-j-trump-s-nomination-to-serve-in-his-cabinet-as-ambassador-to-the-united-nations#:~:text=The%20work%20ahead%20is%20immense,to%20advance%20President%20Donald%20J.">took a shot</a> at the Biden administration: &#8220;The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries.&#8221;
Some other Trump 2.0 nominees have withdrawn from consideration, including the president&#8217;s initial choice for U.S. Attorney General, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-matt-gaetz-withdraws-name-from-ag-consideration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gaetz</a>, and Hillsborough County Sheriff <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dea-nominee-withdraws-from-consideration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chad Chronister</a>, who had been selected to become administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It is not immediately clear who Trump will pick as Stefanik&#8217;s replacement.

Trump Pulls Stefanik Nomination To Become United Nations Ambassador

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> (R-NY), who is President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s nominee to become U.S. ambassador to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-nations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> (UN), called out the &#8220;anti-Semitic rot&#8221; within the international organization.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, Stefanik put the UN on blast for its conduct pertaining to Israel, a U.S. ally that is still trying to secure the freedom of all hostages taken by Hamas after the group&#8217;s October 7 terrorist attack in 2023.
&#8220;If you look at the anti-Semitic rot within the United Nations, there are more resolutions targeting Israel than any other country, any other crisis combined,&#8221; Stefanik said as she answered a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-aFgi25HSU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">question</a> from Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliseStefanik</a>: &quot;If you look at the anti-Semitic rot within the United Nations, there are more resolutions targeting Israel than any other country, any other crisis combined&#8230; We need to be a voice of moral clarity on the UN Security Council.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ANjUmyj7TU">pic.twitter.com/ANjUmyj7TU</a>
&mdash; Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1881735774300938695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The nominee took aim at the <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Women group</a> for &#8220;failing to condemn Hamas&#8217; terrorist attack and terrorist regime against innocent civilian women using rape and targeting women. Specifically taking them hostage.&#8221;
Stefanik said she was &#8220;overjoyed&#8221; that three women held captive by Hamas were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-3-israeli-hostages-freed-after-nearly-500-days" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently freed</a> as part of a ceasefire deal, stressed that the U.S. needs to &#8220;stay committed&#8221; to get all the hostages released, and noted that she has met &#8220;many hostage families.&#8221;
With the UN ambassadorship, Stefanik said, &#8220;We need to be a voice of moral clarity on the UN Security Council and at the United Nations at large for the world to hear the importance of standing with Israel, and I intend to do that.&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl%3D1*1lail3r*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3MzIyMDEyNDkuQ2owS0NRaUEwZnU1QmhEUUFSSXNBTVhVQk9JSkM0VnNsMFVreURxYXUxVWVEVWdOdjZkNzR2Y1pEeEZQeHVBcGl2R3BLaTdBMjVzT1p5TWFBdG1nRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*NDUxNDQ0NzYwLjE3MzY3ODI2NDY.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczNjk1NzYwMy4zNDAuMS4xNzM2OTU3NzE2LjYwLjAuMA..&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1737044212122000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3mp2MZNwEXBk00lKmCtOss">CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT</a>
Stefanik also mentioned it will soon be 50 years since the UN&#8217;s &#8220;disgraceful &#8216;Zionism is Racism&#8217; resolution&#8221; and noted how she wanted to follow the example of then-U.S. ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who &#8220;spoke out strongly&#8221; against it.
Trump &#8220;has a tremendous record when it comes to standing with Israel,&#8221; Stefanik added, &#8220;whether it&#8217;s the Abraham Accords, whether it&#8217;s his commitment to combating anti-Semitism, or recognizing Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel. &#8221;
In response to the remarks, the Republican Jewish Coalition <a href="https://x.com/RJC/status/1881743740244799609" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Trump had sent a &#8220;clear message&#8221; by nominating Stefanik — &#8220;that we will stand by our cherished ally Israel and fight back against the vile antisemitism running rampant in Turtle Bay&#8221; — and advocated for her confirmation.
<a href="https://store.dailywire.com/"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-862665 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png" alt="" width="1024" height="391" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1024x391.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-300x115.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-768x293.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-1536x587.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/01/INAUG_MERCHBANNER-6-2-2048x782.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>

Trump Nominee Elise Stefanik Blasts ‘Anti-Semitic Rot’ Within The United Nations

Anti-Semitism

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) signaled during an interview on Sunday that he is opening to voting to confirm some of President-elect Donald Trump&#8217;s nominees when it comes time for their confirmation hearings.
Kim made the remarks during a Sunday interview on CNN&#8217;s &#8220;State of the Union&#8221; with Dana Bash when asked if he would be open to voting for Kash Patel for FBI Director or Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.
&#8220;I have had conversations with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. I had to sit down with Senator Rubio. I&#8217;m still going through the process and I want to make sure I&#8217;m doing it right,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But those were good conversations, where we were able to dive in deep. And so I think that there are some nominees that are people I think I can work with.&#8221;
He signaled that with some of Trump&#8217;s other nominees that he had questions about past remarks that they made.
&#8220;I also am deeply concerned about what I have heard Mr. Patel say in the past and about going after things. Like, he is being nominated for a role to lead an agency that he has talked about dismantling, talked about the deep state and going after,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I was a career public servant before in the federal government. I worked under both Bush and Obama. I served the country, not a party. And I worry about some of the tones there.&#8221;
&#8220;With Hegseth, I hope to have a chance to be able to speak with him, but some of what he said before about not thinking that women should serve in combat, some of the other allegations that we have heard about,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I have worked at the Pentagon before in the office of the secretary of defense. I know what that job is like. And I need to know whether or not he is up to the task.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Senator-elect Andy Kim talks about Donald Trump&#039;s re-election (part 2)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfqGMZS2Yv4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sen. Andy Kim

Democrat Senator Signals Openness To Voting For Some Of Trump’s Nominees

Marco Rubio

Senate

A top United Nations watchdog is encouraging Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), to push for the resignation of a top human rights official who has given a pass to some of the world&#8217;s most oppressive regimes. 
UN Watch <a href="https://unwatch.org/blind-eye-to-dictatorships-report-on-the-2022-2024-record-of-un-rights-chief-volker-turk/">released a report</a> on Tuesday revealing that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has ignored some of the world’s most oppressive regimes. The report argues that Türk has given a pass to actual human rights violators while disproportionately targeting Israel, the United States, and other democracies.
“It’s absurd that UN human rights chief Volker Türk has condemned the United States more than he has condemned all of China, North Korea, Cuba, and Qatar combined,” Hillel Neuer, the executive director of UN Watch, told The Daily Wire. “He needs to resign. We are hopeful that new Ambassador Elise Stefanik will call on Türk to go.”
Stefanik, nominated by Trump in November, is expected to shake up the UN. A staunch supporter of Israel, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship">Stefanik</a> has been critical of the UN, stating in October that the United States should do a “complete reassessment&#8221; of its UN funding if the Palestinian authority succeeded in their “antisemitic pursuit” to expel the Jewish state from the UN General Assembly.
“American taxpayers have no interest in continuing to fund an organization that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have allowed to rot with antisemitism,” Stefanik wrote. “They must take the names of any country supporting this blatantly immoral effort and make clear the position of the United States &#8211; the UN’s single largest source of funding.”
According to the UN Watch report, Türk, who has been serving in his position since October 2022, has condemned the United States more than China, North Korea, Cuba, and Qatar combined. In fact, Türk has not touched on the human rights violations in Cuba, North Korea, Algeria, Eritrea, Mauritania, Lebanon, and Qatar, according to the report, but he has condemned American allies such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, France and Israel.
To craft the report, UN Watch reviewed every country criticism by Türk on his UN website since his tenure began in October 2022. It included statements published by him and his spokespeople. It rated the severity of the condemnations as weak, moderate, and strong.
China has received a total of three condemnations, two being ranked as moderate and one as strong, but none of them mentioned the ongoing genocide of the Uyghurs by the communist regime. As many as a million or more Uyghurs have been detained without reason, <a href="https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-report-on-international-religious-freedom/china/xinjiang/">according to the State Department</a>.
The report accuses Türk of condemning Israel far more than any other country, with a total of 58 condemnations, 49 of which pertain to the Hamas-Israel war. In fact, it points out that Israel was condemned more than all non-democratic countries combined.
<div id="attachment_843877" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-843877" class="size-large wp-image-843877" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Cover-images-7-1024x576.png" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Cover-images-7-1024x576.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Cover-images-7-300x169.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Cover-images-7-768x432.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/Cover-images-7.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />UN Watch</div>
“Türk has made more statements on the Hamas-Israel war than on wars that directly affected millions of more people, with more statements about Gaza than all of his total combined statements on Ukraine, Sudan, and Myanmar,” the report states.
The report highlights that although the war in Sudan also began in 2023, it has already killed tens of thousands of civilians and created more than 2 million external refugees, which is nearly the population of Gaza. Another 8.1 million Sudanese people have been internally displaced as well.
The report also slammed Türk for putting out condemnations against Israel that were informed by misinformation or incomplete facts.
“Immediately after the October 17 incident at Al Ahli hospital, Türk published a <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/10/un-human-rights-chief-volker-turk-horrific-killings-al-ahli-arab-hospital-gaza">strong statement</a> condemning the ‘massive strike at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital’ in which civilians ‘had been seeking refuge,’ implying that Israel was behind the strike,” the report states. “When it was later <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/21/middleeast/cnn-investigates-forensic-analysis-gaza-hospital-blast/index.html">confirmed</a> that the hospital had been hit by a misfired Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket, Türk did not issue a clarification and did not condemn PIJ for firing the rocket.”
It added that Türk <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/05/gaza-turk-voices-horror-loss-life-camp-after-israeli-strikes">rushed</a> to “voice his horror,” claiming that Israel hit a “camp for displaced people” in May after Israel struck a Hamas target. An Israeli report <a href="https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-05-28/israeli-army-says-it-used-small-munitions-in-rafah-airstrike-and-fire-was-caused-by-secondary-blast">later found</a> that deadly fire after the strike was caused by secondary explosions from Hamas munitions illegally stored among civilians. UN Watch says Türk never corrected the record and that his initial statement was “effectively absolving Hamas of any responsibility.”
UN Watch criticized Türk for being weak in his statements on Hamas which are usually tied into anti-Israel statements and hardly refer to the name Hamas directly, instead referring to the terror group as ‘Palestinian armed groups.&#8217;
Türk often uses Gaza casualty numbers put out by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, without stating that the number cannot be independently verified and can include both combatant and civilian deaths, according to the report. Even after the UN itself acknowledged discrepancies in the Hamas data and <a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/untangling-uns-gaza-fatality-data#:~:text=Between%20May%206%20and%20May,70%25%20were%20women%20and%20children.">cut in half</a> its count of women and child deaths, the High Commissioner has continued to uncritically parrot these <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2024/08/gaza-turk-pleads-end-fighting-death-toll-passes-40000">Hamas casualty numbers</a>. 
Türk frequently cites Gaza casualty figures provided by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry without clarifying that the numbers cannot be independently verified and that the UN has acknowledged discrepancies in Hamas data and<a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/untangling-uns-gaza-fatality-data#:~:text=Between%20May%206%20and%20May,70%25%20were%20women%20and%20children."> halving its reported</a> count of women and child deaths, the High Commissioner.
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/gift-guide/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE</a>
Additionally, the report notes that Türk made 15 statements on Afghanistan, which has faced numerous accusations of human rights violations since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and 11 statements on Iran which is notorious for its human rights abuses.
According to the report, Türk has been silent on the election of human rights abusers such as China, Cuba, Qatar, and Eritrea to serve on the Human Rights Council and when the Islamic Republic of Iran was made chair of the UN Human Rights Council Social Forum.
UN Watch called for all democracies to pull out of the UNHRC unless Türk resigns by January 1st.
“Democracies should stop lending legitimacy to a UN human rights system that has become corrupted by selectivity, politicization, and the dangerous domination of dictatorships,” UN Watch’s report stated.
Türk did not respond to a request for comment.

Stefanik and Volker Turk

UN Watchdog Encourages Trump Admin To Demand Resignation Of Top UN Human Rights Official

Hamas

Human Rights Council

Menu