Trump yanks nominee for U.S. ambassador to UN

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he had retracted his nomination of Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing tight margins in the House of Representatives.

Trump insisted that it is essential that every Republican congressional seat be retained. To that end, he said unity is necessary to accomplish that mission. He went on to say he'd asked Stafanik to remain in Congress to preserve that margin.

House Republicans presently have just a two-seat majority, which represents one of the smallest in the history of the chamber.

Who is Elise Stefanik? Stefanik, 40, was formerly the House GOP Conference Chair, a key position in the Republican leadership team. In that capacity, Stefanik helped organize the party’s logistical needs, helped coordinate strategy with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and shaped the conference’s messaging strategies.

That role has now been filled by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich.

During her time in Congress, Stefanik has been a staunch supporter of the Trump administration. Stefanik came into the public eye last year during a heated confrontation with presidents from a handful of Ivy League schools.

What does Trump’s retraction of the nomination mean? Trump’s decision signals an increased concern over keeping the party together on divisive votes.

Earlier in the year, Trump nominated three Republicans to cabinet positions—Stefanik to the United Nations, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., as national security adviser, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as attorney general. At the time, Speaker Johnson, warned the president any more nominations could cost them tight votes.

To make sure the chamber didn’t inadvertently lose the majority altogether, Stefanik’s confirmation was delayed.

Gaetz ultimately turned down the nomination, but still resigned from Congress. Although Republicans look poised to take back the two vacancies left behind by Waltz and Gaetz, the GOP will need near-perfect party unity in the future to pass Trump’s major legislative package on tax reform and border security.

Both of the vacancies left behind by Waltz and Gaetz will be filled through special elections next Tuesday.

Dig deeper: Read my reporting about the concern GOP lawmakers voiced back in November as the Trump administration’s nominations shrank their already-small majority.