The Epoch Times

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States's goals at the global agency will align with Trump’s “America First” agenda. “If confirmed, I will work to ensure that our mission to the United Nations serves the interests of the American people and represents President Trump’s America First peace-through-strength foreign policy,” she said at her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Jan. 21. Issues she laid out include hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as “national security challenges” from Iran, China, North Korea, and Russia. Stefanik called for the United States to monitor its funding for the U.N. Congress approved more than $3.3 billion in funding to major U.N. programs in fiscal year 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. “As a member of Congress, I also understand deeply that we must be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N. by far,” Stefanik said. “Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, anti-Semitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism. “We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the efficacy of U.N. programs, we must drive reform.” If confirmed, Stefanik will be the first nominee to move directly from Congress to the U.N. in more than 20 years.