Stefanik goes on a Democratic charm offensive before the confirmation hearing

Senate Democrats appear to be bracing for Rep. Elise Stefanik (RNY), President-elect Trump’s combative and embattled nominee for UN envoy, buoyed by commitments she will make to the world body rather than seeking to burn down

Stefanik, who served as the third-ranking Republican leader in the House, has built a reputation as a bullish fighter, particularly in confronting cases of anti-Semitism, and is expected to call out anti-Israel bias at the UN one of the main focuses of its publication.

“He made it very clear that he was accessible and that he was not walking away from the United Nations,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who will question Stefanik during her confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. . committee

“I thought it was good that he said he would commit to the UN and really take on the role,” the senator told The Hill after a meeting with Stefanik Thursday morning. Duckworth said the congresswoman “did really well with me today.”

Stefanik has frequented Senate offices in recent weeks to discuss how he will approach the global diplomatic body, which Democrats see as an imperfect but important place for engagement.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), another member of the foreign relations panel, said he had a “good substantial meeting” with Stefanik last week, but said if Democrats get on board with a green light a fast track to confirmation depends on your hearing.

“I’m a little nervous about how (President-elect Trump) would approach some of these international organizations. Can they be frustrating? Yes. But when the US disengages, it gets worse, not better for us. So I’m nervous about that,” Kaine said.

Trump targeted the United Nations during his first term, withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council; cut funding for UNRWA, the Palestinian refugee organization; withholding funding from the World Health Organization and restricting support to UN entities that the administration believes provide information or access on abortion.

Republicans are closely aligned on many of these issues and are overwhelmingly critical of the body as biased against Israel, a view shared by some Democrats.

“The UN has proven time and time again to be a cesspool of anti-Semitism that has turned completely against Israel in its darkest hour,” Stefanik wrote in a editorial for the Washington Examiner published in September.

Stefanik took aim at UN entities he said failed to hold Israel’s enemies accountable: Hamas, the US-designated terrorist group in the Gaza Strip; and its main backer, Iran, after Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack on the country. He criticized the WHO, UN Women, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, the Human Rights Council and UNRWA for failing to adequately condemn Hamas.

“As the largest financial contributor to the UN, the US must present the UN with a choice: reform this broken system and return it to the beacon of peace and freedom the world needs it to be, or continue down this anti-Semitic path without the support of American taxpayers,” Stefanik wrote.

Stefanik is unlikely to face any Republican opposition on his way to confirmation, but getting the support of Senate Democrats could help the process move faster. Trump is likely to have just one Cabinet nominee confirmed when he takes office on Jan. 20: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), his nominee for secretary of state, who has garnered key Democratic support.

Stefanik’s hearing on Tuesday is not likely to be as easy as Rubio’s, which took place on Jan. 15, given his collegial relationships throughout the committee he served on.

“He came so prepared that it was really impressive,” Duckworth said.

Stefanik, a member of the House since 2015, is a lesser-known quantity among Democratic senators, who are worried whether Trump’s “America First” agenda will cause the United States to abdicate its seat on the international stage and allow that Russia and China fill. the void

“I had a frank discussion today with Rep. Elise Stefanik about my concerns about President-elect Trump’s disdain for participating in important, if imperfect, international institutions,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said after a meeting with the congresswoman. last week

“If we want to compete with countries like China, we have to compromise, because when the United States voluntarily gives up our seat at the table, it’s Beijing that writes the rules.”

Stefanik also met with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in mid-December, and the two women smiled in photos marking the meeting.

Shaheen will likely be a determining factor in paving the way for a quick confirmation. The chairman and ranking member of the committee traditionally adhere to courtesy when scheduling business meetings to advance candidates or legislation, in a show of bipartisan cooperation.

“In our meeting today, Congresswoman Stefanik and I discussed the importance of uniting allies and like-minded countries through the United Nations to address global crises and achieve outcomes that are beneficial to the national security of the United States United,” Shaheen said in a statement.

“I expressed my deep belief that when the United States has a meaningful seat at the table, we can achieve shared priorities such as promoting democratic values, countering the malign influence of Russia and China, and combating anti-Semitism . I look forward to speaking more about these issues at the congresswoman’s confirmation hearing.”

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