Bipartisan praise for UN Ambassador Stefanik, NEVER tolerate any U.S. taxpayer funds going UNRWA

Shaheen Introduction

“Representative Stefanik, welcome again to this committee. Congratulations on your nomination to be US Ambassador to the United Nations.”

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH):

Senate Foreign Relations Committee member
Generally hawkish Democrat
Ranking member framework
Respectful introduction

“From working in the Bush Administration on the Domestic Policy Council to being the youngest woman elected to Congress, you have strong credentials and the relevant experience for this role.”

Shaheen’s praise:

Bush Administration experience
Domestic Policy Council
Youngest woman elected to Congress
Strong credentials
Relevant experience

The bipartisan framework — Democratic senator acknowledging Republican nominee’s qualifications despite political differences.

Stefanik on Ukraine

“I support President Trump’s commitment to bringing this war to a resolution. He campaigned on that issue and he feels very deeply and I support that.”

Stefanik’s framework:

Trump’s war resolution commitment
Campaign issue
Personal Trump conviction
Stefanik support

“And I believe it falls squarely in line with the founding mission of the United Nations to bring international peace and security.”

Stefanik’s UN framework:

Peace and security founding mission
Trump approach aligned
International framework
UN purpose

Russia Record

“If you look at my record over the course of my time on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, I have a very strong record when it comes to deterring Russia, pushing back on Russia, including during President Trump’s term, voting for defensive lethal aid to Ukraine.”

Stefanik’s record:

House Armed Services Committee
House Intelligence Committee
Strong Russia deterrence record
Pushing back on Russia
Defensive lethal aid to Ukraine

The framework addresses concerns Stefanik might be soft on Russia.

Peace Through Strength

“I believe peace through strength is our strongest deterrence.”

The Trump framework:

Peace through military strength
Deterrence over appeasement
Military capability essential
Diplomatic leverage

“And I’m very proud that during President Trump’s first term, it was the only president where Putin did not invade another country because of that strong peace through strength leadership.”

The historical framework:

Putin invaded Georgia under Bush (2008)
Putin invaded Crimea under Obama (2014)
Putin did NOT invade under Trump (2017-2021)
Putin invaded Ukraine under Biden (2022)
Pattern: strong Trump deterred Putin

The argument — Trump’s “peace through strength” actually worked against Russia.

“And the rebuilding that we passed through the National Defense Authorization Act and President Trump signed into law.”

NDAA framework:

Military rebuilding funded
Defense investments
Trump-era legislation
Congressional support

Mission Framework

“So I think our effort should be supporting, my effort will be supporting President Trump’s mission to bring that to a resolution and to deter Russia in the long term.”

Stefanik’s dual mission:

Support Trump’s resolution mission
Deter Russia long-term
Integrated approach
UN Ambassador role

Tom Cotton Support

“So today I’m here to happily and proudly offer my strong support to this dedicated public servant and American patriot, our next ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik.”

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR):

Armed Services Committee
Intelligence Committee
Republican leader
Hawkish foreign policy
Stefanik ally

“She’s the right person for the job and I encourage all of my colleagues on the committee and in the Senate to process her nomination promptly and unanimously.”

Cotton’s framework:

Right person for job
Prompt processing
Unanimous confirmation
Bipartisan endorsement expected

UNRWA Defunding

“You should never tolerate any U.S. taxpayer funds going towards terrorism, as in my question with the ranking member Shaheen, I was one of the members that voted to defund Anra.”

Stefanik’s UNRWA record:

Voted to defund UNRWA
Congressional leadership
Bipartisan consensus
Terrorism concern

UNRWA context:

UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Employed approximately 30,000
Schools and social services
Gaza operations extensive
Hamas infiltration documented

October 7 and UNRWA

“Particularly that were exposed during the October 7th Hamas attack against Israel, whether it was Hamas’s leader, Sinwar, carrying an Anra teachers passport, or whether it was the Anra office above the Hamas data center, or individuals within Anra who participated in the terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th.”

The three documented concerns:

Sinwar and UNRWA:

Yahya Sinwar (Hamas leader) carried UNRWA teacher passport
Despite leading terrorist organization
Sinwar killed October 2024 by IDF
UNRWA credentials documented

UNRWA Office:

UNRWA office located above Hamas data center
Direct infrastructure connection
Operational facility
Terror coordination facilitated

UNRWA October 7 Participants:

Individual UNRWA employees participated in attack
Multiple identified
Some participating directly in attacks
Fires at homes, kidnappings, etc.

Defunding Trump

“I fully support the President’s commitment to defunding, and I’m proud to have voted for that in the Congress.”

Trump defunded UNRWA via executive order Day 1. Stefanik aligned — congressional vote plus administration action coherent.

Alternative Organizations

Stefanik’s replacement framework:

UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)
World Food Program
USAID coordination
Proven organizations
Reform efforts continuing

The framework — don’t fund UNRWA but fund alternative humanitarian work.

Capito Support

“It is truly an honor to be here to introduce someone who I admire greatly. The job she has been selected to carry out for President Trump is not an easy one, but it is extremely important.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV):

Foreign Relations Committee
Republican leader
Personal introduction
Friend of Stefanik

UN Critique

“Lately, when many of us look at the United Nations, this body that is meant to advance values of peace and freedom and human dignity, we don’t see those American values reflected.”

The UN criticism:

Original mission noble
Current performance lacking
American values absent
Institutional drift
Need for change

“We see rampant anti-Semitism against the world’s only Jewish state, as it faces attacks from all directions.”

Specific concerns:

Anti-Semitism
Israel alone as target
Disproportionate UN resolutions against Israel
World’s only Jewish state

“We see oppression and aggressive autocrats celebrated and elevated to leadership positions.”

Structural concerns:

Autocrats leading UN bodies
Human Rights Council members include violators
Iran on women’s rights commissions
China influence
Russia veto abuse

“We see China, Russia, and Iran empowered at this organization to advance their values, not the values of peace and freedom that Americans stand for.”

The framework:

Great power competition in UN
Adversary values advanced
American values marginalized
Institutional dysfunction

Stefanik as Solution

“It is clear that the need to reestablish U.S. leadership at this broken institution, we need to do that.”

The mission:

U.S. leadership required
Broken institution
Reform needed
Strong Ambassador needed

“I cannot think of anyone more qualified or more ready to fulfill that role than my friend Elise Tafanik.”

Capito’s endorsement:

Most qualified
Most ready
Personal friend
Strong recommendation

Stefanik Background

Elise Stefanik:

New York congresswoman
House Republican Conference Chair
Trump ally
Columbia University graduate
Bush 43 Domestic Policy Council
Youngest woman elected to Congress (2014)
Harvard antisemitism hearings leader
Strong Trump defense

Confirmation Prospects

Stefanik’s bipartisan support:

Democratic praise (Shaheen)
Strong Republican support
Capable of unanimous confirmation
Strategic voice for Trump framework

Significance

Stefanik’s confirmation hearing captured:

Bipartisan support: Even Democrats praising
Russia framework: Peace through strength working
UNRWA defunding: Bipartisan consensus
UN reform: U.S. leadership restoring
Personal qualifications: Strong background

The bipartisan praise for Stefanik was notable — Senate confirmation hearings often partisan. Shaheen’s endorsement reflected Stefanik’s genuine qualifications rather than political reflex.

The UNRWA framework exposed a vulnerability — terror organization infiltration of UN agency tolerated for decades. Trump’s defunding plus Stefanik’s UN advocacy addressed structural issue.

Capito’s “broken institution” framework captured bipartisan UN criticism. American leadership in UN reform needed, with Stefanik uniquely positioned for role.

Stefanik’s Russia record — voting for Ukrainian defensive lethal aid, House Intelligence Committee service — addressed concerns about Trump-aligned nominee being soft on Russia.

Key Takeaways

Shaheen bipartisan praise: “Representative Stefanik, welcome again to this committee. Congratulations on your nomination to be US Ambassador to the United Nations. From working in the Bush Administration on the Domestic Policy Council to being the youngest woman elected to Congress, you have strong credentials and the relevant experience for this role.”
Stefanik on Russia/Ukraine: “I have a very strong record when it comes to deterring Russia, pushing back on Russia, including during President Trump’s term, voting for defensive lethal aid to Ukraine … I’m very proud that during President Trump’s first term, it was the only president where Putin did not invade another country because of that strong peace through strength leadership.”
Tom Cotton support: “I’m here to happily and proudly offer my strong support to this dedicated public servant and American patriot, our next ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik. She’s the right person for the job.”
Stefanik on UNRWA: “You should never tolerate any U.S. taxpayer funds going towards terrorism … individuals within Anra who participated in the terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th … I fully support the President’s commitment to defunding.”
Capito on UN: “We see rampant anti-Semitism against the world’s only Jewish state … oppression and aggressive autocrats celebrated and elevated to leadership positions. We see China, Russia, and Iran empowered at this organization … I cannot think of anyone more qualified or more ready to fulfill that role than my friend Elise Tafanik.”