U.S. Senator Steve Daines today discussed the importance of standing with Israel and combatting Iran’s nuclear weapons program with President Trump’s nominee for U.N. Ambassador, Elise Stefanik.
Watch Daines’ and Stefanik’s full exchange HERE.
Daines: Congresswoman Stefanik, congratulations on your nomination and thank you for being here today. I’m very pleased to see President Trump placing such a strong emphasis on this very important position of Ambassador to the United Nations. It’s important for the United States to be active at the table at the UN to protect and advance U.S. interests. It’s hard to imagine that the United Nations, which was born out of the tragedy of the Holocaust, would become a significant voice, an instrument of antisemitism. That is exactly what’s happened. Not only has the UN General Assembly condemned Israel’s right to defend itself and demanded Israel end unlawful presence in occupied Palestinian territory, but it’s also attempted to recognize Palestine as a state, and programs such as UNRWA have actively assisted terrorists. I remember being in the Hezbollah terror tunnels in late August of ’23, seeing what was planned. In fact we walked down with IDF soldiers to see spray paint in Arabic on our way to Jerusalem. And little did we know when we were touring those Hezbollah terror tunnels in northern Israel, between Israel and Lebanon, that weeks later the worst terror attack in Israel’s history would occur, October 7th, 2023. Congresswoman Stefanik, if confirmed, you will have to be a stalwart advocate for U.S. interests. And by the way, I could not be more pleased with President Trump’s moral clarity on these difficult issues as it relates to what’s happening in Israel. Secretary Rubio, great to see him sworn in today. You as being our next ambassador of the United Nations, Ambassador Huckabee nominated for Israel, this will be a great team that has moral clarity on these difficult issues. You’ll be a stalwart advocate for our interest among an organization that continually advocates against American values, despite existing only because the United States financial contributions to its budget.
Daines and Stefanik discuss the need to curb Iran’s nuclear program:
Daines: Congresswoman Stefanik, the UN has had no greater demonstration of their ineffectiveness than its failure to prevent Iran from advancing in their nuclear weapons program. In your opinion, how could the United States, as a member of Security Council, encourage the UN to take actions to curb the investment advancements of Iran’s nuclear program?
Stefanik: I think this is related to the question by Senator Cornyn, consideration of snap sanctions continuing to be a strong voice pushing back against Iran, supporting the President’s maximum pressure campaign, which was so successful in the first term, that we will see a continuation of in this term. And I think that is also the critical step to take to stop the axis of terror in the region, as Iran is the number one funder of Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthis, which is destabilizing the region. I also think building on the success of the Abraham Accords– I mentioned this earlier in the hearing — we have an Abraham Accords Caucus here. Starting an Abraham Accords Caucus in the United Nations, with countries who understand the importance of bringing peace and normalization to the region.
Daines and Stefanik discuss the need to strongly support Israel:
Daines: You know, I remember that visit in late August on my last trip to Israel since the attacks, but meeting with Bibi Netanyahu, the optimism coming off the Abraham Accords with the possibility of restoring normalized relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. There was great hope and optimism, of course, shattered, shattered, not by the Israelis, but by this horrible terror attack by Hamas. A number of my colleagues have asked about your plans for changing the staffing dynamics and putting forward more U.S. candidates for postings. Congresswoman, I’m very supportive of this, but how do you plan to push back against individuals like the Secretary General, who lowered flags to half-staff for the “Butcher of Tehran,” their late president?
Stefanik: We’re going to push back with strong moral clarity. We’re going to push back with President Trump’s America first peace through strength as the United States ambassador at the United Nations and the number one funder. We are going to push back strongly and clearly.
Daines: I appreciate your moral clarity, your strong leadership, your 10 years in the U.S. House. Pleased to serve with you on the Hill and you will be a great ambassador at the United Nations.