Donald Trump has chosen Republican consultant Elice Stefanik to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the U.S. president-elect officially announced today.

The news was originally reported yesterday by CNN.

“I am honored to nominate Elise Stefanik to serve in my cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough and intelligent fighter for America First policy,”Trump said.

Stephanik, aged 40, who was elected in New York and is currently fourth in line for the Republican Party’s parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives, is described as a staunch ally of Trump in recent years and was thought to have been under consideration for the post, the equivalent of a cabinet post in the US government.

She could not be immediately reached for comment.

Trump said Saturday that his former rival in the race for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not be included in his new administration.

Haley, the US ambassador to the UN in the Republican’s previous (2017-2021) term as president, ultimately backed Trump‘s White House candidacy despite their fierce clash when he was vying for the party’s nomination to be her presidential candidate.

Donald Trump has begun discussions and meetings with potential candidates for various positions in his administration and state apparatus ahead of his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

Reuters reported on Friday that Trump met with prominent investor Scott Bessend, who is a potential candidate for US Treasury Secretary.