Trump weighs David Friedman and Ellie Cohanim for UN ambassador role

President Donald Trump is zeroing in his search for the United Nations ambassador position after revoking Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination to keep the narrow House Republican majority.

Trump is considering former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat anti-Semitism Ellie Cohanim, according to reports from sources involved in the process.

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Special envoy Richard Grenell is also a potential choice, according to a Bloomberg report but he has repeatedly said he is not interested in taking the UN role, taking a “hard no” stance.

Trump said more than 30 people are interested in the role he described as a “star-making position” while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

Friedman maintained a considerable influence from Jerusalem during the previous Trump administration. He went on to endorse Trump’s re-election and has been one of his most vocal advocates.

A longtime friend of Trump, Friedman praised the president’s plan for the United States to take control of Gaza in February, which he said would create a “permanent monument to the failure of radical Islamism” if executed correctly.

He was instrumental in helping to craft the Abraham Accords, moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and pushing for the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

However, according to sources, Trump’s closest advisors may be reluctant to support Friedman, out of fear that his longstanding relationship with the president could undermine their authority.

Meanwhile, Cohanim, who prides herself on being the first Iranian-born State Department envoy, was part of Trump’ “Jewish Voices for Trump” campaign coalition. Cohanim’s positions align with Trump including her opposition to the rise of anti-Semitism and her fierce opposition to the Iranian regime, which forced her family to flee during the 1979 revolution.

Trump picking Cohanim would be in line with his track record of nominating women to the role including former UN Ambassadors Nikki Haley and Kelly Craft.

Both Friedman and Cohanim have not publicly commented on the matter.

Read more:

Trump advisor Waltz faces new pressure over Gmail usage

Pentagon deploys more squadrons, assets, aircraft carriers to Middle East