Trump mulls David Friedman for UN ambassador role

President Donald Trump’s got his eye on a familiar name for his next United Nations Ambassador: David Friedman, a staunch Israel ally who’s no stranger to the Trump inner circle. Friedman, now 66, was Trump’s personal lawyer before the 2016 win and jumped onto the transition team after the election. During Trump’s first go-round, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, where he helped hammer out the 2020 Abraham Accords—a big deal for Middle East peace talks. This time, though, Trump didn’t tap Friedman for the Israel post when he reclaimed the White House in January; that gig went to ex-Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee instead. Now, Friedman’s name is back in the mix for the UN spot.

The chatter kicked up on Monday when Trump fielded questions in the Oval Office about who’d replace New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, his initial UN pick. “We’ve got a lot of folks who want it,” Trump said, name-dropping Friedman alongside Ric Grenell and tossing out a casual “maybe 30 other people” who are itching for the job. “Everyone loves that position—it’s a star-making gig. We’ll see what shakes out.” Stefanik had to step back last Friday, not because she didn’t want it, but to keep the GOP’s shaky House majority intact. With Republicans clinging to 220 seats against the Democrats’ 215—and two empty spots still up for grabs—Trump didn’t want to risk it. “I don’t want you guys asking, ‘How’s the election going?’” he quipped. “We’ve got a tight congressional race. Randy Fine’s solid, but the other one’s close. Elise is a big deal in her district, so it’s about playing it safe.”

Friedman’s not the only name floating around, but Trump’s keeping it coy. One person who won’t be back? Nikki Haley, his first-term UN Ambassador. She went toe-to-toe with him in the 2024 GOP primaries and got trounced, so don’t expect a reunion there. Friedman, though, could be a natural fit—his Israel cred and Trump loyalty make him a standout. The UN job’s a high-profile one, and Trump knows it’s a chance to put a trusted face on the global stage. For now, he’s weighing his options, but Friedman’s clearly in the running as the decision looms.