WASHINGTON – Throughout her confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)  asserted her commitment to President Trump and his political agenda, jumping to the defense of a member of the president’s inner circle who was accused of making an antisemitic gesture.

During the hearing, Sen. Chris Murphy (D- Conn.) asked Stefanik about Elon Musk raising his arm during a Trump rally Monday. Many people said it resembled a Nazi salute.

She rejected that. “Elon Musk did not do those salutes,” Stefanik said.  

Throughout her confirmation hearing, Stefanik stressed she would stand up for Trump, his policies and his people at home and abroad as his U.N. ambassador.

“My vision is making sure that we support President Trump’s America first,” she said.

With a ceasefire just days old in the Middle East, the issue of Israel likely will continue to be important throughout Trump’s presidency. While former President Joe Biden’s administration sought a two-state solution, members of Trump’s cabinet, like his nominee for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, have said that a Palestinian state should not exist within Israel’s borders.  

When pressed by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) on whether or not Palestinian people have the right to self-determination, Stefanik dodged the question but after the question was repeated she responded.

“Of course they deserve human rights,” she said. “I want to ensure number one, we bring the hostages [being held by Hamas] home. 

Stefanik, a congresswoman from upstate New York, was first elected in 2014. The Harvard graduate was the fourth-ranked Republican in the House before she was nominated by President Trump for a role in his cabinet. 

Stefanik was on the House Armed Service Committee and House Permanent Committee on Intelligence. Despite having little experience overseas, she told the committee about her “strong record” in Congress. She and other Republicans repeatedly praised her “moral clarity.” 

“Elise has shown her moral clarity by exposing antisemitism on college campuses,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), a friend and witness for Stefanik. “She has shown [her moral clarity] by posting [about antisemitism] on social media every day.”

Stefanik said her moral clarity coupled with American values would help her tackle the conflict in Israel and antisemitism in the U.S. and the U.N.

Stefanik’s bona fides as an opponent of antisemitism made her comments defending Musk’s gesture particularly notable.

“Elon Musk is a visionary,” she continued. “I’m looking forward to his work with DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency],” a new agency Trump created to cut government spending.

Stefanik also told the senators that she would approach her position as the ambassador to the U.N. by asking herself three questions: “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? And does it make America more prosperous?”

She said she would focus on bringing transparency to the U.N. so that Americans know where their money is being spent. Stefanik also emphasized the importance of protecting American interests against the Chinese. 

“We have to be vigilant both in the long term and in the short term to make sure that China is not able to make significant inroads,” she said.

She supported Trump’s decision to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement, which was designed to fight climate change, and to take the U.S. out of the World Health Organization.

“I support President Trump’s decision to walk away from WHO. WHO failed,” Stefanik said. Later in the hearing, she asserted that the U.S. needs to “be the leader in terms of global health.”

A special election will be held in Stefanik’s district within 90 days after she leaves Congress.