President-Elect Trump is planning to appoint Hardcore Zionist Elise Stefanik as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It's Probably not a good idea.
Elise Stefanik is the new darling of the hard-right, a politician who, with an Ivy League gloss, has wrapped herself in the American flag and doubled down on support for Israel like it's some divine mandate. Stefanik, she's got this uncanny political radar for knowing where the power flows, and in today's GOP, that means unwavering loyalty to Israel, come hell or high water.
Stefanik's brand of Zionism is polished, PR-friendly, the kind that fits nicely in a press release and rolls off the tongue in sound bites about "security" and "shared values." She'll throw her weight behind Israel with a fervor that almost outdoes the most hardline Likudniks, and if you listen close, you can almost hear her rehearsed talking points about "America's strongest ally" and "the only democracy in the Middle East." It's calculated, sure, but make no mistake—this is a political crusade for her, a golden ticket to the hearts of GOP power players and the donors who write the checks.
Why is Stefanik a Zionist? Because in her world, there's no downside. The political rewards of aligning with Israel, of pushing for ironclad military aid and a blind eye to anything Israel does, outweigh any questions or nuance. It's power politics at its finest, and she's as eager as anyone in Washington to play the game. Supporting Israel isn't just about "values" for her; it's about cementing her reputation as a hawk, a patriot, a tough-on-terrorism crusader who can roll with the biggest and loudest voices on Capitol Hill.
Stefanik knows that in today's GOP, Israel isn't just an ally—it's a pillar of their worldview, a litmus test for how far you're willing to go in supporting the so-called "strongman" ethos. She doesn't just advocate for Israel; she wears it like a badge, an instant signifier that she's on the right side of the aisle, standing with Israel against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This isn't the Zionism of scholars and cultural connections—this is political Zionism, stripped down and streamlined for the American right-wing stage.
At the end of the day, Elise Stefanik's brand of Zionism isn't about history or religion; it's about raw political calculus, a chess game where standing by Israel, no matter what, translates into influence, clout, and a reputation as one of the GOP's true loyalists. And if that means draping herself in the flag of another nation along with her own? She'll do it with a smile, all in the name of "security" and "shared values"—the kind of rhetoric that just so happens to align perfectly with her ambitions.