Trump Appoints Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Envoy for Middle East Peace
“She is expected to be a valuable asset for Steve [Witkoff], a remarkable leader and talent, as we aim to foster calm and prosperity in a highly troubled region,” Trump stated.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Morgan Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East affairs, while revealing some concerns.
Ortagus has an extensive background in various political campaigns and government roles, serving as a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department from 2019 to 2021 during Trump’s first presidential term.
Additionally, Ortagus has established herself as a national security analyst, contributing political and foreign policy insights at Fox News for several years and founding the nonprofit Polaris National Security.
She is also currently an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, a detail noted by Trump in his announcement.
Trump Expresses Hope that Ortagus ‘Learned Her Lesson’
Trump expressed satisfaction in announcing Morgan Ortagus for the Middle East policy role, but acknowledged their historically contentious relationship.
Ortagus had supported Jeb Bush during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries and had consistently voiced her concerns regarding Trump’s candidacy.
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In an April 2016 appearance on Fox Business, Ortagus criticized Trump’s foreign policy stance after he stated he did not want the U.S. to act as “the policeman of the world.”
“I strongly disagree with his isolationist stance on foreign policy,” she remarked at that time.
In his Jan. 3 announcement, Trump reflected on their past disagreements and expressed some hesitation about naming Ortagus to his second presidential administration.
“Initially, Morgan opposed me for three years, but hopefully, she has learned her lesson,” he noted. “These situations typically do not end well, but she has significant Republican backing, and I am not doing this for my sake, I’m doing it for them.”
Challenges in the Middle East
The president-elect conveyed hope that Ortagus could successfully further his Middle East policy at a time characterized by numerous conflicts and political turmoil.
“Let’s see how it unfolds. I believe she can be an asset to Steve, a great leader and talent, as we strive to foster calm and prosperity in this very troubled region,” Trump remarked.
The incoming president acknowledged Ortagus’s contribution to advancing the Abraham Accords, his approach to stabilizing relations between Israel and its surrounding nations. During the final months of Trump’s first term, the accords facilitated Israel’s normalization of diplomatic relations with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, and Morocco.
The Biden administration sought to build upon the Abraham Accords, aiming to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a key regional player.
“It is an honor to once again represent my country and the Trump Administration in such a critical diplomatic role. The priority is to achieve peace and stability in a troubled region, and I am thankful to play a small part in that mission,” she stated.
“We owe significant credit to President Donald Trump for being re-elected,” she commented. “I can assure you that every terrorist in the region remembers what he did to Qasem Soleimani in 2020.”
