President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Morgan Ortagus, his former State Department spokesperson, as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace, despite acknowledging past disagreements between them.
The appointment, announced Friday, places Ortagus in a crucial diplomatic role where she will work alongside Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to address ongoing regional challenges, including the Gaza conflict and potential peace negotiations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Trump’s announcement came with an unusual public caveat about their past relationship. “Early on Morgan fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson,” Trump wrote on social media. He added that while “these things usually don’t work out,” he made the appointment due to “strong Republican support.”
Ortagus brings significant diplomatic and national security experience to the role. As State Department spokesperson from 2019 to 2021, she was involved in the Abraham Accords negotiations. Her background includes service as a financial intelligence analyst at the Treasury Department and as Deputy U.S. Treasury Attaché to Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2011. She currently serves as an active U.S. Navy Reserve intelligence officer.
The appointment positions Ortagus at the center of critical Middle East initiatives. The immediate priorities for Trump’s peace team include addressing any ongoing Gaza hostage situations and ceasefire negotiations not resolved by January 20, as well as developing reconstruction plans for the region.
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“To be given the opportunity to once again represent my country and the Trump Administration in a crucial diplomatic role is [a] dream come true,” Ortagus stated on social media. “The most important thing is through President Trump, we bring peace and stability to a troubled region, and I’m grateful to play a small role in that endeavor.”
The complex dynamics of the appointment reflect broader challenges facing the incoming administration’s Middle East strategy. While Ortagus criticized Trump’s “isolationist” foreign policy during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, she later became a vocal supporter after his nomination.
Trump expressed his expectations for the peace team’s work, stating they would focus on bringing “calm and prosperity” to the Middle East, adding “I expect great results, and soon!”
Ortagus maintains close relationships with key Republican figures, including incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senator Lindsey Graham, incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Trump’s envoy for special missions, Ric Grenell. She also worked closely with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner during the previous administration.
The appointment comes at a critical time for Middle East diplomacy, with ongoing regional conflicts and the potential for significant diplomatic initiatives, including possible normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
