Trump Appoints Morgan Ortagus Deputy Envoy, Says She 'Learned Her Lesson'

Jan 3, 2025, 09:55 PM

President Donald Trump has appointed Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace. Ortagus, a U.S. Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer and veteran of the Trump State Department, will serve under Special Envoy Steven Witkoff. In his announcement on January 3, 2025, Trump noted that Ortagus 'fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson,' adding that 'These things usually don’t work out, but she has strong Republican support, and I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for them. Let’s see what happens.' Ortagus is expected to help advance America's interests in the Middle East, including building on the Abraham Accords and strengthening regional coalitions. Several officials and politicians congratulated her on the appointment.