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Elise Stefanik, once seen as one of the MAGA movement's biggest rising stars, retired from Congress and dropped out of the New York governor's race in one fell swoop Friday.
Although Donald Trump said in a message following the news that he was 'with her all the way,' a series of humiliations at the president's hands are being blamed for her downfall.
The second Trump term saw huge promise for Stefanik, who won re-election alongside the president by 25 points in 2024.
She wasn't set to hold down her seat for very long, however, as Trump had initially nominated her to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations on the back of her work eviscerating Ivy League presidents in Congressional hearings on campus antisemitism.
However, in early March, Trump pulled the nomination as Republicans' majority in the House of Representatives fell in danger, even after Stefanik embarked on a farewell tour in her district to thank the constituents she represented in Congress.
Stefanik had already gone before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee one day after Trump was sworn into office on January 21 for her confirmation hearing.
She was expected to fly through the confirmation process with some bipartisan support. But the full vote was never scheduled.
It appeared Stefanik had found her next move, however, when she announced a run for governor in early November against Democrat Kathy Hochul, who she had deemed 'the worst governor in America.'
Elise Stefanik, once seen as one of the MAGA movement's biggest rising stars, retired from Congress and dropped out of the New York governor's race in one fell swoop Friday
Although Donald Trumpsaid in a message following the news that he was 'with her all the way,' a series of humiliations at the president's hands are being blamed for her downfall
However, the New York congresswoman lost momentum after Trump's surprisingly friendly meeting at the White House with socialist Big Apple Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani.
Stefanik had gone as far as calling Mamdani a 'jihadist,' something Trump was asked about by the press.
'No, I don't. She's out there campaigning, you know. You say things sometimes in a campaign,' he said, adding that Mamdani was 'a very rational person.'
In December, Stefanik faced further controversy after a public slamming of Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
She had grown frustrated with the route the party was taking after a series of electoral beatdowns by Democrats in November and early December.
Stefanik, who served as chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2025, called out Johnson for being 'a political novice' in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
She also described Tuesday's results as 'House Republicans underperforming for the first time in the Trump era.'
Less than a week later, Stefanik saw her final insult come at the hands of Trump after Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced he would challenge her in the Republican Primary.
Stefanik (pictured right) had her nomination to become US Ambassador to the UN pulled by Trump in late March
The New York Congresswoman lost momentum after Trump's surprisingly friendly meeting at the White House with socialist Big Apple Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani (pictured left). Stefanik had gone as far as calling Mamdani a 'jihadist,' something Trump dismissed to the press
Stefanik was set to have a tough race against Blakeman, with both politicians counting themselves as allies of Trump and attempting to court his support.
President Trump declined to say if he would endorse Stefanik or Blakeman.
The President added: 'He's great and she's great. They're both great people.'
Less than two weeks later, Stefanik suspended her campaign for New York governor and said she will not seek reelection to Congress, bowing out of what was expected to be a bruising Republican primary and ending a once-promising tenure in the House.
Stefanik, an ally of President Donald Trump, said in a statement that she was confident of her chances in the Republican primary for governor against Blakeman.
But she said, 'It is not an effective use of our time' to stay in the race, and that she instead wants to spend more time with her young son and family.
'I have thought deeply about this and I know that as a mother, I will feel profound regret if I don´t further focus on my young son´s safety, growth, and happiness - particularly at his tender age,' she said.
On Friday, Trump, writing on his Truth Social media platform, called Stefanik a 'fantastic person and congresswoman.'
Stefanik was again hurt politically after Trump declined to endorse her over Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (pictured left) in the Republican Primary for governor of New York
'Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way!' Trump wrote.
On Saturday, Trump announced he was officially endorsing Blakeman for governor of his former home state.
The endorsement, while not unexpected, could help ensure that Blakeman doesn't face a serious contender in his push to win the GOP primary and a chance at a likely faceoff against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
'Bruce is MAGA all the way, and has been with me from the very beginning,' Trump said in a post announcing the endorsement on his Truth Social platform.
Blakeman, the executive of Nassau County, has gained attention for championing a policy that bans transgender athletes from using county sports facilities.
He has also created a volunteer law enforcement unit that his critics have labeled as a militia and directed county detectives to work alongside federal authorities in Trump´s immigration crackdown.