Donald Trump has appointed the fiercely pro-Israel Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik as the next US ambassador to the UN.

Ms Stefanik, 40, a Trump critic-turned-loyalist, has become one of his loudest defenders in Congress and on the campaign trail and has established a reputation as a Republican rising star.

She won re-election to the House in New York’s 21st congressional district last week, but will now leave that role to take up her position as one of Mr Trump’s top diplomats.

The president-elect had a tumultuous relationship with the UN in his first term, ordering his officials to withdraw from the World Health Organisation over its failure to fully investigate the origins of coronavirus in China.

He is also a strong supporter of Israel, putting him on a collision course with the UN, which has strongly criticised Benjamin Netanyahu’s government since the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7.

Ms Stefanik took on university chiefs over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests that emerged on campuses in response to the war.