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Trump appoints Morgan Ortagus as deputy special envoy for Middle East peace

January 04, 2025
Morgan Ortagus.
Morgan Ortagus.

WASHINGTON — US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Morgan Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace, joining real estate executive Steven Witkoff, who was appointed special envoy in November.

"She will hopefully be an asset to Steve, a great leader and talent, as we seek to bring calm and prosperity to a very troubled region. I expect great results, and soon," Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Ortagus, the former State Department spokesperson during Trump’s first term, expressed her gratitude for the appointment.

"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 wrote on X.

She emphasized the importance of the US fostering "peace and stability" in the Middle East, calling her new role a "small" contribution to that goal.

Ortagus served as State Department spokesperson from 2019 to 2021 under then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Before that, she worked as a financial intelligence analyst at the Treasury Department and served as deputy US Treasury attaché in Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2011. — Agencies


January 04, 2025
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