It’s safe to say that Morgan Ortagus’ journey through the political landscape has been quite a ride. A few years ago, she didn’t hold back in criticizing then-candidate Donald Trump, even calling his behavior “disgusting” and comparing his temperament to that of a “middle school pubescent boy.” Fast forward to today, and Ortagus is back in Trump’s orbit, this time as his deputy special envoy for Middle East peace.
It’s a role that might raise some eyebrows, considering her earlier criticisms, but Trump’s statement about her appointment had a certain candid edge. “Early on Morgan fought me for three years, but hopefully, she has learned her lesson,” he said, acknowledging the tension between them in the past.
But Trump didn’t stop there. He made it clear that while he may not have picked Ortagus out of personal preference, she has strong support within the Republican party. “These things usually don’t work out,” he added, “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.”
This surprising appointment is also a chance for Ortagus to work closely with Steve Witkoff, the newly appointed special envoy to the Middle East. Trump, in his classic blunt style, hopes she’ll be an asset to him as they tackle one of the world’s most complex regions.
But how did Morgan Ortagus, once a vocal critic of Trump, land back in his team? After her time as a national security contributor to Fox News and her role in the U.S. State Department during Trump’s first term, Ortagus reinvented herself as a staunch Trump ally. She even ran for a congressional seat in Tennessee in 2022, though her campaign faced some hurdles with the Tennessee Republican Party removing her from the primary ballot due to her recent move to the state.
Before her Trump-era involvement, Ortagus held notable positions in government, including working as a public affairs officer for USAID under President George W. Bush, as well as an intelligence analyst for the Treasury Department under President Obama. Her impressive resume showcases her diverse experience in foreign policy and national security.
It’s a twisty road, but it just goes to show: politics can be full of surprises. Will Ortagus be able to deliver on the big promises of peace in the Middle East? Only time will tell.
