Morgan Ortagus, an Auburndale native and a graduate of Florida Southern College, served in the Bush, Obama and first Trump administrations.

Morgan Ortagus, a Donald Trump critic turned supporter, will serve as his deputy special envoy for Middle East peace.

Early on Morgan fought me for three years, but hopefully has learned her lesson,” Trump wrote, adding: “These things usually don’t work out.”

Morgan Ortagus, who has previously clashed with Trump, will serve as deputy to Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East.

When President-elect Donald Trump announced his choice for No. 2 Middle East peace envoy, he made it clear that he wasn’t thrilled about it. Most Read from BloombergIs This Weird Dome the Future of Watching Sports?

President-elect Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about appointing former State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus as deputy special envoy for Middle East peace – while announcing his decision to give her the role.

Announcing his deputy envoy for Middle East peace, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear that he chose Morgan Ortagus reluctantly. Trump said he picked Ortagus, a spokesperson at the State Department when it was led by Mike Pompeo — who in 2024 considered running against him — because others lobbied hard for her.

US President-elect Donald Trump has decided to appoint former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace, reports Axios. On his social media platform,

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced Morgan Ortagus as America's Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace to Steven Witkoff.

"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"

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," Trump wrote.

Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson during Trump's first term, attempted to run for Tennessee's 5th Congressional district in 2022.