President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokesperson, as Deputy Presidential Envoy to the Middle East. The announcement was made Friday, with Ortagus sharing her excitement about the role in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“I am honored that President Trump appointed me to the role of Deputy Presidential Envoy to the Middle East, under my dear friend Steve Witkoff,” Ortagus stated.

Ortagus, who served as State Department spokesperson during Trump’s first term, expressed her commitment to advancing peace and stability in the region. “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,” she said.

The nomination comes weeks after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which was toppled by a coalition led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Speaking to Bloomberg after the regime's collapse, Ortagus called for the protection of Syrian Kurds and warned of the dangers posed by a potential resurgence of ISIS in the region.

“The great threat from Syria is that the new vacuum will be filled by a resurgence of ISIS,” she said, stressing the need to safeguard Kurdish allies and maintain security.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control northeastern Syria (Rojava), have been pivotal partners in the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS. The SDF currently oversees thousands of ISIS detainees and their families in prisons and camps.

Ortagus will work alongside Steve Witkoff, a real estate magnate who has been appointed as Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East. Their combined efforts will focus on stabilizing a volatile region and addressing emerging threats, including the remnants of ISIS.

President-elect Trump is set to be inaugurated on January 20, marking the beginning of his second term in office.