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.

Morgan Ortagus previously held US government roles in Baghdad and Riyadh before becoming State Department spokesperson in Trump’s first term

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.

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

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.

President-elect Donald Trump announced a new hire to his incoming second administration on Friday in a less than conventional manner.

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.

US President-elect has announced the appointment of Morgan Ortagus as Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Middle East Peace. Ortagus has extensive experience in diplomacy and national security and previously served as the spokesperson at the Department of State.

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