U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he has named Morgan Ortagus, who served as State Department spokesperson in his first term, as the president's deputy special envoy for Middle East peace.

Ortagus has extensive experience in national security and foreign policy. She will join a team led by Steve Witkoff, a close friend and confidant of Trump, according to Axios. During Trump's first term (2017-2021), Ortagus served as State Department spokesperson under then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. She also worked closely with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Long before that, she was a financial intelligence analyst at the Treasury Department and also served as deputy U.S. Treasury attaché to Saudi Arabia. Ortagus is also an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Criticism of Trump

During the Republican primary prior to the 2016 elections, Ortagus had criticized Donald Trump's “isolationist” foreign policy and personal behavior. Trump, however, said he had decided to appoint her despite their differences, because “she has strong Republican support.”

Ortagus's appointment comes at a time of great regional tension in the Middle East, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza. The priority for Trump's “peace team” will be to secure a hostage and cease-fire agreement in Gaza, if not reached by Jan. 20, when the president-elect takes office, Axios reports. They will have to work to end the Gaza war and draw up a plan for the “day after,” which will include a massive reconstruction effort. Witkoff and Ortagus are also expected to work on one of Trump's main foreign policy objectives, namely the conclusion of a historic peace agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the American media outlet continues. Trump said he wanted Witkoff and Ortagus to work to bring “calm and prosperity” to the Middle East. “I expect great results, and quickly,” he asserted.