Meet Matt Manda, husband of Donald Trump’s new UN envoy Elise Stefanik: the one-time political staffer, now a pro-gun activist, met his wife through friends in 2012 and married her in 2017

Nov 14 , 2024

Donald Trump’s new UN ambassador Elise Stefanik with her husband, Matt Manda and their son, Samuel, at the 2024 Republican National Convention earlier this year. Photo: @mandamatthew/Instagram

US presidential election 2024

Manda urged Americans to vote for Trump – and pro-gun policies – in the lead-up to the US elections; now there are concerns that he could wield his influence on his wife

After securing a historic second term in the White House, US President-Elect Donald Trump has wasted no time filling high-ranking positions in his new administration. While most of the attention has been snared by the appointment of tech billionaire and long-time Trump supporter Elon Musk to the new Department of Government Efficiency, Elise Stefanik has also come into the spotlight after she was offered the role of US ambassador to the United Nations.

Stefanik confirmed she had accepted the offer, releasing a statement applauding Trump. “President Trump’s historic landslide election has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead – both at home and abroad. America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek.”

Elise Stefanik with husband Matt Manda on holiday in Florence, Italy, in 2019. Photo: @mandamatthew/Instagram

Stefanik was one of Trump’s major supporters during his first impeachment and was even rumoured to have been considered as Trump’s running mate for the Republican ticket. Despite having almost no foreign policy experience, Stefanik will be heavily involved in international affairs in her new role.

While Stefanik will face significant scrutiny as her new appointment is confirmed, it’s her husband who’s coming under the microscope. Matt Manda is a known pro-gun activist and there are concerns about his having access to a high-profile member of the new Trump administration.

But who is Matt Manda?

Matt Manda is a pro-gun activist

Matt Manda celebrates his 35th birthday with Elise Stefanik in 2017. Photo: @mandamatthew/Instagram

Manda is the manager of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a trade group with a mandate to “promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shootings sports”. The group considers itself a voice of the gun industry, writing on its website that it “stands in defence of every segment of our industry on Capitol Hill and in state capitols nationwide”.

Matt Manda on holiday with his family. Photo: @mandamatthew/Instagram

Gun-control laws are always a controversial matter in the US. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 656 mass shootings in the country in 2023. With 2024 an election year, gun control was a hot topic for politicians and access to a pro-gun lobbyist could have been beneficial to Stefanik.

He urged Americans to #GunVote – and vote for Donald Trump

Matt Manda enjoys a cigar by a lake. Photo: @mandamatthew/Instagram