Monica Crowley, a well-known conservative author, political commentator, and former Treasury Department official, has officially been confirmed as the assistant secretary of state and chief of protocol with the rank of ambassador. The Senate voted 52-45 in favor of confirming Crowley, marking another major appointment connected to President Donald Trump’s administration and political movement.
Crowley has spent decades in conservative media and government service. She became widely recognized as a longtime contributor for Fox News, where she regularly appeared as a political and foreign affairs analyst. Over the years, she became especially familiar to viewers through appearances alongside Sean Hannity on “Hannity” and the earlier program “Hannity & Colmes,” which also featured the late Alan Colmes.
President Donald Trump first announced Crowley’s nomination in December, praising her previous service during his first administration and highlighting her experience in communications, diplomacy, and public affairs.
“I am honored to nominate Monica Elizabeth Crowley, Ph.D. to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America,” Trump said at the time of the announcement.
He also emphasized the important role Crowley would play in several major international events that the United States is expected to host in the coming years. According to Trump, Crowley will help represent the administration during America’s 250th anniversary celebration in 2026, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Trump praised Crowley’s previous work in his administration, where she served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. During that time, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, which is considered the highest honor awarded by the Treasury Department.
The president also pointed to her academic and media background, noting that Crowley is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the original contributors who joined Fox News in 1996, the same year the network launched. Crowley graduated from Colgate University and later earned two master’s degrees along with a Ph.D. in international relations from Columbia University.
Trump concluded his statement by saying Crowley would serve as an “extraordinary representative” of the United States on the global stage.
Crowley’s confirmation also comes at a time when Republicans appear to maintain a strong advantage over Democrats on economic issues, according to several recent polls. A new survey released by CNN showed that many voters still trust Republicans more than Democrats when it comes to handling the economy, despite months of criticism aimed at Trump’s economic agenda.
CNN data analyst Harry Enten expressed surprise over the polling results during a recent analysis segment. He noted that despite ongoing concerns about tariffs, market instability, and recession fears promoted by Democrats and many media outlets, Republicans continue to hold a noticeable lead on economic trust.
“The Republican Party is closest to your economic views,” Enten explained while discussing the polling numbers. He pointed out that Republicans previously held an 11-point advantage in late 2023, and that the latest data still showed the GOP leading by around eight points.
Enten appeared shocked that Democrats had failed to gain momentum on what has traditionally been one of the most important political issues for voters.
“How is that possible after all the recession fears, after the stock market volatility, and after all the criticism over tariffs?” he asked during the segment. “And Republicans still hold an eight-point advantage on the economy.”
He then referenced additional polling from Reuters and Ipsos, which showed Republicans performing even better on questions related to economic leadership and future planning.
According to Enten, Republicans held a nine-point lead in May 2024 when voters were asked which party had a better economic plan. However, by May 2025, that advantage reportedly increased to 12 points.
The analyst argued that these numbers reveal deeper challenges for Democrats, especially considering the intense national debate over inflation, tariffs, and fears of economic instability over the past year.
“Despite all of that, Democrats are still down by double digits on the economy,” Enten said. “That tells you just how significant the Democratic Party’s problem is on this issue.”
He concluded by explaining that even though Trump’s personal approval ratings may fluctuate, Republicans remain politically competitive because voters continue to give them stronger marks on economic policy than Democrats.
According to Enten, as long as Republicans maintain a clear edge on the economy — whether in CNN polling or Reuters/Ipsos surveys — they are likely to remain highly competitive in upcoming national elections.
