{{Short description|American diplomat and analyst (born 1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Morgan Ortagus | image = Official portrait of Deputy Special Presidential Envoy Morgan Ortagus, 2025.png | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | office = Deputy [[Ambassadors of the United States#Special envoys, representatives, and coordinators|United States Special Envoy]] <br/>to the [[Middle East]] | term_start = January 20, 2025 | term_end = June 15, 2025 | president = [[Donald Trump]] | 1blankname = {{Nowrap|Special Envoy}} | 1namedata = [[Steve Witkoff]] | predecessor = ''Position established'' | successor = | office1 = 28th [[Spokesperson for the United States Department of State]] | president1 = Donald Trump | 1blankname1 = [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary]] | 1namedata1 = [[Mike Pompeo]] | term_start1 = April 3, 2019 | term_end1 = January 20, 2021 | predecessor1 = [[Heather Nauert]] | successor1 = [[Ned Price]] | birth_name = Morgan Deann Ortagus | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|7|10}} | birth_place = [[Auburndale, Florida]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | spouse = {{marriage|Jonathan Weinberger{{Clear}}|2013}} | children = 1 | education = [[Florida Southern College]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[Johns Hopkins University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]]) | website = {{URL|https://www.state.gov/biographies/morgan-ortagus/|Official website}} | allegiance = United States | branch = {{tree list}} * [[United States Navy]] ** [[United States Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve]] {{tree list/end}} | branch_label = Branch | service_years = 2014–present | service_years_label = Service years | rank = [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] | unit = [[Office of Naval Intelligence|Naval Intelligence]] | battles = Global [[war on terror]]ism }}
'''Morgan Deann Ortagus''' (born July 10, 1982) is an American diplomat, [[intelligence analyst]], political advisor, [[United States Navy|naval]] officer, and former television commentator serving as a senior policy adviser at the [[United States Mission to the United Nations|U.S. Mission to the United Nations]]. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], she previously served as deputy [[Ambassadors of the United States#Special envoys, representatives, and coordinators|special presidential envoy]] to the [[Middle East]] in 2025 and [[spokesperson for the United States Department of State]] from 2019 to 2021.
Ortagus began her career in government as a deputy [[attaché]] and intelligence analyst at the [[United States Department of the Treasury]] and later as a public affairs officer at [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]]. She worked as a national security contributor at [[Fox News]] until her appointment as State Department spokesperson. Since 2014, Ortagus has been an [[Office of Naval Intelligence|intelligence officer]] in the [[United States Navy Reserve]].
During her time at the State Department, Ortagus was critical of [[Iran]] and [[China]], particularly over the [[Chinese Communist Party]]'s efforts to shift blame to the United States for the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/us-chinese-government-spokeswomen-are-trading-coronavirus-jabs-online-2020-3|title=US and Chinese government spokeswomen are battling it out in an online war of words over the coronavirus|first=Ryan|last=Pickrell|work=[[Business Insider]]|date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> She played a key role in the [[Abraham Accords]].<ref name="auto3" />
Ortagus is the founder of POLARIS National Security, co-chair of the Women's Democracy Network at the [[International Republican Institute]], and a member of the board of advisors for the China Center at [[Hudson Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morgan Ortagus |url=https://www.concordia.net/community/morganortagus/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[Concordia Summit|Concordia]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Morgan Ortagus |url=https://www.iri.org/who-we-are/iri-experts/morgan-ortagus/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[International Republican Institute]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2023 |title=China Center − Board of Advisors {{!}} Hudson |url=https://www.hudson.org/china-center/board-advisors |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[Hudson Institute]] |language=en}}</ref> She was a candidate for [[Tennessee's 5th congressional district]] in the [[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee|2022 election]], but was disqualified by the [[Tennessee Republican Party]] despite her endorsement by then-former President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Trump-backed House candidate removed from ballot by Tenn. Republicans |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-election/trump-backed-house-candidate-removed-ballot-tenn-republicans-rcna25039 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Ortagus was born in [[Auburndale, Florida]] to Ronald E. and Denise C. Ortagus. Her father owned a cleanup and restoration company, and her mother was the office manager. An identical twin, she grew up in Florida and won the Miss Auburndale, Miss Teen Auburndale, 2003 Miss Florida Citrus, and Miss Orange Blossom titles.<ref>[https://www.flsouthern.edu/library/archives/fsc-history/fsc-florida-citrus-queens-and-miss-florida-citrus "Morgan Ortagus − Miss Florida Citrus of 2002,"] Florida Southern College.</ref><ref name="mo3">{{cite web |first=Amrutha |last=Srivatsa |url=https://www.earnthenecklace.com/morgan-ortagus-wiki-facts-fox-news-beauty/ |title=Morgan Ortagus Wiki: Meet Fox News' Impressive Guest Analyst |date=December 11, 2018 |website=EarnTheNecklace.com |access-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404041019/https://www.earnthenecklace.com/morgan-ortagus-wiki-facts-fox-news-beauty/ |archive-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> Ortagus volunteered with [[Students Against Destructive Decisions]] and [[Mothers Against Drunk Driving]] after her mentor was killed by a drunk driver in 1996.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/20030708/news/608102158 |title=Florida Southern Student Shines In State Pageant |first=Shelley |last=Preston |newspaper=[[The Ledger]] |date=July 8, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407163208/https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20030708/News/608102158/LL/ |archive-date=April 7, 2019}}</ref>
In 2005, Ortagus, a first-generation college student, graduated from [[Florida Southern College]] with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in [[political science]]. Originally interested in studying music, she switched her major to political science after the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]] and converted to Judaism.<ref name="jewishinsider">{{Cite web|first=Gabby|last=Deutch|url=https://jewishinsider.com/2020/04/for-the-state-depts-top-spokeswoman-her-journey-to-judaism-began-in-baghdad/|title=For the State Dept's top spokeswoman, her journey to Judaism began in Baghdad|date=April 24, 2020|website=[[Jewish Insider]]}}</ref>
In 2013, Ortagus graduated from [[Johns Hopkins University]] with both a Master of Arts in Government degree and a [[Master of Business Administration]] from the [[Johns Hopkins Carey Business School]]. Ortagus' research at JHU included an honors thesis on [[Counter-insurgency|counterinsurgency]].<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" /><ref>[https://2017-2021.state.gov/biographies/morgan-ortagus/ "Morgan Ortagus ,"] U.S. Department of State.</ref>
==Career== [[File:Secretary Pompeo Holds Joint Press Availability With Foreign Minister Maas (47971176302).jpg|thumb|204px|Ortagus speaks in Germany in 2019]]
===Political campaigns=== In 2006, Ortagus worked as [[press secretary]] on former Deputy National Security Advisor [[K. T. McFarland]]'s [[United States Senate|Senate]] campaign. Prior to that, she worked on [[Adam Putnam]]'s campaign staff.<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" />
Ortagus was a [[Campaign volunteer|volunteer]] on the [[Jeb Bush 2016 presidential campaign]].<ref name="mo2" />
===United States Agency for International Development=== From 2007 to 2008, Ortagus was a public affairs officer at [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID), spending several months in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]. She attended a [[Hanukkah]] ceremony in one of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s former palaces in Baghdad.<ref name="auto3" />
===United States Department of the Treasury=== In 2008, Ortagus joined the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Treasury Department]], working as an intelligence analyst within the Treasury's [[Office of Intelligence and Analysis (United States Department of the Treasury)|Office of Intelligence and Analysis]], covering [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]].<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" />
Ortagus was a deputy Treasury attaché at the U.S. Embassy in [[Riyadh]], [[Saudi Arabia]] starting in 2010. She worked to counter [[illicit financial flows]] and was the principal liaison from the Treasury Department to the banking sector in Saudi Arabia.<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" /> She returned to the United States in 2011.<ref name="jewishinsider" />
===Private sector=== [[File:Ortagus Concordia.jpg|thumb|left|204px|Ortagus moderating a panel at<br/>the Concordia summit]]After returning to the United States, Ortagus joined the private sector, first as global relationship manager at [[Standard Chartered|Standard Chartered Bank]] working with clients from [[Asia]], the [[Middle East]] and [[Africa]], and then in 2016 as executive director at [[Ernst & Young]] (EY), where she helped found EY's Geostrategic Business Group working on [[Geopolitics|geopolitical]] risk analysis for investors.<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" />
In 2013, she was the vice president of the board of the Friends of the [[Public-Private Partnership for Justice Reform in Afghanistan]], based in Washington.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/fashion/weddings/morgan-ortagus-jonathan-weinberger-weddings.html|title=Morgan Ortagus and Jonathan Weinberger|date=May 26, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
Ortagus worked as national security contributor and Republican strategist at the [[Fox News Channel]], appearing on ''[[Fox & Friends]]'', ''[[Outnumbered (U.S. TV program)|Outnumbered]]'', ''[[The Five (talk show)|The Five]]'' and ''Mornings with Maria'' on the [[Fox Business Network]].<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" />
Ortagus and [[Samantha Vinograd]] co-founded GO Advisors, a geopolitical risk and policy advisory firm that focused on bridging divides between Wall Street and [[Silicon Valley]] with the White House and [[U.S. Treasury Department]].<ref name="mo2" /><ref name="mo3" />
Ortagus was on the National Board of Directors of Maverick PAC as National Co-Chair. The organization's co-founder said that Ortagus "turned the organization really into a new frontier."<ref name="jewishinsider" /> She was also a member of the [[CNAS]] Council and Future of Sanctions Task Force, a member of the Institute for the Study of War's Advancement Committee, a board member to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, a board member to the Friends of the American University of Afghanistan, and an advisor to [[Concordia Summit|Concordia]] where she contributed to the strategic direction and development of the organization's foreign and defense policy programming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maverickpac.com/board-morgan|title=Board − Morgan|website=Maverick PAC|access-date=March 10, 2021|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328230121/http://www.maverickpac.com/board-morgan|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Military service=== In 2014, Ortagus was commissioned as an intelligence [[military officer|officer]] in the United States Navy Reserve.<ref>{{cite web |title=Morgan Ortagus Former State Department Spokeswoman |url=https://nixonseminar.com/morgan-ortagus/ |website=nixonseminar.com |date=March 29, 2021 |publisher=Richard Nixon Foundation |access-date=August 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name="mo1" /><ref name="mo2" /> In April 2025, she was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]], sworn in by Secretary of Defense [[Pete Hegseth]] at the [[White House]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=MorganOrtagus |number=1910797665652047908 |title=An amazing moment today to share with my little Adina Ann.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2018 |title=Navy reserve promotions |url=https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2018/NAV18278.txt?ver=7N0iMqe53fnF49ntyJ7ipg%3D%3D |website=mynavyhr.navy.mil |access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>
===United States Department of State=== [[File:Secretary Pompeo Briefs the Traveling Press (48178098606).jpg|thumb|204px|Ortagus with U.S. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] on July 30, 2019]] Ortagus returned to government in 2019 as Spokesperson for the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]], succeeding [[Heather Nauert]].<ref name="mo1">{{cite web |url=https://2017-2021.state.gov/biographies/morgan-ortagus/ |title=Morgan Ortagus |date=April 3, 2019 |publisher=[[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref><ref name="mo2">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/02/pompeos-new-spokesperson-bridges-gop-establishment-trump-world/ |last=Rogin |first=Josh |title=Pompeo's new spokeswoman bridges the GOP establishment and Trump world |date=April 2, 2019 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Washington Post]]'' columnist [[Josh Rogin]] described Ortagus as a bridge between the establishment and more conservative wings of the Republican foreign policy communities, and wrote that she was friends with [[Eric Trump]] and [[Ivanka Trump]].<ref name="mo2" /> She served until the end of the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], going on maternity leave in November 2020. During her tenure, she promoted the [[Abraham Accords]], which brokered peace agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://themedialine.org/top-stories/morgan-ortagus-savvy-state-department-spokeswoman-talks-middle-east-politics/|title=State Department Spokeswoman Ortagus: Our Job is to Deliver on the President's Vision for Peace|date=May 20, 2020|website=The Media Line |last1=Friedson |first1=Felice }}</ref>
===Return to private sector=== Post-government, Ortagus was a Senior Advisor for the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the [[Atlantic Council]], but left by March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/morgan-ortagus/ |title=Morgan Ortagus |website=Atlantic Council |access-date=March 1, 2022}}</ref> She also is a founding investor of Rubicon Founders, a health-care investment firm based in Nashville, Tennessee, in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2021/04/08/donors-fret-trumps-grip-on-gop-as-they-descend-on-palm-beach-492402 |title=POLITICO Playbook: Donors fret Trump's grip on GOP as they descend on Palm Beach |first1=Tara |last1=Palmeri |first2=Eugene |last2=Daniels |first3=Ryan |last3=Lizza |work=[[Politico]] |date=April 8, 2021 |access-date=April 8, 2021}}</ref>
===2022 congressional campaign=== On February 7, 2022, Ortagus announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for [[Tennessee's 5th congressional district]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2022/02/07/morgan-ortagus-run-nashville-tennessees-5th-congressional-district/6688920001/|title=Morgan Ortagus announces Trump-backed run for Tennessee's new 5th Congressional District|first=Melissa|last=Brown|date=February 7, 2022|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]}}</ref> Two weeks prior, former President [[Donald Trump]] endorsed Ortagus for a potential congressional run, saying that "I am told the very strong and impressive Morgan Ortagus is exploring a run in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://onthehill.tnjournal.net/trump-makes-endorsement-in-gop-primary-for-5th-district/|title=Trump makes endorsement in GOP primary for 5th District|first=Erik|last=Schelzig|date=January 26, 2022|work=The Tennessee Journal}}</ref> ''[[Politico]]'' forecasted a competitive Republican primary, with some frequent Trump allies backing other candidates.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/27/trump-maga-revolt-endorsement-00003050|title=Trump faces MAGA revolt over endorsement|first=Alex|last=Isenstadt|website=[[Politico]]|date=January 27, 2022}}</ref>
Following Trump's endorsement, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill on March 29 to require congressional candidates live in the district they represented, and to have lived in the state for the three years prior. If signed by the governor, the law's provisions would have taken immediate effect, disqualifying Ortagus. The ''Tennessean'' reported that the bill targeted Ortagus' candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Melissa |title=Tennessee legislature passes residency bill that would disqualify Trump-backed candidate |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/29/tennessee-general-assembly-passes-residency-requirement-bill-disqualify-trump-candidate/7199662001/ |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=The Tennessean |date=March 29, 2022}}</ref> Instead, Governor Bill Lee allowed the bill to become law unsigned, but only after the congressional filing deadline had passed; as the law's requirements were not retroactive, it did not apply to Ortagus' campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mattise |first1=Jonathan |title=Tennessee residency law too late to remove Trump-backed hopeful, according to TN secretary of state |url=https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/politics/tennessee-residency-law-too-late-remove-trump-backed-candidate-secretary-of-state/522-5ac30ce4-c955-4260-adf0-ed76759731df |access-date=April 26, 2022 |work=WATN-TV |agency=Associated Press |date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>
On April 19, the Tennessee Republican Party's executive committee removed Ortagus and two other candidates from the primary ballot for the 5th district. The party stated that official challenges had been filed against the three, obligating their removal from the ballot per party bylaws. On June 10, the [[Tennessee Supreme Court]] ruled that the Republican Party had not violated open meetings laws, thus keeping the three off the ballot.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.williamsonherald.com/news/local_news/state-high-court-wont-put-ousted-gop-hopeful-back-on-ballot/article_bfc7fe24-e92d-11ec-ad01-474821c71a41.html | title=State high court won't put ousted GOP hopeful back on ballot| date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> Maury County Mayor [[Andy Ogles]] won the Republican primary on August 4.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/04/tennessee-primaries-abortion-republicans-democrats/ |title=Ogles wins closely watched GOP primary for U.S. House in Tennessee |date=August 5, 2022 |orig-date=August 4, 2022 |first=David |last=Weigel |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref>
=== U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace === On January 3, 2025, then-[[President-elect of the United States|President-elect]] Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for [[Abraham Accords|Middle East peace]], under [[United States Special Envoy]] to the Middle East [[Steve Witkoff]], during his [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|second administration]].<ref name="envoy">{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Gangitano |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5066495-trump-taps-former-state-department-spokesperson-for-deputy-middle-east-envoy/ |title=Trump announces Middle East appointment: Hopefully she's learned her lesson |date=January 3, 2025 |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=January 4, 2025}}</ref> On February 7, she met with Lebanese President [[Joseph Aoun]], emphasizing U.S. opposition to [[Hezbollah]]'s role in Lebanon's government, stating it "won't be able to terrorize the Lebanese people."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lb.usembassy.gov/deputy-special-envoy-for-the-middle-east-morgan-ortagus-press-availability-at-the-presidential-palace-following-meeting-with-president-aoun/ |title=Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus' Press Availability at the Presidential Palace Following Meeting with President Aoun |website=U.S. Embassy in Lebanon |date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> However, the Lebanese presidency downplayed her remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Abou Aljoud |first=Sally |url=https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-government-morton-ortagus-envoy-aoun-082cd6cb1dffe6dd344f6319f982365d |title=US draws 'red line' over including Hezbollah in Lebanon's government, new envoy says |work=[[AP News]] |date=February 7, 2025}}</ref>
Ortagus left her post as US deputy envoy to the Mideast on June 15, 2025.<ref name="magid">{{cite news |last1=Magid |first1=Jacob |title=Ortagus departing deputy Mideast envoy post to become senior adviser at US Mission to the UN |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/ortagus-departing-deputy-mideast-envoy-post-to-become-senior-adviser-at-us-mission-to-the-un/ |access-date=January 29, 2026 |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=June 19, 2025}}</ref><ref name="deutch">{{cite news |last1=Deutch |first1=Gabby |last2=Jacobs |first2=Emily |title=Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus to leave post under Witkoff |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2025/06/morgan-ortagus-deputy-special-envoy-witkoff-trump-lebanon/ |access-date=January 29, 2026 |work=Jewish Insider |date=June 5, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250605084245/https://jewishinsider.com/2025/06/morgan-ortagus-deputy-special-envoy-witkoff-trump-lebanon/ |archive-date=June 5, 2025 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="denvergaz">{{cite news |title=Trump taps Morgan Ortagus for senior UN role after Middle East appointment |url=https://www.denvergazette.com/2025/06/18/trump-taps-morgan-ortagus-for-senior-un-role-after-middle-east-appointment-35aaec55-bee4-5be3-ae57-51bc6b6e56a9/ |access-date=January 29, 2026 |work=[[Denver Gazette]] |date=June 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Morgan Ortagus |url=https://www.state.gov/biographies/morgan-ortagus |website=United States Department of State |access-date=January 29, 2026}}</ref>
=== U.S. Mission to the United Nations === After serving as deputy Mideast envoy, Ortagus became a senior policy adviser at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.<ref name="magid" /><ref name="deutch" /><ref name="denvergaz" /> This was an extension of a national security team shakeup in which [[Mike Waltz]] moved from [[United States National Security Advisor|national security adviser]] to US ambassador to the UN.<ref name="magid" /><ref name="deutch" /><ref name="denvergaz" />
==Political positions== ===China=== In July 2020, Ortagus said that blame rested with both political parties "for almost 40 years for not seeing the [[Chinese Communist Party]] for who they really are," and stressed the need for American citizens not to trust Chinese social media and technology companies that seek to access private data of U.S. citizens. She welcomed moves by U.S. social media companies not to allow the Chinese government to access their data.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/morgan-ortagus-state-department-china-xi-jinping|title=Ortagus says both parties guilty of not seeing China's leaders 'for who they really are' over past 40 years|first=Charles|last=Creitz|date=July 8, 2020|website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>
In August 2019, Ortagus called the [[China|Chinese]] government a "thuggish regime" for harassing a [[Hong Kong]]-based American diplomat.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=James |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/09/politics/hong-kong-china-us-intl-hnk/ |title=US calls China a 'thuggish regime' for 'harassing' Hong Kong-based American diplomat |work=[[CNN]] |date=August 9, 2019}}</ref> She has condemned the Chinese government's treatment of workers in [[Xinjiang]], China as well as their [[Persecution of Uyghurs in China|detention and indoctrination of Uyghur]] and other religious and ethnic minorities, and called on the CCP to end the use of forced labor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i30uOWbkb44 |title=The Brief: Xinjiang, China: Where the CCP Uses Forced Labor on the Uyghur Community |date=September 9, 2020 |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> In May 2020, Ortagus said that China was "breaking its word 27 years early" regarding its imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong and was "taking over the largest financial hub in Asia."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/morgan-ortagus-china-breaking-word-200215099.html|title=Morgan Ortagus: China breaking their word on Hong Kong|work=[[Fox News]]|via=[[Yahoo! News]]|date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>
===Iran=== After the [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|U.S. killed]] [[Qasem Soleimani|Qassem Soleimani]] in January 2020, Ortagus stated, "no one was affected by the brutality and the terrorism of Qassem Soleimani more than the Iranian people themselves." She argued that the United States had "exercised the maximum restraint possible despite repeated provocations and attacks from the regime and through their proxies. And, finally, enough was enough."<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|date=January 3, 2020|first=Shahram|last=Bahraminejad|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/middle-east_voa-news-iran_state-departments-morgan-ortagus-discusses-airstrike-decision/6182066.html|title=State Department's Morgan Ortagus Discusses Airstrike Decision |website=[[Voice of America]]}}</ref>
She noted [[Iran]] had used its proxies to "foment terror throughout the region" and warned that if Iran targeted U.S. diplomats or soldiers, that the U.S. government would "do everything within the law to defend ourselves and defend American interests."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMoG0xo1MjA |title=US State Department Morgan Ortagus Addresses US-Iran Escalation |date=January 6, 2020 |publisher=[[i24NEWS]] |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> Iran did so via [[Operation Martyr Soleimani]], the largest ballistic missile attack ever against Americans,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGP7hZQuTL0|title=Never-before-seen video of the attack on Al Asad Airbase|date=February 28, 2021 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> resulting in traumatic brain injuries for 110 U.S. servicemen at the [[Al-Asad Airbase|Ayn al-Asad Airbase]] in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Alex |last2=Lamothe |first2=Dan |title=Army awards more Purple Hearts for troops hurt in Iranian attack that Trump downplayed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/12/08/purple-heart-iran-missile-attack/ |access-date=March 3, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 8, 2021}}</ref>
Ortagus called on Iran to allow the United States to participate in the investigation after Iran shot down [[PS752|Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752]] in January 2020.{{Citation needed|date=February 2026}}
In July 2020, Ortagus condemned the Iranian judiciary for its persistent violation of human rights, including their role in the death of journalist [[Zahra Kazemi]], and for the Death Commissions that killed thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Ortagus |first=Morgan |user=statedeptspox |number=1284216751941652484 |date=July 17, 2020 |title=Instead of upholding justice, the Iranian judiciary oppresses and violates human rights. We urge the international community and individual governments to provide accountability and pursue justice for the regime's many victims. |language=en |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130060125/https://twitter.com/statedeptspox/status/1284216751941652484 |archive-date=November 30, 2020}}</ref> She repeatedly tweeted in support of Iranian dissidents and protestors, and said that "the whole world should stand behind the innocent Iranians that are being persecuted by their own government."<ref name="auto2" />
In September 2020, Ortagus criticized the [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]] for signing the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|2015 Iran nuclear deal]], stating "we are not going to allow [Iran] to continue to foment terrorism through the region, paid for with sanctions relief," supporting Trump's [[maximum pressure campaign]] and pointing to the devastation caused by [[Iranian intervention in the Syrian civil war|Iranian intervention in Syria]] and [[Iranian influence in Lebanon|Lebanon]], as well as the [[Abqaiq–Khurais attack]] in [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name="conflict" />
===Israel and Middle East peace agreements=== [[File:Secretary Pompeo and Spokesperson Ortagus Walk to the Signing Ceremony (49601720456).jpg|thumb|204px|Secretary Pompeo and Ortagus at the signing ceremony of the [[Doha Agreement (2020)|Doha Agreement]] in Qatar, February 2020]] Ortagus defended [[Israel]] against Iranian threats after the U.S. killed Iran's [[Quds Force]] Commander [[Qassem Soleimani]] in January 2020, saying "there is no country that Iran threatens more on a routine basis through their vile and hateful and racist rhetoric than the state of Israel." She also repeated the United States' longstanding pledge to work with Israel to protect mutual security interests.<ref name="auto" /> In 2020, she encouraged Israel to more closely scrutinize foreign investments from China, saying "we do not believe decisions that would make Israel beholden to the Chinese Communist Party is what's best for Israel."<ref name="auto3" />
Ortagus was present for the September 11, 2020, phone call between President [[Donald Trump]], Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], and Bahraini King [[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah]] on which the [[Abraham Accords]] was agreed to. After the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the [[United Arab Emirates]], and [[Bahrain]], Ortagus said, "Peace for Israel, one of our strongest allies in the world, is important for American national security, because we believe in a strong sovereign state of Israel... Anytime we can bring our friends and allies together, it is positive for the United States."<ref name="conflict">{{Cite news |first=Lahav|last=Harkov|url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/morgan-ortagus-643375 |title=Ortagus: Peace for Israel is important to US national security |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=September 24, 2020}}</ref> She blamed [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] leadership for failing to negotiate with Israel, and for their economic malaise.<ref name="conflict" />
Morgan Ortagus was of the very few to raise her hand at the U.N. to stop any possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza,<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2025 |title=Security Council: US votes against resolution on Gaza ceasefire {{!}} UN News |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165881 |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=news.un.org |language=en}}</ref> which was seen highly controversial by the public,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO3fr6LD2Jz/?igsh=MWNuNDBlZHQ0NnphbA== |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref> as the war in Gaza has been called several times by the U.N. and top experts in genocide, [[Gaza genocide|a genocide]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/09/israel-has-committed-genocide-gaza-strip-un-commission-finds |access-date=September 28, 2025 |website=OHCHR |language=en}}</ref> which made many think about the fairness of veto power.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nichols |first=Michelle |date=September 19, 2025 |title=US casts 6th veto at United Nations over war in Gaza |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-vetoes-un-demand-ceasefire-aid-access-gaza-2025-09-18/ |access-date=September 28, 2025 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>
===Russia=== In August 2019, Ortagus called on [[Russia]] to use deconfliction channels to prevent escalation around the border of the [[Russian-occupied territories in Georgia|Russian-occupied Georgian region]] of [[South Ossetia]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://agenda.ge/en/news/2019/2309 |title=US calls on Russia 'to prevent further escalation' along Georgian occupation line |date=August 30, 2019 |website=Agenda.ge}}</ref> In May 2020, she blamed [[Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war|Russian interference in Syria]], [[Wagner Group activities in Libya|Libya]], and [[Yemen]] for exacerbating humanitarian crises and causing the deaths of civilians.<ref name="auto3" /> In July 2020, Ortagus stated that the United States was "troubled by reports of Russian government efforts to manipulate the result of the [[2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia|recent votes on constitutional amendments]], including reports of voter coercion, pressure on opponents of the amendments, and restrictions of independent observers of the vote," and that the United States was "especially concerned with a provision in the amendments that would potentially allow [[Vladimir Putin|President Putin]] to remain in office until 2036."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tass.com/world/1174205 |title=US troubled by reports of possible irregularities in Russia's constitutional vote |work=[[TASS]] |date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>
===Paid parental leave=== Ortagus called legislation that secured 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers a "monumental achievement" that would provide peace of mind to thousands of working families, and cited [[Ivanka Trump]]'s bipartisan efforts as key to passage of the legislation in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/trump-credit-helping-america-families-morgan-ortagus|title=Morgan Ortagus: Why Trump deserves more credit for helping America's newest families|first=Morgan|last=Ortagus|date=December 22, 2020|website=[[Fox News]]}}</ref>
===Other=== [[File:Morgan Ortagus.jpg|thumb|Ortagus in 2024]] In June 2019, Ortagus said the United States "views [[Canada]]'s claim that the waters of the [[Northwest Passage]] are internal waters of Canada as inconsistent with international law."<ref>{{cite news |first=Zoë |last=Schlanger |title=The US is picking a fight with Canada over a thawing Arctic shipping route |url=https://qz.com/1653831/the-us-is-picking-a-fight-with-canada-over-an-arctic-shipping-route/ |work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>
In October 2020, Ortagus said that the United States had expressed its strong opposition to [[Turkey]]'s acquisition of the Russian [[S-400]] system, and that the "United States has been clear on our expectation that the S-400 system should not be operationalized."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/us-condemns-apparent-turkish-test-of-russian-missile-system.html|title=U.S. condemns apparent Turkish test of Russian missile system|first=Amanda|last=Macias|date=October 16, 2020|website=CNBC}}</ref>
She argues that [[Food security|global food insecurity]] is not just a [[humanitarian crisis]] but also a national security threat for America, fostering conditions ripe for terrorism and mass migration. She advocates for the U.S. to invest in market-based solutions and agricultural technologies to alleviate the crisis while competing with hostile nations like China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ortagus |first=Morgan |date=June 14, 2023 |title=Food insecurity abroad harms Americans at home |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4039939-food-insecurity-abroad-harms-americans-at-home/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Ortagus married Jonathan Weinberger, an attorney, in 2013, and the couple have a daughter, born in 2020. [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|Justice]] [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]], Ortagus's neighbor, presided over their wedding.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 26, 2013|title=Morgan Ortagus and Jonathan Weinberger|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/fashion/weddings/morgan-ortagus-jonathan-weinberger-weddings.html|access-date=September 22, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In January 2026, Annahar and Ynet reported that Ortagus was in a relationship with Lebanese banker Antoun Sehnaoui.<ref>{{Cite news |title=An openly declared relationship links Ortagus and the "Zionist" Sehnaoui |url=https://www.annahar.com/en/region/lebanon/267857/an-openly-declared-relationship-links-ortagus-and-the-zionist-sehnaoui |work=Annahar |date=January 8, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Trump envoy Ortagus leaves Jewish husband for Lebanese banking tycoon |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryzsfyneze |work=Ynetnews |date=January 7, 2026}}</ref>
Ortagus converted to [[Judaism]] after exploring the religion while living in [[Baghdad]], Iraq.<ref name="jewishinsider" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{IMDb name}} *{{C-SPAN}} * [https://www.state.gov/biographies/morgan-ortagus/ Ortagus, Morgan: Biography]. [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]].
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Heather Nauert]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Spokesperson for the United States Department of State]]|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|after=[[Ned Price]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortagus, Morgan}} [[Category:1982 births]] [[Category:21st-century American Jews]] [[Category:21st-century American politicians]] [[Category:21st-century American women politicians]] [[Category:American anti-communists]] [[Category:Converts to Judaism from Christianity]] [[Category:First Trump administration personnel]] [[Category:Florida Republicans]] [[Category:Florida Southern College alumni]] [[Category:Fox News people]] [[Category:Jewish American military personnel]] [[Category:Jewish American people in Tennessee politics]] [[Category:Johns Hopkins Carey Business School alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Auburndale, Florida]] [[Category:Second Trump administration personnel]] [[Category:United States government officials of the Iraq War]] [[Category:United States Department of State officials]] [[Category:United States Department of State spokespeople]] [[Category:United States Department of the Treasury officials]] [[Category:United States Navy officers]] [[Category:United States Navy reservists]]