Morgan Ortagus
Morgan Ortagus | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East | |
| In office January 20, 2025 – June 15, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Special Envoy | Steve Witkoff |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| 28th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State | |
| In office April 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Secretary | Mike Pompeo |
| Preceded by | Heather Nauert |
| Succeeded by | Ned Price |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Morgan Deann Ortagus July 10, 1982 Auburndale, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jonathan Weinberger
(m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Florida Southern College (BS) Johns Hopkins University (MA, MBA) |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | |
Service years | 2014–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | Naval Intelligence |
| Battles/wars | Global war on terrorism |
Morgan Deann Ortagus (born July 10, 1982) is an American diplomat, intelligence analyst, political advisor, naval officer, and former television commentator serving as a senior policy adviser at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as deputy 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 USAID. She worked as a national security contributor at Fox News until her appointment as State Department spokesperson. Since 2014, Ortagus has been an 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. She played a key role in the Abraham Accords.
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. She was a candidate for Tennessee's 5th congressional district in the 2022 election, but was disqualified by the Tennessee Republican Party despite her endorsement by then-former President Donald Trump.