“Syria is important because it lies at the heart of a region critical to U.S. security, a region that is home to friends and partners and one of our closest allies. It is important because the Syrian regime possesses stores of chemical weapons that they have recently used on a large scale and that we cannot allow to fall into terrorists' hands.”

Irish-American journalist, diplomat, and government official

Samantha Jane Power is an Irish-American journalist, diplomat, and government official. She served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations from 2013 to 2017 and later led the United States Agency for International Development from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Power has worked across journalism and public service at the highest level. Her career is tied to international affairs, diplomacy, and development policy, and her public voice is often associated with the responsibilities of American foreign policy.