Trump’s Controversial Ambassador Picks Face Backlash Over Lack of Diplomatic Experience

President-elect Donald Trump’s ambassadorial appointments are under fire from foreign policy experts for their lack of diplomatic experience, with critics warning of potential repercussions for U.S. international relations. Among Trump’s controversial picks are former NFL player Herschel Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas and former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece.

The appointments have sparked ridicule and concern. Foreign policy analyst Joe Cirincione told The Guardian, “We have a diplomatic clown car that’s about to be rolling up at the Capitol with all these idiots waiting to be confirmed – but where’s the outrage?” Cirincione criticized Democrats for their muted response to the nominations.

While all ambassadorial nominees require Senate confirmation, no nominee has failed a confirmation vote since the 1800s, according to The Guardian. However, former ambassador Laura Kennedy, who served under both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, urged senators to take their responsibility seriously.

“What’s really crucial and has always been part of this business is the Senate gives advice and consent,” Kennedy emphasized. “My one real ask is that the Senate take its responsibility seriously, evaluate each candidate on its merits, and not be shy about withholding consent.”

Some of Trump’s nominations have experience in diplomacy, such as Pete Hoekstra, a former ambassador to the Netherlands and nominee for Ambassador to Canada. Similarly, George Glass, an investment banker who previously served as ambassador to Portugal, has been tapped to lead the U.S. mission to Japan.

However, other picks are raising red flags, including former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel. Critics like former U.S. Ambassador to Mozambique and Peru Dennis Jett argue that Huckabee’s controversial stance on the West Bank—denying that it is under Israeli military occupation—contradicts the consensus of the international community.

“These outrageously bad appointments are a feature of every president,” Jett said. “But what’s amazing about Trump is that it’s almost like, ‘OK, who are the worst people we can come up with?’ We seem to be going out of our way to prove we are not a serious country.”

As Trump’s ambassadorial nominees face Senate scrutiny, experts are urging lawmakers to ensure that appointees are qualified to represent U.S. interests abroad. For now, the debate underscores the high stakes of diplomatic appointments in shaping America’s global standing.