TrumpâÂÂs ambassadors: the loyalists and allies at the center of controversy
Kimberly GuilfoyleâÂÂs departure has renewed scrutiny of the presidentâÂÂs picks for diplomatic posts, from France to Jamaica
Donald Trump has appointed family members, friends and loyal political allies to represent the US on the world stage, dispatching an extraordinary array of characters to embassies across the world.
While presidents of both parties have long rewarded donors and allies with plum ambassadorships, Trump has chosen loyalists willing to go to bat for him regardless of the implications for US-foreign relationships.
The ousting of Kimberly Guilfoyle as US ambassador to Greece has renewed the spotlight on individuals appointed by the US president to such roles during his second term â from an election denier to a former auctioneer.
She is just the latest Trump-era ambassador to become embroiled in scandal, and face resistance.
Kimberly Guilfoyle
Greece
Kimberly Guilfoyle, a conservative personality and former politician, began serving as the ambassador to Greece in November 2025. She stepped down from her role in October after allegations of corruption.
Guilfoyle was made ambassador to Greece shortly after the end of her engagement to Donald Trump Jr, the presidentâÂÂs son.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald TrumpâÂÂs nominee to be the US ambassador to Greece, speaks alongside the president during a Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House on 24 March 2025. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images She was accused of misconduct while serving as ambassador, such as promoting the business interests of one particular Greek construction and energy company, inviting Greek lobbyists to sit in on official diplomatic meetings, and asking an ally to pay off her $100,000 American Express card before her Senate confirmation hearing.
Charles Kushner
France
Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of Ivanka Trump and father of Jared Kushner, began serving as ambassador to France and Monaco in July 2025. He is a former attorney and real estate developer, as well as a Trump donor.
Charles Kushner gives a news conference marking the 250th birthday of the US in Paris. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP In February, Kushner was banned from a meeting with his counterparts after failing to show up for a summons regarding KushnerâÂÂs accusation that France allowed antisemitism and leftist extremism to run rampant.
Kushner was convicted of tax evasion, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission and witness tampering. His conviction was later pardoned by Trump in 2020.
Bill White
Belgium
Bill White is the former president of the Intrepid museum. He began serving as the ambassador to Belgium in November 2025, after being nominated by Trump.
Bill White speaks during a press conference to his audience about his ongoing efforts to strengthen relations between the United States and Belgium on 15 July. Photograph: Emile Windal/Belga/AFP/Getty Images White has found himself in several public tiffs with BelgiumâÂÂs foreign minister, Maxime Prévot. In February, the foreign minister admonished White for accusing Belgium of antisemitism.
In August, the foreign minister scolded White for calling a Belgian official a âÂÂloserâ on social media, though White denied doing so.
Pete Hoekstra
Canada
Pete Hoekstra, a former Republican congressman from Michigan, began serving as the ambassador to Canada in April 2025.
Pete Hoekstra, chair of the Republican party of Michigan, at an interview during the Republican national convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 16 July 2024. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images TrumpâÂÂs contentious relationship with the USâÂÂs northern neighbor has put Hoekstra in the spotlight. Over the summer, more than 200,000 Canadians signed a petition to expel Hoekstra for normalizing TrumpâÂÂs threats to make Canada the 51st state.
Hoekstra has taken an openly critical stance toward Canada, most recently warning Canadians not to âÂÂmeddleâ in US politics before NovemberâÂÂs US midterm elections.
Billy Long
Iceland
William âÂÂBillyâ Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri and auctioneer, began serving as the ambassador to Iceland in August 2026.
Billy Long speaks during a Senate finance committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill on 20 May 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Long previously served briefly as the internal revenue commissioner but was removed, reportedly due to internal clashes with the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent.
Earlier this year, Long was forced to apologize after joking that the US would make Iceland its 52nd state.
Tom Rose
Poland
Tom Rose, a former conservative political commentator and adviser to Mike Pence, began serving as ambassador to Poland in November 2025.
Tom Rose attends the official inauguration of the Polish-American center project at the Kosciuszko Mound in Krakow, Poland, on 29 September. Photograph: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto/Getty Images In February, Rose announced he would cut off communications with a Polish politician who serves as the speaker of the lower house in the Polish parliament over âÂÂinsultsâ toward Trump.
In return, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, told Rose to âÂÂrespect, not lectureâ allies, which Rose rebuffed.
Kari Lake
Kari Lake, a longtime election denier and devout Trump ally, was tapped to serve as the ambassador to Jamaica in May 2026. Her nomination has not yet been confirmed.
Kari Lake, senior adviser for the US Agency for Global Media, testifies during a House foreign affairs committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, on 25 June 2025. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Lake has a long history of promoting false claims of election fraud, including in her own races that she lost. More recently, she served in the administration as the head of Voice of America, a federally funded news group.
âÂÂKari Lake is not the person for Jamaica,â Donald Tapia, who served as ambassador to Jamaica from 2019-2021, told the Miami Herald.
Luis Moreno, the ambassador to Jamaica from 2014 until 2017, told the Miami Herald that Lake was âÂÂnot really a policy personâÂÂ.
âÂÂItâÂÂs what we would call a lightweight appointment. I would expect lightweight efforts on her part, and what can I say? The Jamaican government will have to work with her because sheâÂÂs an ambassador,â Moreno said.
Other ambassador nominees with controversial histories have seen their nominations pulled or expired.
The White House pulled its nomination of Nick Adams, a rightwing influencer known for his internet trolling, to become ambassador to Malaysia. Former officials in Muslim-majority Malaysia had criticized TrumpâÂÂs decision to appoint Adams, calling it an insult to the country.
Trump had tapped Amer Ghalib, a conservative Democrat who served as mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, to serve as the ambassador to Kuwait. But GhalibâÂÂs nomination stalled in the Senate after lawmakers accused him of engaging with antisemitic content on social media.
While Trump has chosen various allies to serve in ambassadorship roles, more than half remain unfilled as of October. Just 92 of the 196 roles are filled, including for Cuba, where the US is exercising pressure and Ukraine, which is embroiled in a war with Russia.