President may offer ambassadorship to former high-ranking member of Trump's administration
Trump Offers "Consolation Prizes" to Loyalists in Diplomatic Appointments
In a move that reflects his management style, President Trump is appointing officials who had rocky tenures in his administration to diplomatic posts, offering them a form of "consolation prize" or "soft landing" after difficult or controversial departures from high-profile roles.
One such example is IRS Commissioner Billy Long, who has been tapped to be Trump's ambassador to Iceland. Long's tenure as IRS Commissioner was less than two months long, during which he contradicted the administration's messaging, leading to his removal.
Similarly, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was reassigned as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations after a security mishap involving a journalist in a military chat. Waltz had mistakenly added a journalist to a private text chain on an encrypted messaging app that was used to discuss planning for a military operation against Houthi militants in Yemen.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who struggled to gel with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s close-knit team, was named deputy representative to the U.N. after learning of Waltz's ouster from a reporter's question during a press briefing.
These moves reflect Trump's desire to reward loyalty and retain trusted individuals, despite their rocky or controversial tenures, consistent with his management style of offering alternative roles instead of outright dismissals.
Another appointment that blends loyalty, personal connections, and strategic considerations is that of Massad Boulos, whose ties to Trump's family helped in advancing diplomatic efforts.
Former Fox News Channel contributor Tammy Bruce, who is friendly with Trump and was a forceful advocate for his foreign policy, has been nominated as the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations. The nomination was met with skepticism by some, including Robert Wood, a former U.S. deputy U.N. ambassador.
These appointments, while controversial, demonstrate Trump's willingness to maintain the presence and influence of his loyalists within the administration, even if their earlier roles were ill-fitting or troubled. Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president, and Trump can nominate anyone he likes, though many ultimately require Senate confirmation.
Trump has expressed his support for these appointments, praising Tammy Bruce for doing a "fantastic job" at the State Department and stating that she would "represent our Country brilliantly at the United Nations."
- The recent appointments by President Trump of former officials with rocky tenures to diplomatic positions discuss his knack for offering "consolation prizes" to his loyalists.
- Trump's appointment of Massad Boulos, with ties to his family, hints at the blend of loyalty, personal connections, and strategic considerations in his diplomatic appointments.
- General news and political discussions have been filled with controversy over Trump's nomination of Tammy Bruce as the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations.
- Accusations of troubled earlier roles or ill-fitting tenures have not deterred Trump from nominating his loyalists to high-profile diplomatic posts, such as the case with Tammy Bruce.