One of the surest assets for countries seeking to manage their relationships with the Donald Trump administration is a US ambassador with a direct line to the Oval Office. Australia, however, has been without a US ambassador for nearly a year, and there has been no public indication from the White House that a replacement is on the way anytime soon.
During President Trump’s first term, the Canberra post was vacant for two years before Arthur Culvahouse Jr was finally nominated and confirmed in January 2019. Similarly, under the Biden administration, Australia waited over a year before Caroline Kennedy was confirmed as ambassador. So, while this pattern of extended vacancies is not unusual, it does leave Australia waiting to see who will take the reins next.
Why is an ambassador important to the US-Australia alliance?
As the most senior diplomat assigned to any given country, an ambassador carries a significant symbolic weight that represents a relationship’s value. Given Trump’s approach to foreign policy, which favours high-level bilateral diplomacy and personal relationships, it is the responsibility of an ambassador to lay the groundwork for productive engagement through strong connections with the Australian public and private sectors, and to provide insights into the incumbent US administration’s priorities for the alliance.
Generally speaking, high-profile postings like Australia are generally reserved for political appointees rather than career foreign service officers.
Generally speaking, high-profile postings like Australia are generally reserved for political appointees rather than career foreign service officers. There are three key reasons for this:
- Reward: Presidents often reward political allies, public figures or major donors who have supported their campaign with coveted appointments such as ambassadorships.
- Control: Appointing a loyal supporter to an ambassadorial post gives the president more control over how the US manages its relationship with that country. Unlike career diplomats, who must remain nonpartisan and are somewhat shielded from political pressure, political appointees are open supporters of the president’s priorities. This allows the administration to advance both policy goals and political interests abroad.
- Access: In countries with long-standing alliances, appointing a close associate of the president gives the host country faster access to the White House. An ambassador who is a ‘friend’ of the president will likely bypass the “bureaucratic red tape” that most diplomats must navigate to reach the president. With a personal relationship, an ambassador can contact the president directly, a level of access unattainable to most career diplomats.
Under the first Trump administration, Canberra received a political appointee in veteran Republican Arthur Culvahouse Jr. Culvahouse had risen through Republican ranks, having worked for Senator Howard Baker, served as White House advisor to President Ronald Reagan, and later assisted with Trump’s search for a vice-president ahead of his first term. By the time Culvahouse arrived in Canberra, he was a well-established Republican figure with an extensive network spanning both politics and industry. His longstanding relationships with the party positioned him well to effectively navigate the first Trump administration and to serve as a trusted interlocutor for Australia.
Why the delay?
A delay in nominating an ambassador doesn’t necessarily signal trouble in the US-Australia relationship. With Trump, history suggests that being at the top of his list isn’t always a prerequisite for success. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese waited eight months for an in-person meeting with Trump and walked away with a critical minerals deal worth A$3 billion and confirmation from the President himself that AUKUS was going “full steam ahead”.
Additionally, the rate of nominations and confirmations under this administration has slowed over time. In the first 100 days of his second term, Trump nominated 292 individuals for government positions — more than four times the number he had nominated in the first 100 days of his first term. Biden, in comparison, had nominated 222 by that time. Now that Trump’s second term has passed the 300-day mark, his 387 nominations are below the 509 in his first term, and significantly below the 608 nominations from Biden in the same period.
Although Trump’s pace of nominations has slowed, the biggest delay is occurring during the confirmation process. Under the previous two administrations, the length of time between nomination and confirmation increased. During Trump’s first term, nominees waited an average of 161 days before being confirmed, and under Biden, that average stretched to 193 days. So far, Trump has appointed 70 ambassadors, 19 of whom are still awaiting Senate confirmation.
The appointment of an ambassador requires several steps, each of which can prolong the process. For an ambassador to be officially appointed:
- The president formally nominates an ambassador, usually announced in a White House press release.
- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee reviews the nomination and holds a mandatory confirmation hearing.
- If the nominee is approved by the Committee, the entire Senate votes on the nominee. The vote requires a two-thirds Senate majority to be successful.
- If the vote is successful, the nominee is confirmed and may assume the role.
It is not uncommon for both sides of the aisle to use the confirmation process as political leverage to force concessions on other, often unrelated matters. While Biden was in office, for example, Republican senators placed “blanket holds” on several Biden nominees, resulting in a major backlog where several nominees were forced to wait over 400 days before Senate confirmation. The purpose of this hold was to pressure Biden into reversing his decision to scale back sanctions on Nord Stream 2, an energy pipeline project designed to transport Russian gas to Germany.
It is not uncommon for both sides of the aisle to use the confirmation process as political leverage to force concessions on other, often unrelated matters.
A similar tactic has been used by the Democrats this year to try and disrupt Republican priorities. After an early backlog of confirmations left the President frustrated with Congress, Senate Republicans have recently moved to use the ‘nuclear option’, revising Senate rules to allow confirmations of nominees with a simple majority vote rather than the two-thirds majority required under the Senate’s standing rules. It also means the Senate can vote on nominees in groups, rather than as individuals. The decision received criticism from Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claiming the change to rules means the Senate confirmation process will act as “a conveyor belt for unqualified Trump nominees.” The change in rules will both accelerate the confirmation of nominations and significantly weaken the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s oversight function. In recent history, both Republican and Democratic administrations have used the nuclear option.
The consequence of a delayed confirmation process or a slow rate of nominations is that important diplomatic posts are left vacant for extended periods of time. This can leave countries, especially allies, without a US representative feeling like a low priority.
Who are Trump’s picks for ambassadors in the region?
While there are no clear frontrunners for the vacancy in Canberra (at least publicly), Trump’s recent diplomatic appointments across the Indo-Pacific show a preference for political appointees who are either personally or politically connected to him, rather than career foreign service officers. Notably, the Republic of Korea, another US ally, also remains without a publicly announced nominee for the top diplomatic post.
US Ambassador to Japan (commenced)
Who: Mr George Glass
Nomination: December 2024
Senate confirmation: April 2025, 66 Yea - 32 Nay
Assumed post: April 2025
Succeeded: Mr Rahm Emanuel (March 2022 – January 2025)
Professional background
Glass built his career in the private sector across investment banking and real estate, before serving as Ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021 during Trump’s first term. While in Portugal, Glass was a vocal critic of Chinese investment, warning that Portugal would have to choose between the United States and China, even describing Portugal as a “battlefield” between the two countries. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa publicly pushed back, insisting that the Portuguese Government alone would make decisions in the country’s own interests.
Relationship to Trump
Glass has been a generous donor throughout Trump’s political career, having donated to his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Portugal, Glass contributed US$75,000 to the Trump Victory Fund and US$22,500 towards his inauguration. In 2022, Glass also invested US$500,000 in the social media platform, Truth Social, owned by the Trump Media and Technology Group.
Performance to date
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Glass emphasised his support for an increase in Japan’s defence spending. Since arriving in Tokyo, defence and security have remained among his top priorities. Through public engagements, including a speech at the Yomiuri Research Institute in October 2025, Glass has reiterated US expectations for Japan to ‘share the burden’ of deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
Glass also oversaw a presidential visit to Tokyo the same month, with Trump departing Japan confident in the US-Japan alliance under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s leadership. At the conclusion of the visit, the White House announced that Japan had committed to expanding its defence capabilities, including through the delivery of US munitions for its F-35 fighter jets and an agreement to deepen cooperation through enhanced intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration.
Glass has also publicly backed Prime Minister Takaichi during a diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. The disagreement followed Takaichi’s comments that a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could prompt a Japanese military response. After Chinese diplomats condemned the comment, Glass responded on X that it was “time for Beijing to behave like the ‘good neighbour’ it talks repeatedly about – but fails repeatedly to become.”
US Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (commenced)
Who: Mr David Perdue
Nomination: March 2025
Senate confirmation: April 2025, 67 Yea - 29 Nay
Assumed post: May 2025
Succeeded: Mr Nicholas Burns (April 2022 – January 2025)
Professional background
Perdue entered public office in 2015 after winning a Senate seat on a campaign declaring that “Washington is broken.” As Georgia’s Republican senator, he served on the Armed Services Committee, chairing its Sea Power Subcommittee, and on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on State Department Oversight. He lost his Senate seat in 2021 to Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
In September 2024, Perdue published an article in the Washington Examiner titled “China’s new war: America’s freedom depends on confronting the threat.” He argued that China had shifted from being an economic competitor to an aggressive adversary. He outlined US priorities for addressing the China challenge, beginning with strengthening engagement with allies and partners, who he said should not equate “America First” with “America alone.”
Before entering politics, Perdue had a 40-year career in the private sector, including roles as President of Reebok and Chairman and CEO of Dollar General. He lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, where he observed what he described as “uncontrolled globalization” enabling China to dominate global manufacturing. Much of his private sector career involved outsourcing manufacturing to low-cost operations in Asia.
Relationship to Trump
Perdue was among the first Republican senators to publicly endorse Trump during his first presidential campaign in 2016. He has said that he and Trump share a “very good relationship,” pointing to their respective business backgrounds as a point of connection. During Trump’s first term, Perdue often acted as a bridge between the President and Republican senators, saying, “I feel like I’m brokering the president’s agenda in the Senate,” an agenda he is now responsible for advancing in Beijing.
During Perdue’s unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Georgia in 2022, Trump’s Save America Political Action Committee donated US$2.64 million to Take Back Georgia, the group supporting Perdue’s campaign.
Performance to date
In his welcome video, designed to introduce the incoming ambassador and outline his priorities, Perdue recognised the stakes involved in his appointment to Beijing, stating the US and China have the “most consequential diplomatic relationship of the 21st century.”
There has been one public meeting between Perdue and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in June, with Perdue posting on X that he used the meeting to discuss the Trump administration’s “priorities on trade, fentanyl, and illegal immigration.” In November, both Perdue and Trump were at the table when the United States and China reached an agreement to rein in the trade war. Among other things, the deal saw China agree to block the supply of precursors used to make fentanyl in the United States; in return, the United States committed to lower tariffs on supplies related to fentanyl from 20% to 10%.
US Ambassador to Singapore (commenced)
Who: Dr Anjani Sinha
Nomination: April 2025
Senate confirmation: October 2025, 51 Yea – 47 Nay
Assumed post: November 2025
Succeeded: Mr Jonathan Kaplan (December 2021 – January 2025)
Professional background
Dr Sinha spent his career as an orthopaedic and sports surgeon working in both Florida and New York, where he established several clinics. In his Certificate of Competency submitted to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in 2025, Dr Sinha is described as a “lifelong philanthropist” with “deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region,” referring to his upbringing in India. Unlike Trump’s other picks, Dr Sinha did not have a significant public profile before his nomination.
Relationship to Trump
During Sinha’s Senate hearing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Sinha had been a friend of President Trump’s for over a decade. Sinha is known for being in Trump’s inner circle, having attended VIP events, even telling a journalist in 2016 at the Trump National Golf Club, “I know everybody here.”
Performance to date
Having only arrived in Singapore in early November, Sinha has yet to make his first public appearance. He drew attention during his confirmation hearing for being ill-informed on the US-Singapore relationship, with Democrat senator Tammy Duckworth labelling him “unqualified” for the job. Sinha has set broad priorities for his time as ambassador across the technology, energy and security sectors.
US Ambassador to India (commenced)
Who: Sergio Gor
Nomination: August 2025
Senate confirmation: October 2025, 51Yea - 47 Nay
Assumed post: November 2025
Succeeded: Mr Eric Garcetti (March 2023 – January 2025)
Professional background
Gor has spent his career moving up the Republican ranks. This includes stints as a Communication and Research Analyst for the Republican National Committee and several positions with Republican Senator Rand Paul between 2013 and 2020, including Senior Political Aide, Foreign Policy Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff. From January 2025 until his appointment as ambassador, Gor served as the Director of Presidential Personnel, where he led the hiring process for political appointees. This role provided Gor with the authority to staff around 4,000 positions, with former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz describing the role as the “general manager of the government.” Gor was responsible for making key staffing decisions on behalf of the President, with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner commenting that Gor knows Trump “well enough to know what he’ll care about and what he won’t care about.” In this role, Gor earned the approval of those closest to the President, with Kushner noting that “people trust him.” Trump has credited Gor with staffing the White House with people loyal to him and his agenda.
After Trump’s first administration, Gor was the CEO for Winning Team Publishing, where he worked with Trump’s eldest son, Donald Jr, to promote “authors who represent the Silent Majority, America First patriots, and liberty minded readers.”
In addition to Ambassador to India, Gor now holds the position of Special Envoy for South and Central Asia. This role oversees US foreign policy and US relations with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. With his dual appointment, Gor will be the most authoritative US voice in South and Central Asia, serving as the primary advisor to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump on matters in the region.
Relationship to Trump
Gor was a prominent campaigner for Trump’s re-election in 2024, working as the CEO for a Trump-supporting Super PAC, Right For America. The organisation raised over US$72 million for Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Trump himself credited Gor with his re-election, saying he “played a key role in helping us secure the most consequential presidential election victory in the history of our country.” Trump has called Gor a “great friend,” while his son Donald Trump Jr previously remarked that Gor has “had dinner more in the last year with my father than I have.” Gor has also earned the nickname ‘Mayor of Mar-a-Lago’ due to the significant time he has spent at Trump’s Florida estate.
Performance to date
Gor made his first statement as ambassador in October, where he established trade, defence and technology as his priorities. He has secured meetings with senior government officials early into his tenure in New Delhi, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. When US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh met in Malaysia in late October, a 10-year defence framework was signed. This is in line with Trump’s agenda to strengthen the strategic relationship between the two nations. Gor assumed the role at a challenging time for US-India relations. The relationship was badly strained in May 2025 when India’s Ministry of External Affairs rejected Trump’s claim that the United States brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan to halt conflict in Kashmir. In June 2025, a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump further soured the relationship, with India reaffirming its long-held stance that disputes in the Kashmir region will only be settled bilaterally with Pakistan and would not involve third-party mediation from the United States. Following this, Trump raised tariffs on India to 50%, with a 25% tariff on Indian imports and a 25% tariff on purchases of Russian oil. The 50% tariffs have remained on India since August 2025.
US Ambassador to Malaysia (nominated)
Who: Nick Adams
Nomination: July 2025
To succeed: Mr Edgard Kagan (December 2023 - Present)
Professional background
The appointment of Nick Adams as Ambassador to Malaysia garnered attention from Australian media due to his former career as deputy mayor of Ashfield Council in Sydney’s inner west. Adams was suspended from the NSW Liberal Party in 2009 after he was filmed swearing at a Channel Ten reporter. Born in Australia, Adams became a US citizen in 2021 and is a conservative political commentator who primarily uses his personal social media to promote Trump and the MAGA movement.
Adams now runs the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG). Described as a conservative educational organisation dedicated to informing Americans about “the greatness of America and the power of the American Dream,” FLAG focuses its initiatives on school-aged children. Adams is also a published author, with the President himself writing the foreword in one of his books, Alpha Kings, praising Adams as one of his favourite authors and speakers.
Relationship to Trump
Adams has been a vocal supporter of Trump since his first Presidency, and Trump has been a consistent admirer of Adams’ work. His 2015 book Retaking America: Crushing Political Correctness, earned Trump’s endorsement in 2017, to which Adams responded, “We are CRUSHING PC and making America Great Again!” Adam’s 2016 book, Green Card Warrior: My Quest for Legal Immigration in an Illegals’ System, was labelled a “must read” by Trump. In May this year, he published a book about Trump, From Mar-a-Lago to Mars: President Trump’s Great American Comeback. Adams keeps the description of “President Trump’s favourite author” in his social media biographies.
US Ambassador to the Philippines (nominated)
Who: Lee Lipton
Nomination: August 2025
To succeed: Mrs MaryKay Carlson (July 2022 – Present)
Professional background
Until 20 October 2025, Lipton served as Interim Permanent Representative to the US Mission to the Organization of American States. The State Department notes that his work in this role included supporting US engagement in regional challenges, including countering foreign influence from the Chinese Communist Party. This was Lipton’s first role in the civil service. Prior to this, Lipton has worked across the retail sector in New York, owning an apparel business that managed the manufacturing and distribution of clothing collections from brands including Calvin Klein and Guess. After leaving the retail sector, Lipton became a Florida-based restaurateur in 2013, a career he maintained until President Trump appointed him Interim Permanent Representative to the US Mission to the Organization of American States in July 2025.
Relationship to Trump
Lipton is a friend and supporter of the President. He belongs to Trump’s Florida inner circle as a member of the Mar-a-Lago golf club and a regular guest at Trump’s exclusive events. Lipton has been described as a personal friend of Trump’s dating back to his first term in office.
What should Australia be looking for in a US Ambassador?
With only 16% of Australians thinking Trump’s second term has been good for Australia, the incoming ambassador will have a difficult task ahead of them in re-establishing the United States’ image as a reliable partner.
One avenue for boosting the credibility of the United States as a reliable partner is by the ambassador being an active promoter of AUKUS, particularly as 40% of Australians are concerned the deal may be scrapped under Trump. Albanese’s October 2025 visit to the United States provided the long-awaited Presidential confirmation that the AUKUS deal was not under threat. This assurance was reinforced by the completion of the Pentagon’s review, which confirmed that AUKUS will proceed. To sustain this positive momentum, continued public engagement is essential to increase confidence across the Australian Government, private industry and the public. This is especially important as Australia prepares for the arrival of Submarine Rotational Force – West in early 2027.
However, effective advocacy for any issue in this administration will first require an ambassador to have direct access to Trump. A well-connected ambassador can ensure that alliance initiatives like AUKUS receive the political attention and prioritisation they require to be successful. This is essential as Trump has deferred decision-making authority to a select few close to him. This approach is evident in his handling of key foreign policy initiatives, such as the Gaza ceasefire deal and Russia-Ukraine negotiations, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, one of the president’s closest friends, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. High-stakes diplomatic efforts are being driven by trusted inner circle advisors, rather than seasoned diplomats. This confirms the reality under Trump: personal standing often outweighs conventional experience.