WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has nominated former acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker as the U.S. ambassador to NATO, positioning him to represent the country within this critical Western alliance that Trump has frequently criticized.
Whitaker, who has a background in law and criminal justice, is set to take on this significant role in U.S. global relations, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Trump claimed that during his previous term, he had warned NATO allies that he would allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to nations deemed “delinquent.” This statement reflects Trump’s ongoing criticism of foreign aid and established international partnerships.
Here are some key facts about Whitaker:
His time as acting attorney general was short-lived.
Whitaker was appointed acting attorney general in November 2018, shortly after the Republican Party faced setbacks in the midterm elections. He succeeded Jeff Sessions, whom Trump had dismissed, harboring resentment towards Sessions for recusing himself during Special Counsel Robert Muller’s investigation into the connections between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.
Although Trump initially claimed, “I don’t know Matt Whitaker,” just two days after appointing him, Whitaker, who served as Sessions’ chief of staff, held the position for three crucial months as the Mueller investigation was nearing its conclusion. A staunch Trump supporter, he had previously been vocal in criticizing the Mueller inquiry. During a heated congressional hearing, he faced skepticism from Democrats who believed he might hinder the investigation. While asserting he had no such intention, he was still questioned about his qualifications to lead the Department of Justice.
“We’re all trying to figure it out: Who are you, where did you come from, and how did you become the head of the Department of Justice?” remarked New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who currently holds a prominent position among House Democrats. Whitaker attempted to respond, but Jeffries interjected, stating, “Mr. Whitaker, that was a statement, not a question.”
Recently, Whitaker has emerged as a vociferous critic of the federal criminal proceedings against Trump, which are likely to diminish following his anticipated electoral win. He has frequently appeared on Fox News, aligning with fellow Republicans in denouncing what they view as the politicization of the Justice Department throughout the last four years.
He possesses a legal and enforcement background.
Whitaker served as the U.S. Attorney for Iowa’s Southern District, where he was once a celebrated high school athlete, playing tight end during the University of Iowa’s 1991 Rose Bowl loss. In his announcement of Whitaker’s nomination, Trump highlighted that the former attorney had been awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor.
Despite this, Whitaker remains relatively unknown within U.S. security circles. Retired General Philip Breedlove, a former NATO supreme allied commander, emphasized the critical nature of the U.S. NATO ambassador’s role, as they directly represent the president in discussions involving the Western military alliance.
“The bottom line is, they are expected to convey the president’s credibility when they speak,” Breedlove pointed out.
U.S. NATO ambassadors typically have substantial military or national security backgrounds. Although Trump’s first-term NATO envoy, former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, lacked military experience, she did engage with foreign-policy matters in Congress. Breedlove indicated that while a security background isn’t strictly necessary for the position, having a direct connection to the U.S. president remains essential.
“They must be perceived as genuinely reflecting the president’s intentions. Trust and confidence from the president are paramount in this role,” he noted.
He was also involved with a Florida firm penalized for defrauding customers.
Whitaker served on the advisory board of World Patent Marketing, a Florida-based operation that was shut down by a federal judge in 2017, with nearly $26 million in fines levied following allegations from the Federal Trade Commission of bilking “thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars.”
Additionally, this company garnered attention from Democrats for its promotion of the “Masculine Toilet,” a device marketed for men with particularly long anatomies. During the 2016 presidential race, Whitaker publicly criticized Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, making statements while representing a group that, due to its tax-exempt status, was prohibited from taking sides in political campaigns.