Trump Picks Lawyer Matt Whitaker as NATO Ambassador

In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has chosen Matt Whitaker, a former acting Attorney General, to represent the United States at NATO. This decision comes despite Whitaker's lack of experience in foreign policy. Instead, his background is in law enforcement, having served as U. S. Attorney in Iowa and acting Attorney General between November 2018 and February 2019. Whitaker was a key figure during the Mueller investigation into Russian election interference. Trump's choice of Whitaker is notable because the NATO post is sensitive, given Trump's previous skepticism about the alliance. He has long criticized NATO members for not meeting their defense spending commitments. Whitaker, a loyalist, has been critical of federal criminal cases against Trump and has often appeared on Fox News to discuss these matters. This appointment is unusual compared to previous ambassadors who typically have extensive diplomatic, political, or military experience. Trump has previously threatened not to defend NATO members who fail to meet spending goals, creating tension within the alliance. However, the number of members meeting the 2% GDP defense spending benchmark has increased, partly due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Whitaker's past business dealings have also been scrutinized, including his ties to a company accused of misleading consumers. Despite this, Trump sees Whitaker as a strong advocate for U. S. interests within NATO.