President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Matthew Whitaker, his former acting attorney general, to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Whitaker’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as the alliance grapples with Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing disputes over defense spending among member nations.
In a statement, Trump praised Whitaker as a “strong warrior and loyal Patriot,” emphasizing his belief in Whitaker’s ability to protect U.S. interests.
“Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability,” Trump said. “I have full confidence in Matt’s ability to represent the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication.”
Whitaker briefly served as acting attorney general during Trump’s first term, following Jeff Sessions’ resignation in November 2018. Prior to that, he was chief of staff to Sessions and had previously been a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Iowa under President George W. Bush. His legal career also includes private practice and political consulting.
Whitaker faced significant scrutiny during his tenure as acting attorney general, particularly over his criticism of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Russian collusion hoax in the 2016 election. Despite calls from Democrats for him to recuse himself due to potential conflicts of interest, Whitaker refused. A career ethics official later determined there was no conflict of interest. The Mueller investigation ultimately found no evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia.
If confirmed by the Senate, Whitaker will step into the NATO role at a tense moment. Trump has pledged to end the Ukraine war before taking office, raising fears among European allies that he might concede Ukrainian territory to Russia as part of a peace deal.
Trump has also been a vocal critic of European NATO members, accusing them of failing to meet defense spending commitments. Earlier this year, he warned that he would allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to nations that don’t contribute enough to the alliance’s defense budget. Concerns about a possible U.S. withdrawal from NATO have further unsettled allies, though NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has expressed optimism about working with the Trump administration.
