The White House’s decision to nominate right-wing commentator Nick Adams as ambassador to Malaysia has sparked unease among diplomats and observers in Southeast Asia, amid concerns that US President Donald Trump is prioritising political loyalty over diplomatic expertise.
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Adams, an Australian-born conservative activist, was among five ambassadorial picks submitted for Senate confirmation this week, alongside nominees for Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kazakhstan.
The controversial nominee, who has claimed he is Trump’s favourite author, has built a reputation for his incendiary social media posts, tabloid-leaning stunts and fervent support for the US leader. He has drawn headlines for his misogynistic remarks – including calling American pop star Taylor Swift a “jezebel” – and once staged a protest in New York’s Times Square over an M&M’s “all-female” candy package celebrating women.
In one widely shared social media post, Adams declared: “I go to Hooters. I eat rare steaks. I lift extremely heavy weights. I read the Bible every night. I am pursued by copious amounts of women,” adding his critics “hate me because I have the body of a Greek God”.
As Trump ramped up his campaign ahead of the November 2024 presidential election, Adams was among his loudest cheerleaders, appearing at rallies, on TV panels and in interviews to defend the Republican candidate’s views.
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His brash persona marks a stark departure from previous ambassadors to Muslim-majority Malaysia, typically seasoned career diplomats suited to the country’s cautious, pragmatic and subtle style of foreign policy, which favours quiet diplomacy over headline-grabbing rhetoric.