Malaysia's unity government is under swelling pressure to reject Nick Adams, an Australian‑born self‑styled "alpha male" influencer tapped by President Donald Trump as U.S. ambassador, a move critics warn could complicate looming tariff talks with Washington.
What Happened: Adams has praised Israel's war in Gaza and branded pro‑Palestinian demonstrators terror backers, positions that collide with Malaysia's pro‑Palestine stance and its decades‑long freeze on diplomatic ties with Israel.
Youth leaders from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's party plan to deliver a protest memorandum to the U.S. Embassy, while Islamist politicians and dozens of civil‑society groups call the nomination "an open insult" to Muslim sensibilities, reports Reuters.
Diplomats say Kuala Lumpur could quietly delay granting approval rather than refuse outright, but either move risks retaliation as Malaysia seeks relief from a prospective 25% U.S. tariff on key exports.
Adams is expected to clear the Republican-controlled Senate, yet, former Malaysian envoys insist Putrajaya must demand "decorum, cultural sensitivity and respect" from any American envoy.
Why It Matters: The dispute comes as Trump's other diplomatic picks stumble. Anjani Sinha, nominated for Singapore, floundered during a Senate hearing when pressed on basic facts about the city‑state and ASEAN.
Meanwhile, Mike Waltz, Trump's choice for U.N. ambassador, is fending off questions about a leaked Signal chat that exposed high‑level discussions and prompted a national‑security probe.
Opponents of Adams flag his online broadsides against those who "teach Islam in schools" and his praise for restaurant chain Hooters as evidence that he is unfit for duty in a diverse Muslim‑majority nation.
Analyst Shahriman Lockman warns in a statement to Reuters that Anwar faces a "damned‑if‑you‑do, damned‑if‑you‑don't" choice. Rejecting Adams may soothe domestic anger but harden U.S. trade demands, while accepting him could erode the ruling coalition's Islamist flank.
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