WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he has chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO, the foundational Western alliance that the president-elect has repeatedly expressed skepticism about.
Trump said in a statement that Whitaker was “a strong warrior and loyal patriot” who will “ensure that the interests of the United States are advanced and defended” and will “strengthen relationships with our NATO allies and remain steadfast in the light of threats to peace. and stability.”
The choice of Whitaker as the country’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is unusual, given his background as a lawyer rather than in foreign policy.
Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, served as acting attorney general between November 2018 and February 2019, as special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference came to an end.
He previously served as chief of staff to Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, before being picked to replace his boss after Sessions was fired amid continued outrage over his decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. Whitaker held the position for several months, on an acting basis and without Senate confirmation, until William Barr was confirmed as attorney general in February 2019.
Whitaker is a relentless critic of the federal criminal cases against Trump, which appear to have disappeared after Trump’s election victory. Whitaker has made regular appearances on Fox News over the past four years to join other Republicans in decrying what they say is the politicization of the Justice Department.
Trump has repeatedly threatened not to defend NATO members that fail to meet the transatlantic alliance’s defense spending targets. Article 5 of NATO’s mutual defense clause states that an armed attack against one or more of its members will be considered an attack against all members
Earlier this year, Trump said that when he was president, he warned NATO allies that he would “encourage Russia to do whatever they want” to countries that are “delinquent” as he stepped up his attacks on foreign aid and long-term international alliances.
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Colvin reported from New York.
