Trump nominates Wesley Hunt to Saudi Arabia ambassador post

President Trump on Monday nominated Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) to serve as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia .

Trump sent the nominations of Hunt and a slew of other individuals to the Senate, which has to confirm his appointments.

The U.S. has not had a full-time ambassador to Saudi Arabia since Michael Ratney left office at the end of the Biden administration. Jennifer Larson, a career member of the State Department’s Foreign Service, has led the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh on an interim basis since mid-August — succeeding Alison Dilworth.

Hunt is departing the lower chamber after two terms representing Texas’s 38th Congressional District. The 44-year-old former Army officer finished third in the Lone Star State’s Senate GOP primary in March, a race state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) won via runoff over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).

The Texas representative is set to leave the House at the end of his term in January. In a statement , Hunt said it was the “honor of a lifetime” for Trump to nominate him to the ambassadorship post.

“Having served in the region both in combat as an Army officer and for two years as a diplomatic liaison in the Kingdom, I understand the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the profound responsibility of this position,” Hunt said.

“When confirmed, I will serve with humility and honor, advance his vision of peace through strength and deepen this vital partnership,” he added.

The Hill has reached out to a Hunt spokesperson regarding whether the GOP lawmaker will resign from the House, if confirmed.

Trump and his family have business ties to Saudi Arabia, and the president has a close relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — whom U.S. intelligence said “approved” the 2018 operation that resulted in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Last month, the Trump administration sent a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress. Under the 30-year deal, U.S. companies would be able to develop the kingdom’s civil nuclear infrastructure.

The president has stipulated, though, that Saudi Arabia must normalize ties with Israel for the deal to take effect.