On December 22nd, the newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that he would appoint Callista L. Gingrich as the Ambassador to Switzerland.
Callista is the wife of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. She previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican during Trump’s first term.
“I am pleased to announce that Callista L. Gingrich will be the next U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland. Callista, who is happily married to the great Newt Gingrich, previously served excellently as my Ambassador to the Vatican,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday.
Trump praised Callista’s work in a previous post, highlighting her dedication to promoting and defending international religious freedom, combating human trafficking, and providing humanitarian aid around the world.
Former Speaker Gingrich has been a long-time supporter of Trump and a critic of American politics for decades.
Trump also announced on Sunday that he had nominated Mauricio Claver-Carone as the U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America.
The role of Special Envoy differs from that of Ambassador as it is usually shorter-term and aimed at accomplishing specific missions.
In his statement about Claver-Carone, Trump mentioned the chaotic state of the southern border of the United States.
“It is time to restore order in our own hemisphere,” Trump wrote, “Mauricio understands this region and knows how to prioritize American interests.”
The appointments of Callista L. Gingrich and Mauricio Claver-Carone reflect Trump’s continued efforts to shape U.S. diplomatic relations and advance his America First agenda in key regions across the globe.