Senate Foreign Relations Committee Rejects Trump's Kuwait Ambassador Nominee Over Antisemitism Accusations

Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, and President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, faced intense scrutiny during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing over his past anti-Israel positions and alleged antisemitic comments. Senators from both parties, including Republican Ted Cruz and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, questioned Ghalib about his support for the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement, his past social media posts likening Jews to monkeys, and his denial of sexual violence committed by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ghalib defended the BDS resolution as a city council decision, denied endorsing antisemitic content despite liking such posts before becoming mayor, and expressed skepticism about some reports of Hamas's actions, citing political motivations behind certain accusations. His past characterization of Saddam Hussein as a "martyr" also raised concerns given Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. The controversy led Senator Cruz to announce he would not support Ghalib's nomination, signaling bipartisan opposition, and highlighting tensions within the Trump administration's foreign policy appointments. Ghalib's nomination reflects broader political debates about U.S. Middle East policy, Israel, and the influence of social media history on diplomatic appointments.