Trump Nominee for Singapore Ambassador Struggles in Senate Hearing

Dr. Anjani Sinha, President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Singapore, faced intense scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearing, particularly from Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who criticized his lack of knowledge about Singapore and questioned his qualifications for the role. Sinha struggled to accurately answer basic questions about Singapore's trade surplus with the U.S. and the country's position in ASEAN, prompting Duckworth to tell him he needed to 'shape up and do some homework' and that he was 'not currently prepared for this posting.' Despite Trump's praise of Sinha as a 'highly respected entrepreneur' and 'lifelong bridge builder,' the nominee, an orthopedic surgeon by profession, appeared nervous and unversed in key aspects of U.S.-Singapore relations, including recent tensions over tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Sinha pledged to maintain dialogue with Singapore and strengthen bilateral relationships if confirmed but did not clearly state his stance on the tariffs. The hearing drew significant attention online and raised questions about the suitability of Trump's political appointees, especially for diplomatic roles in strategically important regions.