Posted on 03/09/2017 12:42:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
Once called on Trump to drop out of the presidential race
Former Utah Governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman accepted an offer on Wednesday from President Donald Trump to be the United States’ next ambassador to Russia.
Huntsman served as ambassador to China under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011 and was ambassador to Singapore in the early 1990s under presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
The former presidential candidate endorsed Donald Trump for the office in April of last year days before the billionaire businessman won enough delegates to secure the nomination.
In October, Huntsman withdrew his endorsement following the release of a 2004 Access Hollywood video showing Trump making crass comments about women.
The 56-year-old called on Trump to drop out of the race allowing Mike Pence to take the top spot on the Republican ticket.
Trump’s nomination of Huntsman to be ambassador to Russia is keeping with his post-victory pattern of letting bygones be bygones.
The president picked once rival Rick Perry to be head of the Energy Department, despite the former Texas governor calling Trump a “cancer on conservatism.”
Trump also chose former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be his United Nations’ ambassador, though she was critical of the businessman’s tone during the primary and backed his competitors.
Huntsman currently serves as head of the Atlantic Council think tank, which is dedicated to strengthening ties between the United States and Europe.
“Responding to reports of Huntsman’s selection, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the Kremlin would welcome any U.S. ambassador who wants to create a dialogue with Russia,” NPR reported.
Huntsman was among the names being floated by the Trump transition team in January as a possible choice for secretary of state, before Trump decided on Rex Tillerson.
Given the current tensions between the United States and Russia, the ambassadorship promises to be among the most strategic and high profile.
The senate approved Huntsman to be ambassador to China unanimously in 2009, and an easy confirmation to his new post is expected.
What do you think? Scroll down to comment below.
Good.
Don’t let him come back.
lol
That’s the actual endgame. Next he’ll make Romney Ambassador to Antartica.
Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies even closer.................
Breathtakingly poor choice.
That's what I was thinking...but his beautiful daughters get to stay here.
Huntsman - ambassador to Russia? That is hard to believe. Huntsman is a subRINO.
Huntsman is a dolt!
Feh. If the barely sentient Dan Rooney can stick it out as Ambassador to Ireland, then any ambulatory vegetable can do it.
Basically the job is “errand boy sent by grocery clerks to collect a bill”.
The job always seemed to me to be.......go to lots of parties, eat well, live in a swell mansion, get feted & get a huge paycheck. I would show up for that gig!
Unless Hillary is your boss and she's sending you to Libya.
I think ambassador to Guadalcanal would be more appropriate.
Posted this on another link; fits here as well:
One shouldn’t underestimate Huntsman Jr.’s capabilities. He has a gift for learning foreign languages, and speaks the Chinese language fluently. As Russia and China are involved to a fair extent trade-wise, it will be helpful to have someone who can speak both the Chinese and Russian language too. I’m not sure how much of the Russian language Huntsman knows, but I am confident he will master it in short order.
Huntsman is a good father who loves his daughters. He speaks well and is a smart man, well versed in diplomatic skills. Trump can make use of these qualities in his relationship with both Russia and China.
Your post is interesting. I don’t know enough about Huntsman to have an opinion, so hearing some “positives” helps one in that regard. One thing, if I recall correctly, is that Huntsman does not care for Romney, not at all. If that’s the case, it’s something in his favor.
The WH has not announced this yet
IF true it is a lousy pick
This is a smart move by Trump. RINO Huntsman is still somewhat popular in Utah. Utah has an open senate seat in 2018 when Orrin Hatch expires/retires (whichever comes first). Huntsman would be the front-runner for that seat, but not if he is in Russia.
Keep your friends close, but send your enemies far away.
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