President-elect Donald Trump wants University of Georgia football legend and former U.S. Senate candidate Herschel Walker to serve as his ambassador to the Bahamas.
Trump announced his nomination via a post late Monday night on his Truth Social site where he mentioned Walker’s Heisman Award and NFL accomplishments, as well as his work with youth and the military on topics such as mental health and physical fitness. Trump also noted that Walker was a member of the U.S. bobsled team in the 1992 Winter Olympics.
“Congratulations Herschel! You will make Georgia, and our entire Nation, proud, because we know you will always put AMERICA FIRST!” Trump wrote.
Walker’s appointment will require Senate confirmation. That means he will likely be asking for the support of his former rival, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. Trump endorsed Walker in the 2022 race, but he lost to Warnock in a runoff.
Walker recently graduated from UGA, having returned to complete the bachelor’s degree he set aside to pursue his professional football career.
He is the second consecutive Georgian to be nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.
Calvin Smyre retired as the longest-serving member of the Georgia House after President Joe Biden appointed him in 2021 to an ambassadorship, first in the Dominican Republic before saying he would rather Smyre serve in the Bahamas.
Smyre was never confirmed by the Senate, and Biden chose not to reappoint him in 2023.
Walker joins a growing list of Georgians appointed by Trump to serve in his administration. The president-elect selected former U.S. Sen. David Perdue to serve as U.S. ambassador to China and former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to lead the Small Business Association. Trump also tapped former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins to serve as his veterans affairs secretary.
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