Trump Nominates Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump nominated Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) for the role of U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 14, in a bid to fill a post that has been vacant since the start of his second term.

Hunt’s nomination was one of a raft of appointments for positions at home and abroad sent to the Senate by the White House on Monday.

The U.S. Army veteran described it as “the honor of a lifetime” to accept Trump’s nomination for the role in a Sept. 14 post on X.

“Having served in the region both in combat as an Army officer and for two years as a diplomatic liaison in the Kingdom, I understand the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the profound responsibility of this position,” he said.

Hunt added that he was “deeply grateful” to Trump for his confidence in him and vowed that when he is confirmed in the role, he will “serve with humility and honor, advance his vision of peace through strength and deepen this vital partnership.”

In a later post on the platform, Hunt said that under the leadership of Trump, the United States had a “historic opportunity” not just to further solidify ties between Riyadh and Washington, but also to “strengthen American security, advance our economic and energy interests, confront our common adversaries, and build a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East through American strength.”

Hunt is not seeking re-election to the House, after an unsuccessful primary bid to take one of Texas’s U.S. Senate seats.

He finished third in that primary race, which was eventually won by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who beat incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a run-off, after receiving an endorsement from Trump.

Hunt served in the U.S. Army for eight years as an aviation officer and Apache attack helicopter pilot, including three overseas deployments and 55 Apache combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He became a congressman in 2022, winning Texas’s 38th Congressional District in the first election after it was formed, and during his time in the House, he has been a staunch supporter of the president.

Before Hunt can head off to Riyadh, he must first be approved by the Senate, but a date for that vote has not yet been set.

If approved, Hunt will head to the kingdom at a time of much upheaval in the Middle East, with the Iran war still ongoing and Saudi Arabia itself engaged in violent exchanges with the Tehran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said on Sept. 14 that the group had carried out attacks targeting military facilities at King Khalid Airbase in Khamis Mushait.

Saudi authorities confirmed on Sept. 15 that the Houthis had attacked, resulting in the injury of 13 civilians and the destruction of several homes and vehicles.