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Trump's ‘Unqualified' Friend Humiliated During Senate Confirmation to Key Ambassador Post
Trump's ‘Unqualified' Friend Humiliated During Senate Confirmation to Key Ambassador Post

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Trump's ‘Unqualified' Friend Humiliated During Senate Confirmation to Key Ambassador Post

President Trump's pick for U.S. ambassador to Singapore faced a heated grilling in his Senate confirmation hearing in which he struggled to answer questions about the city-state. It took barely ten minutes for Dr. Anjani Sinha—who is not an expert in global affairs or trade, but an orthopaedic and sports surgeon who owns a chain of practices on the East Coast—to reveal his apparent lack of knowledge about Singapore as he melted down live on television, in a clip that has now gone around the world. Facing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Indian-born Florida-based doctor boasted he was a 'lifelong bridge builder.' Seemingly unconvinced that this, or his background, made Dr. Sinha qualified for such a crucial post, Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth went to town. Duckworth asked Dr. Sinha if he knew the size of the United States trade surplus with Singapore. Dr. Sinha initially guessed $80 billion, before revising it to $18 billion. Duckworth informed him it was actually $2.8 billion. Not a great start. Next, Duckworth asked Dr. Sinha about Trump's looming 10 percent tariff on Singaporean goods, and how he would sell it to Singapore. Dr. Sinha meandered through half-sentences before landing on a shrug: 'The dialogue is not closed. The door is not closed.' Smelling blood, Duckworth pressed harder. 'When is Singapore going to be the ASEAN chair?' she asked, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional bloc. Dr. Sinha didn't know. It's 2027, he was informed by Duckworth. 'What does holding the chairmanship entail for Singapore? Can you name one thing?' Duckworth pressed. At first, Duckworth's question was met with silence—before Dr. Sinha responded with incoherent filler, leading the combat-veteran senator to unload on the gormless clinician. 'I just feel you are not taking this seriously,' she snapped. 'You think this is a glamour posting—that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore—when what we need is someone who can actually do the work.' Describing him as 'unqualified' for the key role, she went on: 'You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework.' The exchange detonated on Singaporean social media, where the BBC reported that one viewer quipped Sinha was 'more Embarassador than ambassador.' Another asked whether Trump's tariff or Trump's envoy was the bigger insult. Yet despite his real-time humiliation, the nominee's prospects remain very much alive. Republican Lindsey Graham—who introduced Sinha as 'a friend of President Trump for over a decade'—controls the committee's gavel, and the GOP's Senate majority means party-line votes can still hand the surgeon the keys to America's most strategic outpost in Southeast Asia. Donald Trump hailed Sinha as a 'highly respected entrepreneur' when he nominated him in March. The U.S. Department of State went further still, saying in May that with 'his deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region, Dr. Sinha is uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders [and] his appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial him well qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore.' The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment.

‘More embarassador than ambassador.' Donald Trump's pick for envoy to SG roasted online
‘More embarassador than ambassador.' Donald Trump's pick for envoy to SG roasted online

Independent Singapore

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Independent Singapore

‘More embarassador than ambassador.' Donald Trump's pick for envoy to SG roasted online

SINGAPORE: United States President Donald Trump's choice for ambassador to Singapore had a humiliating time before the Senate earlier this week. 'I'm trying to help you here,' Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth told Dr Anjani Sinha, an orthopaedic and sports surgeon Mr Trump handpicked for the position. 'But you haven't even done your homework.' Ms Duckworth asked Dr Sinha a series of questions regarding Singapore's economy, the US Navy's work with Singapore, and when the city-state will chair the ASEAN, which the would-be envoy visibly struggled to answer. This resulted in the Senator telling him: 'You are not taking this seriously. You think this is a glamour posting. You think that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, but what we need is someone who's actually going to do the work.' @thechillicrap Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth reprimands Dr. Anjani Sinha after the US ambassador to Singapore nominee fails to answer questions on the country and its ties with the US during a Senate hearing… #singaporetiktok #tiktoksingapore #tiktoksg #tarrifs ♬ original sound – thechillicrap – thechillicrap The senator underlined how important Singapore is to the United States, especially in the region, in the context of the tensions between the US and China. Ms Duckworth told Dr Sinha, 'I want to reinforce for you again right now. You are not currently prepared for this posting. Period. And you need to shape up and do some homework.' As the clip of Dr Sinha's grilling was shared on social media, some commenters took to calling him more of an 'embarassador than ambassador.' 'Anjani Sinha has absolutely zero expertise or experience in international relations or diplomacy whatsoever,' a Facebook user noted. Another wrote, 'Jialut la. As an HR practitioner, this is a big FAIL for an interview. The end of US supremacy is near.' Dr Sinha, a staunch supporter of the Republican Party in the US, was nominated for the post by Mr Trump in March, which means he's certainly had ample time to prepare for the ambassadorship to Singapore. In a post on Truth Social , the US President wrote, 'I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our Nation's interests, and put America first. Congratulations, Anji!' He is said to have been friends with Mr Trump for over 10 years, according to an introduction from Senator Lindsey Graham. In May, the U.S. Department of State touted Dr Sinha's 'deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region' and wrote that he is 'uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders.' 'His appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial hub, and his own business expertise — particularly in the life sciences and healthcare sectors – render him well qualified to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore,' it added. Despite Dr Sinha's poor showing this week and the backlash that ensued online, he is still likely to be confirmed as ambassador to Singapore, given the Republican Party's majority. /TISG Read also: U.S. Defence Secretary compares Donald Trump to Lee Kuan Yew, but Singaporeans say 'ah gong confirm flip in his grave' See also Billionaire Bezos buys estate for $165 mn: report

Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?
Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?

South China Morning Post

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • South China Morning Post

Is Singapore key for the US to fight against China as Tammy Duckworth says?

Remarks by a US senator labelling Singapore as a key place for 'fighting against' major rival China have offered a revealing glimpse into how some American politicians view the city state, amid Washington's regional power struggle with Beijing. The comments came to light after clips of a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday showed an exasperated Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth admonishing Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump 's ambassador nominee to Singapore. 'You want to be ambassador to Singapore, one of the most important … friends we have in the Indo-Pacific, a key place that we're going to be fighting against our greatest adversary in the region, the PRC,' said Duckworth, a Thai-American veteran, as she referred to the People's Republic of China. Sinha, a Florida orthopaedic surgeon who reportedly plays golf at the same country club as Trump, grossly overestimated how large the US' trade surplus was with Singapore last year and did not know when Singapore was going to next chair Asean or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. After chiding Sinha for not doing his 'homework' on the city state, the senator from Illinois stressed the importance of Singapore to the US, adding: 'This nation is too important to the United States, to Asean, to the entire region. 'And frankly, I think the mission is important to US interests and national security, and it should actually be a foreign service officer. But I have even larger concerns with the political pick when that political pick is somebody as unqualified as you.'

US senator says Trump's choice for Singapore ‘unqualified'
US senator says Trump's choice for Singapore ‘unqualified'

Al Arabiya

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Al Arabiya

US senator says Trump's choice for Singapore ‘unqualified'

US President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to Singapore has been accused of being 'unqualified' for the job after he repeatedly fumbled answers on the city-state during a Senate confirmation hearing. Anjani Sinha, an orthopedic surgeon born in India, was berated by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth during Wednesday's grilling in Washington and told to 'shape up and do some homework' about Singapore. Sinha struggled to answer Duckworth's questions about the key US ally, including bilateral defense ties, and when it would next chair the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to footage of the hearing. 'Please, I'm trying to help you here but you have not even done your homework, sir,' Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, said at one point in their exchange. 'You want to be ambassador to Singapore, one of the most important friends we have in the Indo-Pacific, a key place we're gonna be fighting against our greatest adversary in the region, the PRC (People's Republic of China),' she said. A clearly exasperated Duckworth told Sinha that Singapore, one of Asia's wealthiest and safest nations, was not a 'glamour' job. 'This nation is too important to the United States, to ASEAN, to the entire region, and frankly I think the mission is important to US interest and national security,' she added. Asked how big the US trade surplus was with Singapore in 2024, Sinha replied '80 billion dollar, 18 billion dollar.' The correct figure was $2.8 billion, Duckworth retorted as she told him he was 'off by a huge factor.' The senator told Sinha he was 'unqualified' for the posting and what the United States needed was 'someone who is actually going to do the work.' The US State Department described Sinha on its website as a 'preeminent surgeon on the East Coast specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine' and an 'accomplished entrepreneur.' The hearing was held as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended an ASEAN meeting in Malaysia, where another Trump pick for ambassador was making headlines. Right-wing commentator Nick Adams, a naturalized American citizen originally from Australia, has been nominated for US envoy to Malaysia. Adams, who reportedly previously described himself as an 'alpha male', thanked Trump on the social media platform X for the 'honor of a lifetime... to represent the United States of America in Malaysia.'

Trump's pick for US ambassador to Singapore faces tough Senate hearing
Trump's pick for US ambassador to Singapore faces tough Senate hearing

Independent Singapore

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Independent Singapore

Trump's pick for US ambassador to Singapore faces tough Senate hearing

WASHINGTON / SINGAPORE: US President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Singapore, Dr Anjani Sinha, faced a tough reception at a Senate confirmation hearing this week, with pointed questioning from Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth that laid bare concerns over his preparedness for one of Washington's key diplomatic postings in Southeast Asia. Dr Sinha, a physician and entrepreneur with no prior diplomatic experience, was nominated by Trump in March. The announcement, made via a brief social post, hailed Dr Sinha as a 'highly respected entrepreneur, with an incredible family' — but offered few clues about his qualifications or foreign policy credentials. Gaps in knowledge raise eyebrows At the hearing, Dr Sinha struggled to answer questions on basic trade figures and regional diplomacy. When asked the size of the US trade surplus with Singapore in 2024, he first estimated it at US$80 billion , before adjusting it to US$18 billion — both far off from the actual figure of US$2.8 billion , according to official data from the US Trade Representative's Office. Visibly frustrated, Senator Duckworth remarked: 'I am trying to help you here, but you have not even done your homework… You are not currently prepared for this posting, period.' When questioned about Singapore's upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN in 2027 — a critical opportunity for shaping regional dialogue — Dr Sinha was unable to give a clear response. Duckworth did not hold back, warning Dr Sinha that he seemed to view the appointment as a 'glamour posting' rather than a serious diplomatic role. 'You think this is a glamour posting… when what we need is someone who can actually do the work,' she said. The testy exchange, which has since gone viral in Southeast Asia, drew sharp criticism from netizens in Singapore, many of whom voiced concern over what they perceived as a lack of seriousness from Washington in managing ties with the city-state. A nomination tattered with controversy Despite the pushback, Dr Sinha's nomination appears likely to be confirmed. With Republicans controlling the Senate, the nomination is expected to pass without Democratic support. See also China slams British MP university report as 'fictitious' Senator Lindsey Graham, who introduced Dr Sinha during the hearing, defended the pick, citing Singapore's growing medical tourism sector as an area where Dr Sinha could contribute meaningfully. 'He knows the region and he knows the issues,' Graham insisted. Still, the hearing has reignited debate over the Trump administration's approach to diplomatic appointments. The ambassadorship to Singapore has remained a politically sensitive post, especially following the resignation of Trump's previous nominee during his first term, and allegations against Biden-era ambassador Jonathan Kaplan of mismanagement and inappropriate conduct. Dr Sinha appeared alongside four other ambassadorial nominees, including Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and one-time fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., nominated for the post in Greece — further fuelling concerns over political patronage in key appointments. Singapore's strategic role Singapore is among America's most important allies in the Indo-Pacific, hosting rotational US naval deployments and acting as a regional hub for trade and counter-terrorism cooperation. The country will also chair ASEAN in 2027 , giving it added influence in shaping regional policy on climate, trade, and China-US competition. For now, all eyes remain on whether Dr Sinha will heed the public rebuke and return to the Senate with a firmer grasp of the diplomatic terrain he is expected to navigate. Duckworth, who is of Thai-Chinese heritage and has deep ties to Southeast Asia, ended the hearing with 'Shape up and do some homework.' As Washington seeks to reassure allies and reassert its leadership in the region, who speaks for America in Singapore — and how well they understand the assignment — will matter more than ever.

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