3 days ago
Malaysians protest Trump's pick of Sydney-born influencer Nick Adams as US ambassador
Dozens of demonstrators have gathered outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur to protest against the Trump administration's pick for the new Malaysian ambassador.
The White House has proposed MAGA influencer and former Sydney councillor Nick Adams to the Senate as its nominee.
The move last week triggered concerns in the Muslim-majority nation over Mr Adams's views on Islam and support for Israel's military campaign in Gaza, among other sensitive topics.
The Malaysian government has been facing mounting calls to reject the outspoken political commentator and author.
About 60 protesters chanting "reject" and holding signs saying "Protest Nick Adams" stood outside the embassy on Friday afternoon.
The embassy protest followed a similar demonstration in one of Kuala Lumpur's busiest streets the night before.
Protest organiser Iskandar Fareez told the ABC that Malaysians were concerned about Mr Adams's behaviour and social media posts that showed "Islamophobia tendencies and misogyny".
"This is worrying, especially for a Muslim-majority country like Malaysia, where we have our own culture and sensitivities," said Mr Fareez, the vice-chief of the youth wing of Malaysia's Democratic Action Party (DAP).
"He's not a diplomat and the way he carries himself is quite concerning."
Another protest organiser said, "an ambassador is supposed to be a bridge between both nations".
In posts on social media platform X, Mr Adams has railed against alleged efforts to "teach Islam in schools" and described those expressing solidarity with Palestinians as supporters of terrorism.
The posts have sparked outrage in Malaysia, which has a majority of mostly Muslim ethnic Malays alongside significant ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities of other faiths.
Malaysia has also long supported the Palestinian cause, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rejecting what he described as Western pressure to condemn Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Mr Adams has to be confirmed by the Senate before he can be appointed as the US ambassador to Malaysia.
He did not respond to the ABC's requests for a response.
Mr Fareez said the DAP youth wing had collaborated with youth branches of other political parties in Malaysia to organise the protest.
He said the protesters were hoping they would send a message to the US government that they should reconsider the decision to send Mr Adams to Malaysia.
"It's a reminder to those involved in the confirmation process that, look at Malaysia, we are not happy with this choice," said Mr Fareez.
The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the US embassy asking the administration to nominate a different candidate for the position.
Mr Fareez said the protest organisers were told by police they were not allowed to march and could only give speeches.
Mr Adams was a Liberal councillor in Ashfield in 2004 at the age of 19, and became deputy mayor the following year.
The Liberal Party suspended him in 2009 after he was filmed verbally abusing a Channel Ten reporter covering his repeated absences from council meetings.
He reportedly later said he quit before he was suspended.
He moved to the US and set up the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness, a non-profit dedicated to instilling conservative values in children.
Now 40, Mr Adams is an American citizen and MAGA commentator who has self-branded as a Hooters-loving "alpha male" and "cultural thought leader".
Malaysians in Australia told the ABC they shared their compatriots' concerns about Mr Adams.
Malaysian Australian Maureen Macafee, who lives in Canberra, said Nick Adams being nominated was "weird".
She said she was unsure if someone chosen by Mr Trump would have the diplomatic skills to handle a multicultural society like Malaysia.
Malaysian Australian Haneen Martin echoed the sentiment.
"The country doesn't need someone to come in and further drive division, or not take the time to appreciate what Malaysia has to offer," she said.
Earlier in the day, Mr Ibrahim said it was too early to make a decision on Mr Adams's appointment.
He said he would "consider the matter accordingly while safeguarding good relations between Malaysia and the US".
The protest organisers said they were willing to protest every week if Mr Adams were appointed.
Mohamed Sukri Omar, a member of Islamic opposition party PAS, said in a statement the appointment would be "an open insult towards the sensitivities of the Malaysian people".
Shahriman Lockman, of Malaysia's Institute of Strategic and International Studies, said protests from Muslim groups and ruling bloc allies could be too politically costly for Mr Ibrahim's government to ignore, although Mr Adams might be a useful conduit during trade talks due to his perceived closeness to Mr Trump.
Refusing Mr Adams could also provoke retaliation from Mr Trump at a time when Malaysia faces pressure to make trade concessions in exchange for lowering a potentially hefty 25 per cent US tariff, he said.
"There's no elegant solution here. It's damned if you do, damned if you don't," Mr Shahriman said.
The US and Malaysia currently have strained relations, in part due to Mr Trump's tariffs but also America's support for Israel's war on Gaza and Malaysia's tightening ties with China.
Former diplomats say Malaysia is unlikely to reject Mr Adams's appointment outright, but could make its objections known through informal channels or by delaying its approval.
"That would send a subtle but clear diplomatic signal: we value the bilateral relationship, but we also expect a standard of decorum, cultural sensitivity, and respect appropriate to such a posting," said Ilango Karuppannan, a retired former Malaysian ambassador who was once deputy chief of mission in Washington.
While concerns over Mr Adams's appointment were unlikely to have a direct impact on trade negotiations, "the broader tone of the bilateral relationship always matters", he said.
Former Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, a member of the largely ethnic Malay opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, said Malaysia should stand firm in upholding its values despite Mr Adams's relationship with Mr Trump.
"Yes, it would be good to have a US ambassador who is very close to Trump … but you cannot compromise on certain principles," he said.
Tricia Yeoh, an associate professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, said Mr Adams's success as envoy would be highly dependent on his ability to win the trust of Malaysia's political and policy leadership.
"If the comments he has previously made on social media are accurate depictions of his position on sociopolitical matters, he might find it challenging to do so, especially if he intends to make these positions publicly and explicitly known," she said.
