Media critic Brent Bozell nominated as US ambassador to SA
The United States may soon have a new ambassador to South Africa following President Donald Trump's latest nomination.
Trump has put forward conservative media commentator Leo Brent Bozell III for the role.
This comes as relations between Washington and Pretoria remain strained over key political and diplomatic issues.
Trump has nominated Leo Brent Bozell III, a conservative media critic and founder of the Media Research Center, an organisation known for exposing alleged liberal bias in the media.
The nomination was published on the US Congress’s official website.
Bozell was initially nominated to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but that nomination was withdrawn.
READ: Rasool welcomed back home after US expulsion
Now, he has been put forward for the role of ambassador to South Africa.
His appointment comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nations.
Trump has criticised South Africa over its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and its land reform policies.
The U.S. has not had an ambassador in South Africa since Reuben Brigety’s departure in January.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, was recently expelled by Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he publicly criticised Trump.
Bozell’s nomination still requires Senate confirmation before he can take up the position.
He is expected to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the coming weeks.
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