U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt, a Houston Republican who ran for the Senate earlier this year, to serve as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The pick follows Hunt’s Senate campaign, during which he placed third and drew only 13.5% of the vote.
The congressman Hunt, a retired Army captain serving his second term, held diplomatic posts in Saudi Arabia on two separate occasions. He has stood beside Trump throughout his political career, backing the then-former president right after he announced his reelection run in 2022. Hunt also took part in Trump’s campaign in 2024, appearing as a speaker at the Republican National Convention.
“Every chapter of my life has reinforced the same conviction: America is worth fighting for,” Hunt wrote on X Monday. “Now, I have been called to serve our country once again. Thank you President Trump for the honor.”
Hunt’s Senate Bid That Fell Short
When Hunt opted to run for U.S. Senate rather than seek reelection to the House, his congressional career ended. He entered the race in 2025, facing two statewide elected officials — Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton — and hoped to win over Republican primary voters who were more conservative than Cornyn but concerned about Paxton’s ethical baggage.
The race drew national attention. In Washington, the Republican establishment backed Cornyn, sending the race into a runoff. Before the March vote, friends of both the Cornyn and Paxton camps spent money on negative ads aimed at Hunt.
The Runoff Campaign
The runoff brought the negative spending to the fore. Friends of both camps spent money on ads aimed at Hunt before the March vote, according to the Texas Tribune, which reported that shortly after entering the race, Hunt said the president did not tell him to run or to stay out.
Trump refrained from endorsing any candidate during the primary, but he did give Paxton his stamp of approval in the final week of the runoff election.
The Runoff Result
Paxton went on to beat Cornyn decisively in the May runoff, while Hunt finished a distant third with 13.5% of the vote.
When Hunt addressed his supporters in March, he made clear that he was not done with politics, saying “this will not be the last time you see my name on a ballot.”.
Confirmation Is Required
The Senate must confirm Hunt before he can take office as ambassador, and it has only two weeks left in session before Election Day.
For his second term, Trump has held the Riyadh post on an interim basis. During his first term, the ambassadorship was filled by retired Army general John Abizaid, who served as a former U.S. Central Command commander.
What Hunt Did in Saudi Arabia
While on the campaign trail, Hunt spoke about his time in the kingdom. He pointed out that he was in Saudi Arabia when the U.S. government killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, and said he did not go to work for two weeks after “for fear of bin Laden sympathizers in Saudi Arabia and in Riyadh that could have been possibly targeting American coalition forces.”.
Other Texans Named to Posts
A number of Texans have been put forward for posts abroad during Trump’s second term.
- Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta, the ambassador to Italy
- Houston Republican megadonor Mindy Hildebrand, who is ambassador to Costa Rica
- Dallas businessman Joseph Popolo, another Republican donor, who serves as ambassador to the Netherlands
The Timing Problem
Only two weeks remain before voters head to the polls, and the Senate has little room to spare. Finding space on the calendar for a vote on Hunt’s confirmation may prove challenging.
“America is worth fighting for”
Hunt’s endorsement history and his surrogate work in 2024 meant he was already familiar to the White House. His Senate bid failed to move voters, yet his nomination remains a statement about who Trump trusts and what matters in his administration.
No one misses the irony here: a man who lost a Senate race with 13.5% of the vote now speaks for the United States in Saudi Arabia.
Key facts box:
- Nominee: Wesley Hunt, U.S. Rep. from Texas
- Post: Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- Vote share: 13.5%
- Senate runoff winner: Ken Paxton
- Previous ambassador: John Abizaid (first term)
- Senate days left: Two weeks until Election Day
- Campaign endorsements: Endorsed Trump in 2022; surrogate in 2024
The administration has made plain who holds influence within its circle. Hunt’s resume reveals where he positions himself.
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