Donald Trump has nominated Edward Walsh as the United States ambassador to Ireland.
Mr Walsh is president of the Walsh Company, a construction company based in the state of New Jersey.
Trump, in a statement announcing the decision, described him as a “great philanthropist in his local community” and a former chairman of a state school development board.
He added: “He is also a champion golfer, a great asset for the ambassador of (sic) Ireland to have.”
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The Walsh Company provides construction, project management and environmental services.
Mr Walsh has been a member of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
He will join dozens of nominations by the president-elect who must be confirmed by the US Senate in the coming months.
He will replace Claire Cronin, a Biden appointment who had previously served in Massachusetts state politics.
According to Mr Walsh’s biography on his company’s website, he founded the Walsh Company in 2003. Prior to this, he worked as a senior vice-president at Gale and Wentworth, a real estate investment and services firm.
His biography also states he has been recognised for “philanthropic efforts” on behalf of a variety of organisations, including the American Cancer Society, Somerset Hills Learning Institute, and the Interfaith Food Pantry of Morristown, among others.
Mr Walsh’s nomination comes as Devin Nunes, the chief executive officer of Trump’s Truth Social platform, was appointed to head a presidential advisory board that he said will keep tabs on the US intelligence community.
Trump also named Ric Grenell as “presidential envoy for special missions”. Grenell, who was Trump’s first-term ambassador to Germany, “will work in some of the hottest spots around the world, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
FBI director Christopher Wray said on Wednesday he will resign before Trump takes office on January 20th, prematurely ending his tumultuous tenure.
That would make way for Kash Patel, the Trump ally the president-elect has nominated to head the chief US law enforcement agency and who Trump also says was instrumental in “uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax”.
The Donald Trump appointee who has his sights on Ireland's tax take
Donald Trump's choices for the top roles in his administration include TV doctor Mehmet Oz, former WWE exec Linda McMahon, Kristi Noem the South Dakota governor who shot the family dog and pet goat. And billionaire businessman, Howard Lutnick, who thinks the presence of multinationals in Ireland is a barrier to 'making America great again.' Norman Ornstein is a political scientist and resident scholar at the conservative-leaning think tank, the American Enterprise Institute. In 2015, he predicted the rise of Donald Trump. He outlines the most eyebrow-raising of the US president's cabinet nominees and explains why Ireland has a legitimate reason to fear for its economic future.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
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