Trump nominates Texas Republican Wesley Hunt as Saudi Arabia ambassador

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump named Texas Republican Representative Wesley Hunt as his nominee to serve as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, a position that has been vacant since the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025.

Hunt, who served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, has opted not to seek re-election to the House after an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Should the U.S. Senate confirm him, Hunt would arrive in Riyadh as months of war on Iran have deepened concerns about a broader conflict, while Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have mounted attacks on Saudi Arabia.