Andrew F. Puzder, the former chief executive of the company that owns the fast-food chains Hardee's and Carl's Jr., has been selected by President Trump to be the next U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
Mr. Puzder, a frequent commentator on economic and business issues on networks such as Fox Business, has not held the prestigious and influential diplomatic position of representing the United States in some of Europe's wealthiest countries. I'm not bringing any foreign policy experience to the table.
However, during Trump's first term, his interactions with the European Union (EU) often focused on economic and trade issues. Mr. Trump clashed with the European Union in 2018, imposing temporary tariffs on steel and aluminum, which triggered retaliatory action by the bloc on billions of American goods. He again threatened to impose tariffs on European countries and set the stage for a new trade war.
If Puzder is confirmed by the Senate, there are a number of other transatlantic issues. Russia's war with Ukraine, Europe's military aid to Ukraine. Mr. Trump's goal is to entice European allies to increase military spending. The rise of right-wing governments in Europe. And Trump quickly withdrew from major international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Your position may also be in jeopardy. After testifying to Congress in Trump's first impeachment inquiry, Trump fired Gordon Sondland, the first ambassador to the European Union. The investigation centered on allegations of a “quid pro quo” request for the Ukrainian government to investigate the family of Joesph R. Biden Jr., then a likely Trump rival in the 2020 election. Trump was accused of linking the request to official talks between him and Ukraine's new president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and to continued U.S. military aid.
Mr. Sondland, who was involved in efforts to pressure Ukraine to release an investigation into Mr. Biden's family, testified that “we were following the president's orders” and that “everyone was in the information.”
Mr. Trump had previously selected Mr. Puzder to be labor secretary early in his first term, but the nomination fell through due to bipartisan scrutiny of Mr. Puzder's work record and character. Democrats, labor unions and liberal groups criticized him for his comments against workplace protections such as minimum wage and overtime rules, and conservative publications highlighted his hiring of undocumented immigrants as domestic workers. Republican senators ultimately turned against Puzder as spousal abuse accusations resurfaced during the confirmation process. Puzder has denied the allegations, and his ex-wife Lisa Fierstein has recanted her claims of physical abuse.
If confirmed, Puzder would take over the ambassadorship from Mark Gitenstein, a veteran ambassador and longtime Biden aide who first worked as Biden's lawyer more than 40 years ago. . Mr. Gitenstein resigned on January 17th.
