Politics
These are the qualifications you need to become an ambassador: Is Kimberly Guilfoyle qualified for the job?
There aren’t specific qualifications needed to become an ambassador, as Donald Trump’s ambassadorial picks have shown. Having good connections goes a way.
The appointment of ambassadors in the United States is a presidential prerogative, governed by Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. This section grants the President the authority to nominate ambassadors, who must then be confirmed by the Senate.
While there are no formal educational or professional qualifications mandated by law for becoming an ambassador, many appointees typically possess significant experience in diplomacy or related fields.
Over time, particularly following reforms like the Rogers Act of 1924 which aimed to professionalise the diplomatic corps, there has been a push towards professionalising diplomatic appointments. This act aimed to unify and meritocratise the Foreign Service, linking diplomatic and consular roles and emphasising qualifications over political favoritism.
It is easy to pay your way into becoming an ambassador
That has not dissauded presidents from significant numbers of political appointments. Historically, about 30% of ambassadors have been political appointees, a practice that has continued into recent administrations. For example, during Donald Trump’s presidency, over 40% of ambassadorial positions were filled by non-career diplomats according to non-profit multimedia publication Lawfare.
Their investigation found that “the average political nominee has been materially less qualified” than professional appointments. Indeed, there is no indication Kimberly Guilfoyle has any diplomatic experience, let alone the ability to speak Greek for her new posting.
Paying their way into the post is another theme. Lawfare found that since 1980, “73 percent of political nominees contributed funds, compared to only 5 percent of career nominees,” with am average spend of $84,850 for political appointments compared to $33 for career diplomats.
What is clear is that being an ambassador is much more about who you know, and pay, than what you know.
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