Trump’s Ambassadors Made Record Contributions To His Presidential Campaign

President Donald Trump’s foreign ambassadors made record-breaking contributions to his 2016 presidential campaign, according to a new report from Axios. Their average financial contribution to his campaign broke the previous record, set by former President George W. Bush.

US ambassadors appointed by Trump over the last three years have given more money to the President’s campaign than any group of ambassadors before. The average contribution was more than $96 thousand, according to a study carried out  by Ryan Scoville of Marqutte University’s Law School.

Scoville’s study, ‘Unqualified Ambassadors’, shows Trump’s ambassadors are also the least qualified in the last 30 years. Just 58.6% were career foreign service officers, compared to 72.9% under the Obama administration. Moreover, Trump’s ambassadors have significantly less experience with the regions they’re serving in than Obama’s appointees.

The average campaign contribution from ambassadors appointed by Obama was $11 thousand, while the previous record was $60.7 thousand under Bush. This represents a significant rise in the average contribution and a rise in the number of non-career diplomats appointed.

The President’s pick for UN ambassador, Heather Nauert, recently decided to withdraw herself from consideration. Nauert was a Fox News personality and was widely considered unqualified for the role. Axios’ new report will raise further questions about the Trump administration’s choice of ambassadors.

Trump’s cabinet has also been subject to a series of scandals. Trump has been accused of appointing unqualified people to senior positions because of their wealth. Many of Trump’s cabinet secretaries have been far less qualified than previous appointees.