KUALA LUMPUR – Former Sydney councillor-turned-Maga commentator Nick Adams has been nominated by US President Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to Malaysia, in a surprise appointment likely to provoke scrutiny in diplomatic circles.
The 40-year-old Australian-born conservative personality – known for his provocative social media posts, self-styled “alpha male” branding, and outspoken support for Trump – would require Senate confirmation before assuming the post.
“I am pleased to announce that Nick Adams will be nominated as the next United States Ambassador to Malaysia,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Nick is an incredible patriot and very successful entrepreneur, whose love of, and devotion to, our great country is an inspiration.”
The vocal Trump loyalist responded to the nomination by calling it “the honour of a lifetime” and said he looked forward to spreading the president’s goodwill to the people of Malaysia.
“Accepting this call of duty should be the easiest decision made by any American.” Adams said in a video posted on social media following the announcement.
Adams, who became a US citizen in 2021, has no formal diplomatic experience. He founded the Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG), a non-profit aimed at promoting conservative civic values in American schools, and has written a series of books praised by Trump.
One of his books, Alpha Kings, includes a foreword by the president, who described Adams as a “good friend”.
Joshua Kurlantzick, a Southeast Asia expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, described the appointment as “potentially problematic”.
“Appointing an ambassador with so little experience would be seen as a slap in the face to Malaysia,” he said, reported ABC.
“Southeast Asian states… prefer to work out diplomatic matters in as quiet and subtle a way as possible.”
Meanwhile, SCMP reported a diplomat as saying that the choice appeared to favour “political loyalists over those who actually fit the post”.
Adams, who frequently refers to himself as Trump’s “favourite author” on his X profile, has become known for posts advocating for Trump and his policies, besides other controversial issues. He once called singer Taylor Swift a “woke jezebel” and blamed US President Joe Biden for Hooters’ business downturn, declaring “We will make Hooters great again!”
Adams has also made social media posts urging men to dump women who do not support Trump, including one that read: “It’s time to give the sheilas an ultimatum — vote for President Trump this November or get dumped!” Sheila is an Australian term that means woman.
Before his life in the US, Adams served as deputy mayor of the Ashfield council in Sydney at the age of 20. He faced a six-month suspension from the Liberal Party in 2009 after verbally abusing a TV journalist covering his repeated absences from council meetings. He later claimed he quit the party before the suspension took effect.
His nomination comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Malaysia for an Asean gathering.
While Adams has thanked Trump for the “honour of a lifetime”, diplomats and analysts remain sceptical over how his brand of brash political theatre will translate into effective diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
“God bless the United States of America!” Adams posted after the announcement.
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