John James for U.S. Senate Campaign
Ted Nugent with conservative John James.
After being defeated by Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow for a seat in the U.S. Senate in November, army veteran John James is reportedly in the running for U.N. ambassador.
President Trump is considering the Sterling Heights businessman after State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert announced last week that she was no longer considering the position. The post has been vacant since January after former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley resigned.
Over the weekend, Trump met with advisors at his Mar-a-Lago estate to discuss James, a source close to the White House told CNN.
Trump is "very impressed by him ... and sees him as a rising star," the source told CNN.
Trump reportedly views the position as UN ambassador as a "PR position," which is why Nauert, a former broadcast journalist and co-host for Fox and Friends, was considered for the role.
The diplomatic role of UN ambassador typically requires candidates to be experienced with policymaking, diplomacy, and negotiation.
James made a splash in his political debut last fall, losing to Stabenow by a margin of 6.54 percent – the lowest Republican margin since the Stabenow unseated GOP Senator Spencer Abraham in 2000.
The GOP Senate nominee's candidacy was marred by controversy, however. In October, James' campaign ran a TV ad that prominently featured a swastika. The African American conservative also faced criticism for accepting campaign donations from a PAC linked to white supremacists.
James is one of four candidates being considered for the role. Current U.S. ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft; U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grennel; and former U.S. deputy national security advisor for strategy, Dina Powell are also being considered for the position.
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