Donald Trump has recalled 30 U.S. ambassadors and senior career diplomats from their positions around the world as part of a broader foreign policy shift.
Most of the diplomats are career Foreign Service officers, not political appointees, and many had been serving under President Biden before being retained earlier in Trump’s second term.
Most of them will be recalled to Washington and encouraged to seek new roles within the State Department rather than being fired outright.
The US State Department describe the move as standard practice asserting that ambassadors reflect the president’s policy priorities.
Officials noted that the move allows the administration to ensure diplomatic missions are aligned with the *America First* approach.
Africa appears to be one of the most affected regions, with diplomats recalled from more than a dozen countries, including Rwanda and Uganda.
Positions in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere have also been included.
Critics say the move is politically motivated, especially for career officers traditionally insulated from partisan turnover.
They also noted that it weakens U.S. diplomatic credibility and leadership abroad, particularly in smaller but strategically important countries.
The American Foreign Service Association have raised concerns about morale and the politicization of the diplomatic corps.
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