President-elect Trump announces ambassador to Mexico pick, and it’s not Kari Lake

PHOENIX – If Arizona’s Kari Lake ends up with a position in President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration, it won’t be as ambassador to Mexico.

Trump announced Tuesday evening he was nominating Ronald Johnson for the Mexico ambassadorship. Johnson, an Army veteran with CIA experience, served as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump’s first term.

“Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, Marco Rubio, to promote our Nation’s security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.

The announcement came a day after Semafor, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the situation, reported that Lake was a top contender for the Mexico ambassadorship.

It’s fun watching the Fake News embarrass themselves time and time again.

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 10, 2024

On Tuesday afternoon, Lake appeared to mock that report in a post on X.

“It’s fun watching the Fake News embarrass themselves time and time again,” she said.

Why Kari Lake is considered a candidate for Trump administration

Lake, a former local TV news anchor, rose to political prominence as a fervent supporter of Trump and his MAGA movement.

She is a star in the Trump wing of the Republican Party but has been unable to parlay that into electoral success in Arizona.

Trump endorsed Lake when she won the GOP nominations for governor in 2022 and a U.S. Senate seat this year, but she lost to her Democratic opponents in both general elections.

Lake’s fierce loyalty has fueled speculation that Trump would find a place for her in his administration after he reclaimed the White House.

What’s next for Kari Lake?

Lake didn’t address her future in a video she posted last month after she lost to U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego in the race for departing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s seat.

She did, however, thank her supporters and tout Trump’s return to power.

“Arizona is a special place and I’m thankful that President Trump and a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress will be in office to help protect us,” she said in the Nov. 13 video. “As I watch his cabinet forming, I take great comfort in knowing that America will be made great again.”

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