Trump Shakes Diplomacy With the Dismissal of Ambassadors

Trump Fires Ambassadors

Senate Warns of Foreign Policy Vacuum

Foreign Service Expresses Alarm

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, ordered the immediate dismissal of around thirty career ambassadors who had assumed their posts during the previous administration of Joe Biden.

The decision sparked criticism from the Democratic opposition and members of the diplomatic corps, who warn of the risks of leaving key overseas positions vacant.

The measure was communicated over the past two weeks through calls from the United States Department of State, without formal explanations regarding the reasons for the removals.

The United States has two types of ambassadors: political appointees and career diplomats from the Foreign Service.

Trump Fires Ambassadors

The State Department confirmed the removal of 30 career ambassadors and heads of mission in 29 countries as part of a reorganization aimed at aligning U.S. foreign policy with the priorities of the current administration… pic.twitter.com/5s1Un5B8YB

— Azteca Noticias GT (@AztecaNoticiaGT) December 23, 2025

Political ambassadors are typically replaced immediately when a new president takes office, especially in strategic destinations such as major European capitals.

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In contrast, career diplomats usually remain in their positions until completing their terms, under the principle that they implement White House directives regardless of which party holds power.

In this case, nearly thirty career ambassadors were informed that they must leave their posts in January and return to Washington.

The State Department has not published an official list of those affected by the presidential order, according to EFE.

Local media report that most of the dismissed US ambassadors were stationed in African and Asian countries.

To a lesser extent, there were also changes in Europe and Latin America.

Among the cases mentioned is that of the US ambassador to Guatemala, Tobin Bradley.

Democratic Party Reaction and Senate Warnings

| TRUMP REORGANIZES DIPLOMACY: He removed around 30 ambassadors to align U.S. representation around the world with his “America First” agenda. pic.twitter.com/iIxIhENg52

— La Derecha Diario Estados Unidos (@DerechaDiarioUS) December 22, 2025

A group of Democratic senators sent a letter to President Trump on Wednesday urging him to reconsider the decision to dismiss the ambassadors.

In the document, lawmakers warned that leaving these posts vacant creates a “dangerous vacuum in US leadership abroad.”

The letter was led by Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The senators noted that even before this order, there were already 80 vacant ambassadorial positions.

With the removal of career ambassadors, the number of embassies without a chief would exceed 100.

This would represent approximately half of all US ambassador posts worldwide.

According to the letter, this scenario poses a significant threat to national security.

Diplomatic Discontent and Political Context

Trump has repeatedly claimed that the federal government is dominated by bureaucrats he refers to as the “deep state.”

The president accuses these officials of holding progressive views and attempting to undermine his policies.

The dismissal of ambassadors is part of a broader reduction in personnel at the State Department.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed more than 1,300 employees from his department.

He also authorized the dismantling of the historic United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

From the diplomats’ union, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), concern was expressed over the procedure.

A spokesperson for the organization told EFE that career ambassadors are not usually dismissed in this manner.

She added that the lack of transparency and formal process runs directly counter to long-standing norms of the U.S. diplomatic service.