Today, former NFL player Herschel Walker will take part in a nominations hearing in hopes of becoming the next US ambassador to The Bahamas.
In December 2024, US President Donald Trump named Walker, who unsuccessfully ran for a Georgia Senate seat in 2022, as his pick for US ambassador to The Bahamas.
At the time of the nomination, Trump described Walker as a “successful businessman, philanthropist, former Heisman Trophy winner, NFL great” and a “tireless advocate for youth sports”.
He congratulated Walker saying, “You will make Georgia and our entire nation proud because we know you will always put America first.”
If he is confirmed by the Senate, Walker would be the first US ambassador to The Bahamas since Nicole Avant left in 2011.
Several chargé d’affaires have been appointed since then, but despite ambassador nominees being put forward by various US presidents since Avant’s departure, none have been confirmed to the post.
Last summer, Kimberly Furnish arrived as the new US charge d’affaires to The Bahamas.
The new $318 million US Embassy in Nassau, which sits on five acres off Shirley Street, just last week opened to the public.