WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump nominated Kimberly Greenwood to serve as U.S. ambassador to Barbados. The nomination designates her to serve concurrently as U.S. ambassador to Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines without additional compensation.

The White House sent the nomination to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. Greenwood is the wife of American country music artist Lee Greenwood and worked with Donald Trump for 18 years through the Miss Universe Organization.

Greenwood posted on Instagram thanking President Trump for the nomination. "Mr. President, thank you for believing in me and entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity to serve," she wrote. She added that if confirmed by the United States Senate, she would work every day to earn that confidence, listen and learn, build genuine relationships, and ensure the people of every nation she is privileged to serve know how deeply America values their friendship.

Lee Greenwood posted on X congratulating his wife on the nomination. He stated that Kim has always approached every responsibility with a servant's heart and a deep commitment to excellence. He noted that she worked with President Trump for 18 years through the Miss Universe Organization while directing multiple state pageants, and expressed gratitude for the confidence Trump placed in her through this nomination.

"I know Kim will serve with humility, dignity and a sincere desire to strengthen the friendships between the United States and the people of these seven Caribbean nations," she wrote on X. The singer has a long-standing public association with the president, who used Lee Greenwood's song "God Bless the USA" as his rally walk-up song. Lee Greenwood performed "God Bless the USA" live at certain Trump events, and the two collaborated to sell a line of Bibles.

She directed the Miss Tennessee, Miss Mississippi, and Miss Georgia competitions during her tenure with the pageant organization. She is a former Miss Tennessee. In an interview with Sean Hannity, she stated that her professional relationship with Donald Trump predates her relationship with Lee Greenwood.

A review found the Trump administration has filled a larger-than-usual share of ambassadorial posts with political supporters rather than career Foreign Service officers. Handing out sought-after ambassadorial posts to key political supporters and financial campaign donors is a long-standing routine embraced by presidents from both major American political parties. Democratic President Joe Biden appointed Roger Nyhus, a prominent donor to the Democratic Party and Seattle-based business leader, to the same combined diplomatic role that Trump has now designated for Greenwood.

The administration announced several other nominations alongside Greenwood's. President Trump nominated former Senate candidate Herschel Walker to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas. He also nominated former Senate candidate Kari Lake to serve as ambassador to Jamaica.

Kimberly Guilfoyle was chosen as U.S. ambassador to Greece, and President Trump nominated Wesley Hunt to serve as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The White House announced nominees for ambassadorial roles in Haiti, Somalia, Djibouti, and Suriname.

What's New

The "God Bless the USA Bible" sold for $59.99. "Mr. President, thank you for believing in me and entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity to serve," Kimberly Greenwood wrote. President Trump nominated Wesley Hunt to serve as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Democratic President Biden appointed Roger Nyhus, a prominent donor to the Democratic Party and Seattle-based business leader, to the same combined diplomatic role that Trump has now designated for Kimberly Greenwood.

Why It Matters

The nomination of Kimberly Greenwood shows the continued practice of appointing political allies and personal associates to diplomatic posts. A Washington Post review found the Trump administration has filled a larger-than-usual share of ambassadorial posts with political supporters rather than career Foreign Service officers. This approach mirrors actions taken by previous administrations, including that of Democratic President Biden, who appointed prominent donor Roger Nyhus to the same Caribbean portfolio.

The breadth of the current nominations, which include former Senate candidates and media figures, reflects the scale of this staffing strategy across multiple regions, from the Caribbean to the Middle East and Europe.