Trump names Leo Brent Bozell III as ambassador to South Africa
President Trump has named Leo Brent Bozell III, a conservative media critic and pro-Israel commentator, to be the U.S. ambassador to South Africa.
According to an action introduced in Congress, the Senate received Bozell’s nomination on Monday. He will have to be confirmed by the upper chamber.
The nomination comes at a time when relations are strained between the U.S. and South Africa.
The Trump administration has criticized the country for its relationship with Iran and criticism of the Israeli government. It has also expelled South African Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool and labeled him persona non grata.
Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Rasool of being a “race-baiting politician” after he criticized Trump. The South African diplomat had accused the president of leading a “white supremacist movement” at home and abroad.
Bozell was previously nominated to lead the U.S. global media agency, but the nomination was withdrawn on Monday and his name was then submitted to be the ambassador to South Africa, The New York Times reported.
Bozell is the founder and president of the Media Research Center, a watchdog organization that looks to highlight alleged liberal bias from media outlets, the Times reported.
The outlet noted that Bozell’s son, Leo Brent Bozell IV, was convicted and sentenced in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He was later pardoned by Trump.