WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has nominated U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Black Republican congressman from Houston and former Army officer, to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
The White House announced the selection Monday, Sept. 14. Hunt must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate before taking the diplomatic post in Riyadh, according to Reuters and The Texas Tribune.
Hunt represents Texas’ 38th Congressional District, which includes parts of western and northwestern Harris County. A West Point graduate and retired Army captain, he served as an Apache helicopter pilot and completed military assignments in the Middle East. His experience includes two deployments to Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic liaison officer.
In a public statement accepting the nomination, Hunt said his life had reinforced his belief that America was worth fighting for and thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve again. He also described the U.S.-Saudi relationship as strategically important.
If confirmed, Hunt would become Washington’s top diplomatic representative in Saudi Arabia during a period of heightened tension across the Middle East. The two countries maintain major security, energy and economic ties, while disagreements over regional conflicts, human rights and oil policy have repeatedly tested the partnership.
The ambassador’s position has been handled on an interim basis since Trump began his second term in January 2025. Ambassadors represent the president, oversee embassy operations and work directly with the host government on security, trade and other foreign-policy matters.
Hunt is nearing the end of his second House term and is not seeking reelection after mounting an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate. He finished third in the March Republican primary with 13.5% of the vote, according to the Texas Tribune.
His nomination places a prominent Black Houston political figure in line for one of the nation’s most consequential diplomatic assignments. Hunt was first elected to Congress in 2022 after previously running for the House in 2020. He has remained a close Trump ally and served as a campaign surrogate during the 2024 presidential election.
Confirmation timing remains uncertain. The Senate must review the nomination and vote before Hunt can formally take office, and lawmakers have limited time remaining in Washington before the Nov. 3 midterm election.
The nomination will not change who appears on the November ballot for Hunt’s congressional seat. Because he chose not to seek reelection to the House, voters in the 38th District will select a successor for the term beginning in January.
Hunt joins several Texans selected for ambassadorial posts during Trump’s second term. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta serves as ambassador to Italy, while Houston businesswoman Mindy Hildebrand serves as ambassador to Costa Rica.
Sources: Reuters, Sept. 14, 2026; The Texas Tribune, Sept. 14, 2026; Associated Press.
