Malaysians Oppose Trump’s Pick of Nick Adams as US Envoy
Outrage is growing in Malaysia over Donald Trump’s nomination of conservative commentator Nick Adams as the next US ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation, with politicians and civil society groups urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government to reject the appointment.
Adams, 40, a right-wing media personality known for his controversial social media posts, was nominated last week by Trump. His outspoken support for Israel and alleged Islamophobic rhetoric have sparked backlash in the Muslim-majority country.
“Nick Adams is not a diplomat, not a statesman. He’s merely an extreme right-wing propagandist, a Trumpist and vocal supporter of Israel’s Zionist regime,” said Mus’ab Muzahar of the Amanah party, a member of the ruling coalition. “Malaysia is not a testing ground for US political puppets.”
Adams, who was born in Sydney and became a US citizen in 2021, has no diplomatic background and was previously ousted from Australia’s Liberal Party over an offensive tirade. If confirmed by the US Senate, he would replace Edgard Kagan, who has served as US ambassador to Malaysia for just over a year.
Mohamed Sukri Omar of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia said the government must take a clear stance. “He openly spreads hatred towards Islam and supports the Zionist colonial regime,” Omar said, referencing a 2024 post where Adams claimed to have had a waitress fired for wearing a “Free Palestine” pin. In the post, Adams wrote: “I won’t tolerate being served by those who support terror. I stand with Israel.”
Malaysia has long championed the Palestinian cause and has been vocal against Israel’s actions in Gaza since the conflict escalated in October 2023.
The youth wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) also condemned the nomination, calling Adams’s views “extremist” and “divisive.” Arief Izuadin, head of PKR’s Youth International Relations Bureau, said rejecting the appointment would protect bilateral relations. “This should not be seen as hostility but as a necessary measure to uphold shared values,” he added.
Dr Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia political analyst, said Adams’s nomination reflects Trump’s preference for loyalists over experienced diplomats. “This lack of regional understanding will weaken US engagement with Southeast Asia,” she told The Straits Times.
The controversy comes as Malaysia and the US engage in trade discussions following Trump’s threat to impose a 25% tariff on Malaysian imports beginning August 1.
