Biden under fire over selection for UK ambassador
‘I will never understand why American presidents send political donors to represent the US in key countries instead of seasoned, well-trained diplomats’
JOE BIDEN, the US president, is facing criticism for picking a Democratic fundraiser with little diplomatic experience for UK ambassador at a “pivotal time” for transatlantic relations.
Jane Hartley, who brought in millions of dollars to Mr Biden’s presidential campaign, has reportedly accepted the offer following months of indecision over who was best placed to nurture the “special relationship”.
“Not the person we need at such a pivotal and perilous time for transatlantic relations,” wrote Brett Bruen, former global engagement chief at the White House. “Diplomatic, not donor, experience is needed to guide our country and the world towards calmer waters.”
Mr Biden had struggled for months to fill what is considered one of the US’s most prestigious postings. By comparison, his predecessor Donald Trump announced Robert “Woody” Johnson before he was even in office.
The 71-year-old is considered a surprise choice. Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor; Colin Powell, the former secretary of state; and Ted Kaufman, the former Delaware senator and his longtime friend of Mr Biden, had all been considered candidates.
Mrs Hartley started her career working for the Democratic National Convention before briefly serving as an official in the Jimmy Carter administration in the 1970s, but spent much of the next few decades in the private sector, leading two international economic policy consultancies – the Observatory Group and the G7 Group. New Yorkborn Mrs Harley, who is married to Ralph Schlosstein, the investment banker and Evercore Partners chief executive, served a brief stint as ambassador to France and Monaco between 2014 and 2017.
Critics say Mr Biden appears to have rewarded loyalty over experience, with Mrs Hartley supporting him early on in the primaries before it was clear he would win the Democratic nomination.
Julia Ioffe, a prominent foreign policy commentator in Washington DC, said: “I will never understand why American presidents send political donors to represent the US in key countries instead of seasoned, well-trained diplomats.”
The US president has in recent weeks made a number of nominations to diplomatic positions, tapping a mix of foreign service officers, prominent donors and politicians from both parties. In Europe, he picked Denise Campbell Bauer, another prominent Democratic fundraiser and Barack Obama’s envoy to Belgium, as ambassador to France.
However, The Washington Post, which first reported the news, said Mr Biden cited Mrs Hartley’s work in Paris, specifically planning for the COP 21 climate conference and her close consultation with intelligence agencies after a series of terrorist attacks in France.
Mrs Hartley is only the second female ambassador to the UK. It would mean the four most important ambassadorial posts in Europe – London, Paris, Berlin and Nato – will all be headed by women.
The White House said it had not confirmed the nomination and that no one was the final choice until they have been announced. Mrs Hartley was approached for comment.