A shift in government in the US ushers in changes in key management roles throughout the administration.Political appointments, rather than career civil servants, dominate approximately 4,000 high-level positions within the federal system. Just over one-quarter of these require Senate confirmation, encompassing all ambassadors, including both career diplomats and political appointees.
Last week, confirmation hearings were conducted for four ambassadorial nominees: those to France, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, and Ireland.
We had our first opportunity to hear from Edward Walsh, President Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to Ireland, who will act as the liaison between the Irish and US governments.
Much of his testimony was predictably positive—expressing pride in his Irish heritage, anticipation for boosting commercial ties between the two nations, and enhancing the already strong personal, cultural, and academic connections.
However, he seemed less at ease discussing the sensitive topic that many Republican senators were eager to address—Ireland’s stance on Israel, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, the International Criminal Court, and anti-Semitism.
Chairing the committee, Idaho Senator John Risch initiated the questioning of Mr. Walsh.
He stated: “As you know, Ireland has recognized a Palestinian state. This recognition overlooks the real conditions on the ground and, worse, the tragic attack against Israel on October 7. This is a serious error. Until Hamas is eradicated, a Palestinian state is highly improbable.”
He continued: “Calls for statehood ignore that Israel can no longer endure terrorism from Gaza or Lebanon. These groups have long posed a threat to Jerusalem and must be eliminated.
“I hope you’ll ensure that our friends in Ireland understand America’s strong support for Israel. I also look forward to hearing how you will uphold the United States’ longstanding commitment to the Good Friday Agreement.”
Mr. Walsh indicated that he would engage with the issues heightening tensions between Israel and Ireland but emphasized that President Trump has “made it very clear that Israel is our close ally and that there is no place for anti-Semitism in the world.”
Senator Risch opened the questioning of Edward Walsh
Senator Risch, a former Governor of Idaho and a devout Catholic with staunch Conservative beliefs, referenced his Irish ancestry before declaring: “It is painful to witness the grave error the Irish are making regarding the Jewish state and Hamas. It is truly heartbreaking to see that—without any acknowledgment of Hamas’s actions on October 7.”
He added: “I genuinely hope Mr. Walsh—this is a challenging position—you have a close ally making a significant error, and you need to navigate that carefully. I hope you will communicate that they are indeed out of sync with the United States concerning these relationships in the Middle East.”
“This is certainly a topic that will require ongoing discussion,” Mr. Walsh replied. “I am eager to receive a detailed briefing on all pertinent issues. However, I recognize that President Trump has clearly stated, along with many of you, that Ireland is an ally and there is no room for anti-Semitism anywhere. This will undoubtedly be a key part of my discussions with them. I’m looking forward to that, and I understand the issue well. I’m open to further meetings if you’d like. I am keen to delve deeper into this subject,” he stated.
Florida Senator Rick Scott, a combative Republican and ardent supporter of Donald Trump, was even more direct in his critique of Irish policy. “Several members of the Irish government have made inflammatory, one-sided statements blaming Israel for the Middle Eastern conflict while disregarding the terrorism posed by Hamas and Hezbollah. How do you plan to counter this rhetoric and hold them accountable for disparaging a US ally?”
Florida Senator Rick Scott was blunt in his criticism of Irish policy
Mr. Walsh responded: “This is a crucial issue, and I look forward to gaining more insight on it in the future. Initially, I’d like to point out that Ireland did at least condemn the October 7 attack, which is a positive step. President Trump has also made it clear that Israel is an ally, and I fully support that stance. Any form of anti-Semitism worldwide will not be tolerated.
“I’m eager to foster open dialogues with the Irish government to ensure they understand our role in this situation.”
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas who challenged Donald Trump for the party’s presidential nomination in 2016, raised particular concerns about Ireland’s backing of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, to which the US is not a signatory (neither are Russia or Israel).
“The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as punishment for Israel’s actions against Hamas. These warrants are completely illegitimate. They set a dangerous precedent for pursuing nations that are not members of the court, putting American officials and soldiers at significant risk. Ireland has filed a motion to support the ICC’s efforts,” he stated.
He added: “The Netherlands hosts the ICC, and its foreign minister has asserted they will enforce the ICC warrants. We’ve heard multiple times today that Ireland and the Netherlands have robust partnerships with the US, which is undoubtedly accurate. However, their support for the ICC jeopardizes core American interests. If confirmed, how do you intend to tackle these issues? We’ll start with you, Mr. Walsh.”
Edward Walsh replied: “There’s a lot to unpack here, and I have not yet been fully briefed on this topic. I recognize it is a significant concern, and I know President Trump has indicated that we must communicate our views and relay that message back to you to ensure that they can be held accountable. We are allies of Israel, making this a delicate conversation and I would be glad to convey both your and President Trump’s messages to them.”
Senator Cruz remarked: “That’s helpful, and I will say it is a clear affront to Israel. While Israel is not a participant in the ICC, it is also an assault on America, given that we too are not a member. The same authority that claims it can issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu could claim the same for President Trump, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, American generals, or American soldiers. We are not part of the court. The court has no jurisdiction, and it is illegitimately exerting power over nations that have not acceded to its authority.”
He then turned to the ambassadorial nominee for the Netherlands, Joseph Popolo, a Texan businessman, who stated: “President Trump and Secretary Rubio have been unequivocal—this is entirely unacceptable. While we regard the Dutch as great partners, we have a glaring difference on this issue.”
Ted Cruz was concerned about Ireland’s support for the International Criminal Court in the Hague
He continued: “I will emphasize that this behavior is illegitimate; they should not be targeting individuals who are not part of this agreement. I believe we have partial sanctions in place, and the President may very well opt to intensify that pressure if we do not receive proper recognition from the ICC.”
Trade, commerce, and tariffs received little attention during the questioning of any of the ambassadorial nominees. All three nominees for placements in EU capitals are seasoned businessmen, and the countries they are assigned to are significant business and investment partners of the US. The committee appeared entirely confident in their capabilities within this realm.
The sole mention of tariffs came from Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the committee’s ranking Democrat, who stated: “Mr. Walsh, Ireland has been subjected to tariffs by this administration. These tariffs not only increase costs for American consumers and businesses but also undermine the fragile peace established by the Good Friday Agreement.”
She added: “If confirmed, I’d like to hear how you will work to sustain this successful peace agreement?”
He responded that the Good Friday Agreement would be safeguarded through dialogue, which would include regularly updating Senators on his insights from discussions in Ireland.
Defense and security concerns were prominent for most senators, with the nominees to France and the Netherlands urged to encourage Paris and The Hague to heighten defense spending (both nations have met or exceeded the NATO 2% of GDP spending target).
For Ireland—a non-NATO nation—there was just a single mention of increased defense spending, and that came from Committee Chairman James Risch.
“Mr. Walsh, the US and Ireland share significant mutual interests. Ireland acts as a gateway for critical telecommunications infrastructure linking Europe and the United States. With this strategic position comes a considerable responsibility to address real threats. I have previously called for Ireland to raise its defense spending to safeguard vital undersea cables from our shared adversaries and I urge you to address this with your Irish counterparts.”
Read more:
US Senate committee holds hearing for Ambassador to Ireland nominee
Senator Risch also expressed appreciation for the Netherlands’ contribution to US national security by restricting exports of advanced computer chip manufacturing technology to China.
“Those of us who operate in the national security sphere greatly value their understanding of their role within the supply chain. Semiconductors are a matter of national security. It’s unfortunate that in recent years, the United States, which pioneered this technology, has seen its manufacturers seduced by the allure of lower wages, relocating to Asia. Now, given its critical importance to everything we produce—especially in defense but also in automobiles, appliances, and more—the Dutch play a crucial role as they produce the machinery that fabricates semiconductors. They have been exemplary in recognizing that selling leading-edge technology to China poses a significant national security threat, and I hope you can express our gratitude for that.”
Mr. Popolo replied: “The State Department provided excellent briefings on these issues, highlighting just how critically important the Dutch are as partners in national security, technology, and export controls regarding China. Absolutely, I’ll convey those sentiments.”
That summarized the essence of the hearing—it was primarily a platform for US Senators, particularly from the Republican majority, to communicate their directives to the ambassadorial nominees.
Rather than a conventional questioning of the ambassadors, it functioned more as a presentation of foreign policy priorities that the senators expect to see represented in Dublin, Paris, and The Hague for the duration of President Trump’s term.
