President-elect Donald Trump has devised a fresh strategy for Herschel Walker, his longtime friend, ally, and former football star.
In a significant move, three years after being chosen by Trump to run for the Senate in Georgia, Walker is now being appointed by the president-elect as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. This decision comes after a highly contested, expensive, and widely watched Senate race.
In a statement on social media Tuesday night, President Trump praised Herschel Walker’s decades-long dedication to representing our nation’s youth, military personnel, and athletes both domestically and internationally. Trump highlighted Walker’s impressive resume, including his role as co-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition during the President’s first term in the White House.
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Former college football star Herschel Walker addressed a political rally in Perry, Georgia, on September 25, 2021, with former President Donald Trump in attendance, receiving applause.
Walker, a former professional and college football star running back, achieved great success during his career. He was not only a Heisman Trophy winner but also played a pivotal role in leading the University of Georgia to a national championship.
Herschel Walker’s friendship with the former and future president dates back to his time playing for the Trump-owned New Jersey Generals USFL football team in the 1980s. Walker has been a staunch supporter of Trump and served as a surrogate during the 2020 presidential election.
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In August 2021, Walker embarked on a Republican Senate campaign in Georgia following several months of support and encouragement from Trump, who urged him to pursue a political career.
During his Senate run, Walker, a first-time politician, faced relentless scrutiny and criticism due to his controversial statements and the damaging revelations surrounding his personal life and business career.
The 2022 midterms witnessed a highly anticipated Senate battle between Walker and Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock. The race garnered significant attention, and it ultimately went into overtime. In December of that year, Walker narrowly lost to Warnock in a runoff election.
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Walker accompanied Trump on the campaign trail in Georgia just days before Election Day. The former president managed to secure the crucial southeastern battleground state, which he had narrowly lost to President Biden four years prior.
In a notable move, President Trump has nominated Walker, who was the third Republican to lose a recent Senate race in Georgia, for a position in his second administration.
Former Senator David Perdue, who was defeated by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in the 2020 election, has been chosen by President Trump to assume the role of ambassador to China. Similarly, former Senator Kelly Loeffler, who lost to Senator Warnock in the 2020 cycle, has been nominated by President Trump to lead the Small Business Administration.
Trump’s appointment of Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas has garnered attention once again, marking the second time this month that the renowned football star has made waves in the news.
Over the weekend, Walker successfully completed his graduation from the University of Georgia, marking the end of a 42-year gap since his last attendance at the school.