Anjani Sinha, Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, faced harsh criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing after failing to answer basic questions about the country he hopes to represent America in.
Sinha, a Florida-based orthopaedic surgeon and businessman with no diplomatic experience, was questioned by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, who pressed him on trade, diplomacy, and regional security issues.
Sinha offered several incorrect or unclear responses — including an exaggerated figure of $80 billion for Singapore’s trade surplus with the U.S., later correcting it to $18 billion. The actual number is $2.8 billion.
He also struggled to explain Singapore’s upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN or how he would address local concerns over Trump’s proposed tariffs.
Senator Duckworth expressed concern that Sinha appeared unprepared for such a critical diplomatic role, telling him bluntly he needed to “shape up” and learn more about the posting.
Sinha was nominated in March, with Trump calling him a “highly respected entrepreneur” and praising his ties to Asia.
The U.S. State Department cited his cultural background and business record as strengths, saying he could act as a “bridge builder” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the administration’s support, Sinha’s hearing performance has sparked strong backlash online, particularly among Singaporeans.
Many expressed disbelief that a nominee for such a high-profile role lacked understanding of Singapore’s strategic importance.
Social media reactions included mockery, with one user calling him more of an “Embarassador than Ambassador.”
This isn’t the first time a Trump-era nominee has faced scrutiny for regional ignorance.
Earlier this year, Defence Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth failed to name a single ASEAN member during his confirmation.
While the hearing raised questions about Sinha’s readiness, his confirmation is still expected due to Republican control of the Senate and the committee overseeing the appointment.