Donald Trump fired all politically appointed foreign ambassadors on the day he was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. Political ambassadors are usually major donors who are nominated by virtue of their close ties with the president. Such ambassadors, unlike chiefs of missions who are career diplomats, almost always leave at the end of his term.
Trump gave absolutely no grace period and ordered Ambassadors who are appointed by former President Barack Obama to leave their offices by midday on 20 January. US Ambassador to Singapore, Kirk Wagar, was no different and had to pack his bags before Trumph ascended the Presidency. But he did so in brazen support of the outgoing President – by wearing a Obama T-shirt as he departed from Changi Airport.
One Washington publication listed Wagar as the leader of the ‘Five Worst Obama Donors Picked to Be Ambassadors’. The Washington Free Beacon said:
“A consummate Obama fundraiser known for his abusive style, Kirk Wagar was invited to Obama’s first state dinner, appointed to the Export-Import Bank advisory committee for fiscal year 2011, and has now been nominated as ambassador to Singapore.
While acting as Obama’s de facto communications director in Florida, Wagar helped to raise $4.5 million for Obama’s 2008 election and then raised at least $1 million for his reelection campaign.
After Obama won the 2008 primary in Florida, Wagar coordinated the ousting and replacement of already designated Florida delegates to the Democratic National Convention that were seen as disloyal to Obama.
In an exchange with DNC member Jon Ausman, Wagar claimed Ausman “fucked us” and that if only the thirty people that were purged are upset “we have done pretty well.” The exchange appears to have started when Wagar objected to certain delegates “that have done nothing for Barack.””
Wagar who had practiced insurance law at his Wagar Law Firm since 1998, after earning a law degree from the University of Miami, has been a major financial player in Florida and the politics of the United States of America for more than a decade. He was one of dozens of Obama’s big fundraisers and donors who landed ambassador nominations in 2013.