Herschel Walker, the football legend who unsuccessfully ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to be ambassador to the Bahamas.
Trump made the announcement Tuesday in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He described Walker as ‘a successful businessman, philanthropist, former Heisman Trophy winner.’
Walker, a Republican, tried to unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock two years ago with Trump’s endorsement. Walker benefited during the campaign from nearly unmatched name recognition from his football career at the University of Georgia and in the NFL.
But he still fell short – defeated in a disastrous campaign derailed by allegations that he paid a woman to get an abortion after an affair, despite his pro-life stance. Herschel denied the claims against him.
He campaigned for Trump this year in his home state of Georgia but went viral for mangling his introduction of the incoming President just days before people took to the polls.
‘This all stops Tuesday,’ Walker said. ‘When we get to the polls and vote for my friend, and your friend, Donald Trump Jr.’
Herschel Walker made an embarrassing error introducing Donald Trump in Georgia
Walker then tried to correct himself but instead mixed his words up even more.
‘Donald Trump – Jonald J. Trump,’ he said back down the microphone.
To hold the ambassador position, Walker will need his nomination approved next year by the Republican-led Senate.
Before his infamous mix-up, Walker had paid tribute to Trump in a speech reflecting on their friendship.
The former Heisman Trophy winner said: ‘Donald Trump is not just my friend, he’s your friend, and it is time for us to step up to the plate. It is not time for us to sit on the sideline anymore.
‘He has sacrificed a lot for this country, and in so many ways. And it really disgusts me when I hear them insult him with all these names.’
In his NFL career, Walker played for multiple teams including Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles after his three years playing for Georgia Bulldogs at college level.
In between Georgia and the NFL, Walker briefly played for the New Jersey Generals of the now-defunct USFL. In fact, Trump would buy the team one year into the league’s existence, which is how he and the football legend first became acquainted.
Walker and Trump pictured in 2021 when the former NFL player was on the campaign trail
Trump is seen as Generals owner alongside running back and future ally Herschel Walker
Trump also announced Tuesday that he was nominating art collector Nicole McGraw as the U.S. ambassador to Croatia.
Trump has chosen a variety of loyalists to diplomatic posts. Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was named ambassador to France, and Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, one of his strongest defenders in the House, was picked as his ambassador to the United Nations.
He selected another Georgian, former Sen. David Perdue, to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.
Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a 2022 primary against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
Another former senator from Georgia, Kelly Loeffler, was also tapped by Trump for a job. He chose her to lead the Small Business Administration.
