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Trump nominates former lawmaker Michelle Steel as US ambassador to South Korea
The nomination of the Korean-American Republican will require congressional approval.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:02am
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The nomination of a Korean-American Republican to a key diplomatic post could signal a shift in U.S. political representation.Orange TodayFormer California congresswoman Michelle Steel has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea, a key ally. The nomination will require congressional approval. Steel, a conservative Republican, narrowly lost her 2024 reelection bid to a Democratic challenger in a tight race between two Asian-American candidates.
Why it matters
The ambassador role to South Korea has been vacant throughout Trump's second term, despite the country's status as a critical U.S. ally. Steel's nomination, if confirmed, would fill this important diplomatic position and help strengthen ties between the two nations.
The details
Steel, a Korean-American, served two full terms in Congress representing an Orange County district before narrowly losing her 2024 reelection bid to Democrat Derek Tran, a Vietnamese-American. The race between the two Asian-American candidates was reportedly contentious, with both sides accusing the other of red-baiting tactics.
- Steel was nominated by President Trump on April 13, 2026.
- Steel's nomination will require congressional approval.
The players
Donald Trump
The former President of the United States who nominated Michelle Steel for the ambassador role.
Michelle Steel
A former Republican congresswoman from California who has been nominated by Trump to serve as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
Derek Tran
A Democratic challenger who defeated Steel in her 2024 reelection bid for her congressional seat.
Kevin Kim
A senior State Department official who has been serving as the acting ambassador to South Korea since last October.
Philip Goldberg
The last Senate-approved ambassador to South Korea, appointed by former President Joe Biden.
What’s next
Steel's nomination will now go before Congress for approval.
The takeaway
The nomination of a Korean-American Republican to the ambassador role in South Korea, a key U.S. ally, could help strengthen diplomatic ties between the two countries after a period of vacancy in the position.
