Washington – President-elect Donald Trump has announced his nomination of Mauricio Claver-Carone, a controversial figure who was previously fired from his position as head of the Inter-American Development Bank, to serve as his special envoy to Latin America.
According to Trump, Claver-Carone will help address issues related to migration and drug-smuggling, and is well-suited for the role due to his knowledge of the region and ability to prioritize American interests. Claver-Carone previously served in the Trump administration from 2017-2021, but was terminated in 2022 following an investigation into allegations that he had an affair with a subordinate at the Inter-American Development Bank. The investigation also found that Claver-Carone had created a hostile work environment at the bank.
Despite these allegations, Claver-Carone has denied any wrongdoing, and in his previous role as head of the bank, he had attempted to shift the bank’s focus from being dominated by larger nations such as Argentina and Brazil, to providing more opportunities for smaller countries to take on more prominent roles.