The United States Senate has confirmed Melissa Argyros as the new US ambassador to Latvia, according to information published on the Senate’s website.
Argyros has no prior diplomatic experience. However, US media report that she donated two million dollars to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Her biography on the U.S. Department of State website states that Argyros is a real estate investor based in California. She has held various positions at the Argyros family real estate company, Arnel & Affiliates, including serving as vice president.
Argyros is also one of the executive directors of the Argyros Family Foundation, which is involved in charitable activities across several fields. In addition,
she has been active in a number of civic organizations, including the Ronald Reagan Foundation
and the Richard Nixon Foundation.
In 2007, Argyros earned a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University in California.
In the United States, ambassadorial posts are not filled exclusively by career diplomats. Political supporters are also appointed to such positions. For example, in 2004, then-President George W. Bush selected Republican Party activist and donor Kathryn Todd Bailey as the US ambassador to Latvia.
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