Donald Trump Nominates Daniel Perez, Florida House Speaker, as New U.S. Ambassador to Brazil

Donald Trump Nominates Daniel Perez, Florida House Speaker, as New U.S. Ambassador to Brazil

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially announced the nomination of State Representative Daniel Perez, the current Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, to serve as the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Brazil.

The selection ends a vacancy of more than a year at the helm of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Brasília. Since the departure of Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, the post had been managed on an interim basis by Chargé d'Affaires Gabriel Escobar.

Nominee Profile

At 38 years old, Daniel Perez is an attorney and one of the most influential young leaders within the Republican Party in Florida. The son of Cuban exiles, Perez holds strong appeal among the conservative base and a track record of firm stances aligned with the Trump administration's foreign policy for Latin America, focusing on regional security, economic partnerships, and sovereignty.

His political rise culminated in his election as Speaker of the Florida House in 2024, consolidating his reputation as a skilled strategic negotiator within the American conservative movement.

Upcoming Diplomatic Steps

As a White House nomination, Daniel Perez’s appointment will follow the institutional procedures of both nations:

Capitol Hill Hearing: Perez’s name will be sent to the United States Senate, where he will undergo a hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee and subsequently require confirmation by the full floor.

Brazilian Government Approval: Concurrently, the U.S. government will request the agrément (formal diplomatic approval) from Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confirm the acceptance of the new representative.

The choice of a high-profile political ally who holds the full confidence of the White House reflects the strategic importance the Trump administration places on bilateral relations with Brazil, signaling an agenda focused on trade, security cooperation, and geopolitical alignment in the Western Hemisphere.