Herschel Walker, the football legend who unsuccessfully ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, has been chosen by newly elected President Donald Trump as 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 and former Heisman Trophy winner.”
Walker, a Republican, tried to oust Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock two years ago with Trump’s support. Walker benefited from nearly unparalleled name recognition during the campaign from his football career at the University of Georgia and in the NFL.
But he still fell short: He was defeated in a disastrous campaign derailed by allegations that he paid a woman to have an abortion after an affair, despite his pro-life stance. Herschel denied the claims against him.
He campaigned for Trump in his home state of Georgia this year but went viral for mangling his introduction of the new president just days before people went to the polls.
“This all ends on Tuesday,” Walker said. “If we go to the polls and vote for my friend, and your friend, Donald Trump Jr.”
Herschel Walker made an embarrassing mistake introducing Donald Trump to Georgia
Walker then tried to correct himself, but instead muddled his words even more.
“Donald Trump – Jonald J. Trump,” he said into the microphone.
In order to take the ambassador position, Walker will have to have his nomination approved by the Republican-led Senate next year.
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’s time for us to step up to the plate. It is no longer time to sit on the sidelines.
“He sacrificed a lot for this country, in so many ways. And it really disgusts me when I hear them insulting him with all those names.”
In his NFL career, Walker played for multiple teams, including Dallas Cowboys, NEW York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, after playing three years at the college level for the Georgia Bulldogs.
Trump also announced Tuesday that he is nominating art collector Nicole McGraw as U.S. ambassador to Croatia.
Trump has elected 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 of Representatives, was picked as his ambassador to the United Nations.
Walker and Trump introduced themselves in 2021, when the former NFL player was on the campaign trail
He selected another Georgian, former Senator David Perdue, to serve as US ambassador to China.
Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a 2022 primary against Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Another former Georgia senator, Kelly Loeffler, was also tapped by Trump for a job. He chose her to head the Small Business Administration.