Former NFL star and Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker has been nominated by Donald Trump to serve as the United States ambassador to the Bahamas. The nomination represents a continuation of their relationship that began when Walker was a player for Trump’s USFL team.
Trump noted on Truth Social that Walker is a successful businessman and philanthropist, as well as a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL great. He lauded Walker for his advocacy for youth sports.
Walker, a former member of Trump’s President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition until March 2022, is expected to manage U.S. diplomatic affairs with the Bahamas. This ambassadorial role is considered vital due to the “long, shared maritime border” connecting the two nations. The post is currently empty in Nassau and Walker’s nomination requires Senate approval.
During his university years at the University of Georgia from 1980 to 1982, Walker led his team, the Bulldogs, to an undefeated season and a national championship victory in 1980, and he won the Heisman Trophy in 1982. His professional football career was also notable with two Pro Bowl appearances.
Walker’s 2022 Senate campaign in Georgia against incumbent Democrat Raphael Warnock was marked by several controversies. His former wife accused him of threatening to kill her at gunpoint. Two women alleged that he coerced them into getting abortions, despite his public stance against abortion. Walker’s son also publicly criticized his father’s campaign.
During the Senate campaign, Walker made a number of claims about his academic and professional background that were later challenged. He falsely claimed to have been among the top 1% of his class at the University of Georgia and made misleading statements about a military career and service as an FBI agent. He also had to clarify how many children he had fathered.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution raised questions about Walker’s business record during the campaign. Walker claimed his food service company employed over 600 people, but Renaissance Man Food Services reported just eight employees during the pandemic. Court records revealed several defaults, settlements, and lawsuits alleging Walker and his businesses owed millions in unpaid loans.
Walker’s philanthropic efforts have also been called into question. His company claimed to donate 15% of profits to charities, including the Boy Scouts of America and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Nevertheless, three of the four named charities stated that they had not received donations from Walker’s company in the last ten years. Moreover, one charity listed as a recipient, PE4Life Foundation, had shut down in 2014, despite Walker’s company claiming it was still receiving donations in 2017.
Walker’s Senate campaign had difficulties with messaging and fundraising. Campaign insiders stated that Walker and his wife often questioned advice from seasoned campaign operatives. The campaign also struggled with resource allocation, as the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Leadership Fund spent much less compared to Warnock and his allies.
If Walker is confirmed, he will be the second ex-NFL player to serve as an ambassador to the Bahamas, after former linebacker Sid Williams who held the position during the Clinton administration. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in November that Walker was finishing his bachelor’s degree and was expected to graduate by year-end.
