Hearings to examine the nominations of Bill Bazzi, of Michigan, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia, Melinda Hildebrand, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, Todd Wilcox, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary (Diplomatic Security), Riley Barnes, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and Dan Negrea, of Connecticut, to be Representative of the United States of America on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, all of the Department of State.

Committee on Foreign Relations

2025-09-03

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations convened a hearing to consider five nominees presented by President Trump for various ambassadorial and assistant secretary roles.[ 00:24:17-00:24:26 ] The proceedings involved introductions of the nominees by senators, followed by opening remarks from the committee chairman and ranking member, and then statements from each nominee themselves.[ 00:24:37-00:24:51 ] The meeting aimed to evaluate the candidates' qualifications and understanding of critical foreign policy issues, though it was briefly interrupted by protests.[ 00:25:15-00:25:29 ]

Themes

Nominee Qualifications and Priorities

The hearing focused on the diverse backgrounds and specific priorities of each nominee for their respective roles. Mindy Hildebrand, nominated as Ambassador to Costa Rica, was presented as an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist, well-suited to strengthen U.S.-Costa Rican ties and counter Chinese influence. Bill Bazzi, the nominee for Ambassador to Tunisia, highlighted his military service and mayoral experience, emphasizing his commitment to safeguarding Americans and fostering productive relationships while addressing regional instability. Todd Wilcox, nominated as Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, underscored his leadership in protecting diplomatic personnel and ensuring secure operations abroad, advocating for an expeditionary mindset.[ 00:36:31 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
 Dan Negre, proposed for the U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, stressed his background in finance and international organizations to advocate for UN reform, American prosperity, and confront "woke ideologies." Riley Barnes, nominated for Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, emphasized defending natural rights and American values globally, and combating forced labor and human trafficking.

Foreign Policy Challenges and Administrative Stance

A significant portion of the discussion revolved around key foreign policy challenges and the administration's approach. Nominees were questioned on countering China's expanding influence in various regions, from Central America to North Africa and the United Nations, with senators expressing concern over economic coercion and malign activities. The protection of human rights and promotion of democracy faced scrutiny, with senators querying the administration's decision to cut democracy promotion grants and remove certain human rights categories from State Department reports, leading to a debate on the definition and origin of rights. Issues like drug trafficking and extremism in Costa Rica and Tunisia were also highlighted, with a focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing root causes.

Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely formal and respectful, consistent with Senate committee hearings, despite two brief disruptions by protesters who were immediately removed.[ 00:25:01-00:25:29 ] Senators expressed gratitude and support for the nominees' willingness to serve and for their families' sacrifices, particularly for those serving overseas. However, discussions became contentious on policy matters, with some senators sharply questioning the administration's direction on human rights, democracy promotion, and U.S. engagement in international organizations.[ 01:37:14 ]

Citation requires full transcript

Sign in to continue

Sign in
 Nominees and supporting senators frequently reiterated adherence to "America First" foreign policy principles and the importance of American values.

Participants

Transcript

Thanks for watching!   Thanks for watching!
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will come to order.  Today we have a hearing on five nominees of President Trump, and the way we're going to handle this, we're going to have some introductions.  When we're done with the introductions, then Senator Shaheen and I will give opening remarks.  Each of you will be given about five minutes to speak, and then we're going to open it up to a round of questions.   And before we start, as a matter of course, we run a tight ship here.  We have zero tolerance for protests or anybody who tries to communicate with either the committee or any of the people who are testifying here.   I started the policy since I started that if you interrupt, you'll be arrested immediately and taken and booked and those usual things.  Unfortunately, we've only had to do that a couple of times, I guess, and that slowed it down considerably.  And we will continue to do that.  In addition to that, you'll be barred from the committee for a year.  So we welcome the public here.  We want the public here.  It is an open meeting, but we've got important business of the Senate here.   to do, and we can't do it if we've got interruptions.  So there's other places that that can take place.  So with that, we'll do some introductions.  Senator Cruz, how about you first?
SENATOR CRUZ Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Shaheen, members of this committee.  It is an honor today to introduce my good friend, Mindy Hildebrand, who is President Trump's nominee to serve as the United States ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica.   Mindy is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and was honored with a presidential citation, one of the university's highest distinctions.  Since then, she has become an accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader, whose work has made an impact not only in my hometown of Houston, where she and her family reside, but all across Texas and across the country.   She has served on numerous boards and advisory councils, including the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of St.  Thomas, the Memorial Park Conservancy, the Houston Parks Board, the Lifehouse Houston, the Partnership to End Addiction, Preservation Square, and the James Beard Foundation.   Currently, Mindy serves as vice chair of the Hildebrand Foundation, which invests in critical causes such as cancer research, education, green space development, and faith-based community support.  She is also the president and the owner of River Oaks Donuts, something for which I can never forgive her because it has contributed far too many pounds to my waistline and that of my children.   It is a small business based in Houston, founded in 2013, and I can easily say they serve some of the best donuts in the city of Houston.  As every Houstonian knows, we are proud of having the best rodeo in the world.  So it is only fitting that Mindy has also served on the International Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for 37 years.  Her leadership experience spans from business to healthcare,   from environmental conservation to culinary sustainability, and from education to addiction recovery.
There are hardly any areas left that Mindy hasn't had some kind of involvement and experience in.  These credentials alone reflect someone who is not only a successful business leader and philanthropist, but a deeply committed citizen whose compassion and care for others is beyond reproach.   Her work has garnered national and international respect, and her sense of civic duty and diplomacy is evident in all she does.  Knowing Mindy and her family for as long as I have is a privilege.  She is a dear friend, and her friendship has meant a great deal to both Heidi and me personally.  From our friendship, I have seen firsthand her unwavering patriotism, grit, courage, and care for others.   Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I cannot think of anyone more qualified, more prepared, more principled to represent the United States of America as ambassador to Costa Rica.  And I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support her nomination.
Senator Peters, welcome to the committee.
Great to be here, Mr. Chairman.  You have the floor.  Chairman Reich.   Ranking Member Shaheen and distinguished members of the committee, I'm honored to join you today to introduce Mr. Bill Bazzi as the nominee to be the ambassador of Tunisia.  Mr. Bazzi is joined today by his wife, Nadia.  Nadia, thank you for being here today supporting Bill in this important endeavor.   I have had the opportunity to get to know Mr. Bazzi over the years, and I am confident that if he is confirmed, he is well positioned to represent the United States in Tunisia.  His long history of service to his community and to his country showcase his commitment to public service.   Strabazzi currently serves as the mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan.

Sign up for free to see the full transcript

Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.

Sign up