Bulwark Takes
Bulwark Takes
March 25, 2026

This Trump Nomination Was So Bad…They Had to Pull It

Quick Read

Nick Adams, known for his 'alpha male' online persona and controversial tweets, had his ambassadorship nomination to Malaysia withdrawn and was instead given a newly created, largely ceremonial role as Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values.
Nick Adams' ambassadorship nomination to Malaysia was withdrawn due to his controversial online persona and tweets.
He was 'promoted' to a newly created, non-policy position: Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values.
The situation underscores the political theater and vetting challenges in high-profile appointments.

Summary

The podcast discusses the political saga of Nick Adams, an Australian-born, self-proclaimed 'alpha male' and fervent Trump supporter who gained notoriety for his online persona, which included frequent tweets about Hooters, rare steaks, and 'American exceptionalism.' Initially nominated as the US Ambassador to Malaysia, a critical diplomatic post, his nomination was quietly withdrawn due to his controversial social media history, including tweets about 'radical Islam' and objectifying women, which would have made his confirmation hearing a 'total mess.' Instead of the ambassadorship, Adams was appointed to a newly created, non-policy-making position at the State Department: Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values. The hosts highlight the absurdity of the situation, Adams' inflated resume on the State Department website, and his self-produced 'Nick Adams Story' video, which ironically concedes his alpha male persona is a 'shtick.'
This case exemplifies the Trump administration's unconventional approach to political appointments, where loyalty and online presence sometimes superseded traditional qualifications or diplomatic suitability. It also highlights the challenges of vetting candidates with extensive, controversial social media histories for sensitive roles, and the political maneuvering involved in quietly withdrawing problematic nominations while attempting to save face through 'promotions' to ceremonial positions.

Takeaways

  • Nick Adams, a prominent Trump supporter, was initially nominated as the US Ambassador to Malaysia.
  • His online persona included frequent tweets about Hooters, rare steaks, and 'alpha male' tropes, alongside controversial remarks about 'radical Islam' and women.
  • The nomination was quietly sent back to the White House and not resubmitted, effectively withdrawing it.
  • Adams was subsequently appointed to a newly created, non-Senate-confirmable position: Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values.
  • The hosts suggest the ambassadorship was pulled due to anticipated opposition and the 'mess' his confirmation hearing would have been.
  • Adams produced a 16-minute video, 'The Nick Adams Story,' where he implies his 'alpha male' persona is a 'shtick.'

Insights

1The Unconventional Nomination and Withdrawal

Nick Adams, known for his 'alpha male' online persona and controversial tweets (over 500 about Hooters alone), was nominated as the US Ambassador to Malaysia. This nomination was highly unusual given Malaysia's Muslim-majority population and Adams' past tweets on 'radical Islam.' The nomination was ultimately withdrawn without a Senate hearing, likely due to anticipated political opposition and the embarrassing spectacle his confirmation would have created.

Joe Perticone details Adams' online presence and the hosts discuss the unsuitability for Malaysia (, ). The hosts explain that the nomination was not resubmitted after carrying over into the new year, a highly unusual occurrence (, ).

2The 'Promotion' to a Made-Up Role

Following the withdrawal of his ambassadorship, Adams claimed he was 'promoted.' He was appointed to a newly created, non-Senate-confirmable position at the State Department: Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values. This role is described as a 'made-up position' with no policy impact, effectively sidelining him from a serious diplomatic post.

Sam Sty introduces the new position and its 'made-up' nature (, ). The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Adams claiming a 'promotion' ().

3Inflated Credentials and Self-Awareness

Adams' State Department bio includes inflated claims, such as 'honorary status' from multiple states, which the hosts reveal are often easily obtained online. He also produced a 16-minute video, 'The Nick Adams Story,' where he appears to concede that his 'alpha male' persona is a deliberate 'shtick,' suggesting a level of self-awareness or an attempt to reframe his public image.

The hosts read and critique Adams' State Department bio, specifically the 'honorary status' claims (, ). Sam Sty mentions Adams' video where he 'basically concedes that this whole alpha male profile is a shtick' ().

Lessons

  • Scrutinize the social media history of political appointees, as past online behavior can significantly impact their suitability for sensitive roles.
  • Recognize that 'promotions' in political contexts can sometimes be a way to quietly remove problematic individuals from more impactful positions.
  • Understand that political personas, especially online, can be carefully constructed 'shticks' designed for specific audiences or outcomes.

Quotes

"

"He's now the special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism, and values. This is a made-up position. Uh but it actually is now a position at the State Department. It's real."

Sam Sty
"

"He was nominated to be the United States ambassador to Malaysia, which is an important job, and Malaysia has a bunch of Muslims so they were upset cuz he frequently tweeted about radical Islam."

Joe Perticone
"

"Getting a boob reduction is like slapping God in the face."

Nick Adams (quoted by Sam Sty)
"

"I go to Hooters. I eat rare stakes. I lift extremely heavy weights. I read the Bible every night. I am pursued by copious amounts of women. I am wildly successful. I have the physique of a Greek god. Not true. I have an IQ over 180. I am extremely charismatic. They hate this."

Nick Adams (quoted by Sam Sty)
"

"The combination of his crazy tweets, his crazy persona, genuine lack of experience... his confirmation hearing... would have been just a total mess."

Joe Perticone

Q&A

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