President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Monica Crowley, a conservative commentator and former Treasury official, will serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol. The role places Crowley at the center of planning major international events during Trump’s second term, including the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Trump made the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, hailing Crowley as a “New York Times bestselling author” and a “popular anchor and analyst.”
The president-elect praised her academic credentials, including a doctorate from Columbia University, and touted her prior government experience as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs during his first term.
“Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” Trump wrote.
Crowley, who received the Treasury Department’s Alexander Hamilton Award for her service, is well-known for her sharp commentary on Fox News and Fox Business Network. A longtime Trump loyalist, she has often championed the former president’s foreign policy and economic agenda. The latest appointment reflects Trump’s continued reliance on media personalities who have supported him publicly, a strategy he employed during his first term with figures like Larry Kudlow and Kayleigh McEnany.
Crowley’s academic background in international relations, along with her media savvy, could prove valuable as she coordinates logistics and represents the administration on the global stage. Her responsibilities will include hosting foreign dignitaries and orchestrating international celebrations that place America in the spotlight.
Crowley began her career in politics as a research assistant for former President Richard Nixon, working closely with him from 1990 until his death in 1994. During this time, she played a significant role in the production of his last two books. Crowley later penned two books about her time with Nixon: “Nixon off the Record: His Candid Commentary on People and Politics” and “Nixon in Winter.” She rose to prominence as a political analyst and commentator, joining the Fox News Channel in 1996, where she offered insights on foreign affairs and politics until 2017. Crowley also hosted the nationally syndicated “The Monica Crowley Show” and wrote for esteemed publications like The New Yorker, The Washington Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
In December 2016, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Crowley as the deputy national security advisor for the National Security Council. However, she stepped back from the position in January 2017 after facing allegations of plagiarism in her 2012 book “What the (Bleep) Just Happened?” and her 2000 Ph.D. dissertation.
“We have both houses of Congress,” Crowley recently told Fox News. “We will have the White House, as well. And President Trump is entitled to select and shake up the U.S. and reform it.”
Trump’s decision to tap a prominent Fox News contributor follows his well-documented disdain for traditional media outlets and preference for allies with strong conservative credentials. Crowley’s selection signals a continuation of that approach as Trump prepares to assume office in January.
