Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the United States embassy in Malaysia‘s capital, Kuala Lumpur, to protest against the proposed appointment of pro-Israel conservative author and political commentator Nick Adams as the US envoy. Adams, a self-styled “alpha male” known for harshly criticizing Islam, was named by US President Donald Trump last week as the White House’s nominee for the role.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters on Friday it was too early in the process to decide on Adams’s appointment, but that his government would give the matter due consideration. “At the same time, we will seek to protect the good relations between Malaysia and the United States,” Anwar said, according to the Reuters news agency.
Protesters called on Malaysia’s government to exercise its right under international norms to reject Adams’s proposed appointment. A memorandum of protest submitted by demonstrators to the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur asked Trump to reconsider his nomination, citing “divisive rhetoric” used by Adams and characterizing his postings as insensitive towards Malaysia’s multicultural society.
“An ambassador’s task is to be the bridge between two countries, and we don’t want that person to be someone who destroys that bridge instead,” Muhammad Izuan Ahmad Kasim, a member of Anwar’s People’s Justice Party, told Reuters. Adams has cultivated a brash social media persona using a macho branding to weigh in on cultural issues and appeal to an audience of mainly young men. His posts showing support for Israel’s actions in Gaza have angered Muslims in Malaysia, fueling a rare backlash against a foreign diplomatic appointment in the Southeast Asian country.
The nomination comes at a critical time for Malaysia, which has until August 1 to reach a trade deal with Washington to avoid a steep 25 percent tariff imposed on its exports to the US. Trump suggested tariffs could be avoided if Malaysia shifts manufacturing to the US. This move is part of Trump’s broader strategy to enforce what he calls “fair and balanced trade” with smaller economies.
Globally, Trump’s tariffs have sparked widespread criticism and warnings of potential economic instability. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has cautioned that escalating US tariffs risk triggering a damaging “cascade” effect on the global economy, potentially slashing exports by over 50% in vulnerable nations. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has also warned that Trump’s tariff policies could lead to a significant contraction in global trade.