Trump nominates Kentucky's Nate Morris for this South American ambassador role

Hannah Pinski, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jun 2, 2026

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President Donald Trump has nominated former Republican U.S. Senate candidate and Lexington businessman Nate Morris to become the next U.S. ambassador to Colombia.

Morris’ nomination was one among dozens that Trump sent to the Senate Monday evening; the Senate holds the power to confirm the president’s appointees for many key roles.

Colombia is a close ally of the U.S. in South America and the Caribbean Sea. It’s also the country of origin for multiple boats targeted by U.S. forces over suspicion of smuggling drugs, a controversial campaign that has sunk more than 60 boats and killed more than 200 people.

Ahead of Kentucky’s primary election last month, Morris dropped out of the race to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and endorsed Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Andy Barr.

Trump said on his Truth Social account on May 1 that he had asked Morris to step back from the race and become an ambassador, though he didn’t say where to at the time. In a separate post, Trump endorsed Barr in the GOP election.

Morris was a first-time candidate and regularly trailed Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, the third high-profile Republican candidate, in polling numbers. While Morris significantly self-funded in the race, he earned notable outside support from political action committees, including a $10 million donation from the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

Barr won the Republican primary and will face Democratic candidate Charles Booker in the November general election.

There was speculation on the details of the deal Trump made with Morris and whether he will eventually make a return to Kentucky politics. One theory circulating on social media by some notable Republican figures is that Trump could back Morris in a 2028 Senate campaign, which is the same year U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is up for reelection.

Paul has drawn Trump’s criticism multiple times because they haven’t seen eye-to-eye on a plethora of issues. But last month, Paul told reporters at an event in Bowling Green he wasn’t worried that Morris might challenge him in the 2028 Senate race.