Trump names 1982 Heisman winner as ambassador to Bahamas
Former NFL running back Herschel Walker was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas, Trump announced this week.
Walker, 62, was a former United States Senate candidate from Georgia who lost to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in a 2022 runoff despite Trump’s endorsement.
In a social media post, Trump described Walker as ‘a successful businessman, philanthropist, and former Heisman Trophy winner.
“Herschel has spent decades serving as an Ambassador to our Nation’s youth, our men and women in the Military, and athletes at home and abroad,” Trump said.
To gain the ambassador post, Walker must have his nomination approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Walker has no political or diplomatic experience and no obvious ties to the Bahamas, an island of almost 400,000 people whose main economic resources come from tourism. The ambassador is tasked with maintaining diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Walker did serve as a co-chair for the White House’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition during Trump’s first term.
Walker is best known to sports fans as the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and for leading the Georgia Bulldogs to the 1980 national championship. He played in the NFL for 12 seasons, last playing with the Dallas Cowboys in 1997.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
