SCOOP: "He should be quickly confirmed": Warren Stephens, Trump’s pick for UK Ambassador, sails through confirmation hearing

THE LOWDOWN:

• Warren Stephens, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, sailed through his confirmation hearing this week while burnishing his MAGA credentials in the process before he heads across the Pond.

• Sen. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) noted in his remarks during the hearing that “the UK has been the indispensable and steadfast partner” for the United States.

• Elsewhere during the hearing, Risch added that Stephens will have to walk a tightrope between the two countries.

• Risch is optimistic that Stephens will be an ally in these issues, once he is confirmed.

Warren Stephens, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, sailed through his confirmation hearing this week while burnishing his MAGA credentials in the process before he heads across the Pond.

From the onset of his hearing, Stephens made it clear that he’d be implementing Trump’s America First agenda from the United Kingdom. Senate sources predicted to the Washington Reporter that he will be easily confirmed.

“Warren has repeatedly answered the call to serve others,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) told the Reporter. “I’m grateful he also answered the call to serve his country in a critical role at a critical time, and he should be quickly confirmed.”

Stephens, a close ally of the president, will have his work cut out for him. Sen. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) noted in his remarks during the hearing that “the UK has been the indispensable and steadfast partner” for the United States.

“Going forward we have a number of issues where we need to deepen our relationship – better trade, as you’ve noted, and defense cooperation are chief among them,” Risch said.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.), the top Democrat on the committee, asked Stephens during his hearing about how his role will work with the Special Envoy to the United Kingdom, and Stephens replied simply that he will be the ambassador.

Elsewhere during the hearing, Risch added that Stephens will have to walk a tightrope between the two countries.

“Friends need to be candid with one another,” he said. “While the UK has announced goals to spend 2.5 percent of GDP [on defense], European security requires a much higher level.”

“While the UK can project meaningful combat power abroad, unlike most NATO allies, the British military is too small, the British defense industrial base is in disrepair, and its defense spending is too low,” Risch said. “We need to improve both our spending and defense development. AUKUS Pillar 2 was designed to help address these concerns, but the Biden administration’s failure to implement the laws on the books regarding AUKUS has undermined these efforts.”

Risch is optimistic that Stephens will be an ally in these issues, once he is confirmed.

“I expect you will help improve the situation, I hope you will,” he said. “I would also note that foreign basing is important to the U.S. and the ongoing negotiations over Diego Garcia and the UK’s surrender of sovereignty undermines deterrence which I and many others have stressed to them. I hope you’ll join us.”