Trump Chooses Christopher Landau as Deputy Secretary of State

In a strategic move, Donald J. Trump has announced the appointment of Christopher Landau, former ambassador to Mexico, as his deputy secretary of state.

In a social media post on Sunday, President-elect Donald J. Trump revealed Christopher Landau, an experienced lawyer and former ambassador to Mexico, as his pick for deputy secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate, Landau is expected to assist incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio in implementing Trump’s America First foreign policy, which emphasizes immigration control, tariff implementation, and a focus on military alliances.

Landau's assignment could involve navigating complex issues around migration policy and tariff negotiations due to his extensive experience under the Trump administration as ambassador to Mexico from 2019 to 2021. Trump has pledged to deport large numbers of undocumented immigrants and cites Landau's contributions in reducing illegal immigration during his ambassadorship as significant.

The president-elect’s foreign policy outlook includes engaging in discussions with international leaders, notably Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. In his post, Trump called for Landau and Rubio to promote U.S. security and prosperity in alignment with their foreign agenda.

Educationally, Landau boasts a degree from Harvard Law School and has a robust legal career spanning three decades. His familial connections to diplomacy—being the son of a veteran U.S. diplomat—add to his qualifications. Following Senate confirmation, which is anticipated to be straightforward given Landau's previous position, he will continue to prioritize U.S. interests in Latin American relations.

Marco Rubio, also awaiting Senate confirmation as Secretary of State, shares a deep-seated interest in Latin America, spurred by his Cuban heritage and his previous involvement in foreign relations while serving on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Edward Wong reports on global affairs, U.S. foreign policy, and the State Department, shedding light on the evolving landscape of the Trump administration's foreign strategy.