Trump picks Pete Hoekstra as U.S. ambassador to Canada. Who is he?

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has picked former Michigan congressman and diplomat Pete Hoekstra as his upcoming administration’s ambassador to Canada.
Trump said in a statement that Hoekstra would help him “once again put America first.”
Hoekstra thanked Trump on social media platform X, saying he was honoured for the opportunity.
He will still have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but his early nomination is being taken as a good sign by several former diplomats.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly posted on social media that Canada looks forward to working with Hoekstra to strengthen bilateral ties and advance shared priorities “as close allies and neighbours.”
Joly said at a news conference on Thursday at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., that she takes it as a good sign that Trump endorsed the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free-trade deal when he announced Hoekstra’s nomination.
The minister was in Washington to talk trade and security with U.S. senators from both parties. Her meeting schedule included top Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott and Lisa Murkowski.
The current U.S. envoy to Canada, David Cohen, has held the post since 2021.
Hoekstra served as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump’s first term as president.
Before that, he was a U.S. representative for Michigan from 1993 until 2011 and chaired the powerful House Intelligence Committee. In 2019, Trump floated him as a possible pick for national intelligence director.
Hoekstra was Trump’s chosen chairman for the Michigan GOP during a power struggle between two pro-Trump camps this year. He spoke at Trump rallies in the swing state during the campaign and earned high praise from the president-elect.
“This guy, Hoekstra — he’s unbelievable,” Trump said at a February rally in Waterford Township, Mich. “Everything he did in Congress, he was incredible, and then he was an unbelievable ambassador.”
Louise Blais, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, said a nomination coming this early in the transition process is a “good sign for Canada-U.S. relations.”
“In the announcement, I also note the president-elect’s positive comments on USMCA with Canada and Mexico,” said Blais, who is a senior special adviser to the Business Council of Canada.
Trump, in his statement, said he overhauled its predecessor, NAFTA, which he called “disastrous” and the “worst trade deal in the history of the United States.”
He said the new deal brought trade with Mexico and Canada to a “level playing field.”
First reactions regarding Trump naming new U.S. Ambassador to 🇨🇦 Canada. (Best job in the U.S. Govt)
1- experienced ambassador 2-obviously knows Trump well and has his trust3-experienced with Congress. 4- clearly an insider and this is who Canada will need to get straight…
— Bruce A. Heyman (@BruceAHeyman) November 21, 2024

A former ambassador to Canada in the Obama administration said Hoekstra’s appointment should be good news for the Canada-U.S. relationship.
Bruce Heyman, who held the post from 2014 to 2017 and calls it the best job in the U.S. government, said on X that Hoekstra is experienced and will have direct knowledge and understanding of Canada since he’s from a border state.
Heyman also said the early nomination shows the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
Former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson, who has met with Hoekstra before, said he’s someone Canada can work with.
“He’s not from the (WWE) or Fox News. He’s an ambassador in the Netherlands previously … and he’s from Michigan, so somebody who understands Canada,” Robertson said. “He’s well suited to the posting and I think it’ll be easier to do business with somebody who has his depth of experience.”
Canada’s ambassador in Washington, Kirsten Hillman, also congratulated Hoekstra on the nomination, posting on social media she looks forward to working with him to make the bilateral relationship “even stronger.”