Trump Nominates Handbag Designer As Ambassador To South Africa

attends the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party at the Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2008 in West Hollywood, California.
Designer Lana Marks attends the 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party at the Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has nominated a South Florida-based luxury fashion and handbag designer to be the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa.

The White House announced the nomination of native South African Lana Marks late Wednesday.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Marks is a member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club.

Marks was born and raised in South Africa and is now the CEO of the Lana Marks Collections design firm which caters to celebrities. She speaks Xhosa and Afrikaans and lives in Palm Beach, Florida.

There has been no U.S. ambassador to South Africa since Trump’s election. The extended vacancy had led to criticism that the Trump administration was less committed to the U.S.-South Africa relationship than previous ones.

Ambassadorial candidates from the private sector are not uncommon for the U.S. government and account for about 30 percent of envoys across administrations.

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  1. Marks was born and raised in South Africa and is now the CEO of the Lana Marks Collections design firm which caters to celebrities. She speaks Xhosa and Afrikaans

    Wow, I think this is the closest Dotard has ever come, as far as appointing someone with even a slightly tenuous connection to the job they will be undertaking.

    Still, an exceptionally low bar…

  2. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    Hell in a hand basket, Donald. Hand basket.

  3. I was all ready to get bent out of shape , but it would seem there’s a first time for everything .
    Actually seems like a somewhat logical choice " She speaks Xhosa and Afrikaans" and was born in South Africa

  4. It probably helped that her pool boy and her two poodles have new memberships to Mar-a-Lago.

  5. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    I’ll see you Marks and raise you Jim Mattis, but your broader point is mostly correct.

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