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Florida-based Dr Anjani Sinha was born in India. The US President addressed him as a “highly respected entrepreneur” in March.

Dr Anjani Sinha, the Trump administration’s nominee as the US ambassador to Singapore, was left embarrassed in the Senate during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday. The Indian-origin orthopaedics and sports medicine surgeon had a heated exchange with Senator Tammy Duckworth, who questioned him on his knowledge about Singapore and the country’s relationship with the US.

Raising doubts on Dr Sinha’s qualification for the role, Senator Duckworth mentioned that she is concerned about his lack of understanding and how it may affect the future relationship. She also criticised the ambassador-nominee for his knowledge on trade surplus and tariffs. He either gave wrong answers or stammered while responding to the queries posed by the senator.

In a social media post on X, Senator Duckworth announced that she will not be voting in favour of Dr Sinha’s appointment.

Dr. Anjani Sinha is deeply unprepared to effectively lead our nation’s diplomatic mission in Singapore.⁰ ⁰He will not have my vote. — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) July 9, 2025

Who is Dr Anjani Sinha?

In a Truth Social post praising Dr Sinha’s candidature, the US President wrote, “I have no doubt that Anji will strongly represent our nation’s Interests and put America First. Congratulations Anji!"

In fact, during the recent Senate hearing for his confirmation, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced him “a friend of President Trump for over a decade". The US Department of State has also commended Dr Sinha’s appointment in its statement in May, writing, “Dr Sinha is uniquely positioned to relate to its key stakeholders [and] his appreciation for Singapore’s role as a financial hub…render him well qualified to serve as US Ambassador to Singapore."

Will Dr Anjali Sinha become the US ambassador to Singapore?

The decision on Dr Sinha’s appointment is yet to be announced. According to the rules, any ambassador is nominated by the president and his nomination is confirmed after careful review by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The decision can come in the form of a vote by Senate members after the committee holds hearings. After confirmation by the Senate, the ambassador introduces their credentials to the host country.

Hence, it is yet to be seen if Dr Sinha’s appointment is approved by the Senate after the confirmation hearing.

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First Published:

July 10, 2025, 20:18 IST

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