Top Senate Democrat requests German ambassador nomination be pulled over past inflammatory comments

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) requested Monday that the White House withdraw its nomination for the ambassador of Germany over his past inflammatory comments. 

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for Col. Douglas Macgregor’s nomination to be removed in a letter to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, which was obtained by CNN. 

Menendez pointed to a “catalogue of disturbing statements” from Macgregor, saying it showed he “is not suited to serve in any position in the United States government, particularly a diplomatic post.”

“It would be a disservice to the nation and U.S. security interests to have Col. Macgregor represent the United States abroad,” the senator wrote in the letter, according to CNN. “I therefore call upon the Administration to withdraw this nomination immediately.”

The retired Army colonel has a history of controversial statements, including warning against the so-called Islamization of Europe and calling for deadly force against people at the U.S.-Mexico border, CNN’s KFile reported earlier this month. 

Macgregor has alleged that Muslim migrants in Europe have “the goal of eventually turning Europe into an Islamic state” and slammed Germany for providing “millions of unwanted Muslim invaders” welfare benefits. 

He also accused Mexican cartels of “driving millions of Mexicans with no education, no skills and the wrong culture into the United States, placing them essentially as wards of the American people,” adding that authorities should “shoot people” at the border if necessary. 

Menendez pointed to these instances in his letter, saying Macgregor would do “irreparable harm in Berlin and to the reputation of the United States.”

The senator’s letter was first reported by Foreign Policy.

White House spokesperson Judd Deere told The Hill in a statement that Macgregor “is enormously qualified to serve as the United States Ambassador to Germany.”

“He is an expert in German history and language, lived in Germany when he was a student and a cadet, and served in West Germany during the Cold War,” Deere said. “While the Swamp may feel threatened by President Trump’s nominee, who believes strongly in putting America first, the White House wants to see this critical diplomatic post filled without delay.”

Trump announced he planned to nominate Macgregor, a frequent guest on Fox News, in July. The president is seeking to have the retired Army colonel replace former Ambassador Richard Grenell, who left the position in June.