Puzder confirmed as US ambassador to EU

Andrew Puzder, a former fast-food chain CEO, was confirmed by the Senate on Saturday as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union (EU).

Puzder’s confirmation went through in a 53-44 vote, with New Hampshire Sens. Maggie Hassan (D) and Jeanne Shaheen (D) crossing the aisle to vote with most Republicans in support of Puzder. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted against Puzder.

“CONFIRMED: @AndyPuzder as Representative of the United States of America to the European Union,” the White House said Saturday in a post on the social platform X.

President Trump picked Puzder as his selection for ambassador to the EU in January, praising him as steering fast-food chains like Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s away from “serious financial difficulty” and claiming Puzder would “do an excellent job” as ambassador.

The president’s selection of Puzder was the second time that Trump has tapped him for a top role in his administration, following the former restaurant chain executive withdrawing as nominee for Labor secretary during Trump’s first term in the face of backlash from Republicans.

In 2017, Puzder withdrew his nomination to lead the Labor Department prior to a confirmation hearing, with multiple Republican senators at the time seeming ready to oppose him amid allegations of past spousal abuse and his employment of an immigrant without legal status as a housekeeper. He denied the resurfaced allegations and his former wife retracted the claims.