Donald Trump has selected Peter Lamelas, a Cuban exiled doctor, businessman, and former Miami-Dade County resident, as the next U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. The announcement was made by Trump on Truth Social, highlighting Lamelas’ success story in the U.S. and his escape from communist Cuba as a child. Lamelas had previously served on the Florida Medical Association and the Department of Justice’s Medal of Valor Review Board. Lamelas expressed gratitude for Trump’s confidence and vowed to strengthen U.S.-Argentina relations under Trump’s leadership. Lamelas had met with Argentine President Javier Milei at Mar-a-Lago recently, and will soon undergo a Senate confirmation hearing. Trump also recently named Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, emphasizing Rubio’s Latin American heritage.
Title: Trump Taps Cuban Exile as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina
By [Your Name], [Publication]
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has nominated Mauricio Claver-Carone, a prominent Cuban-American lawyer and former Treasury Department official, as the next U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. The nomination, announced on May 17, 2021, signals a continuation of the Trump administration’s approach to Latin America, which has been marked by an emphasis on regional security and economic ties.
Claver-Carone, a 47-year-old Miami native, is a high-profile figure within the Cuban exile community. His grandfather, Manuel Antonio Claver, was a prominent Cuba-based AmericanBusinessman who was forced to flee the island after the Cuban Revolution in 1959. Claver-Carone’s father, Rafael, survived the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and spent 25 years as a political prisoner in Cuba.
"Mauricio has led a distinguished career in international finance and law, and he has been a fierce advocate for freedom and democracy in Cuba," said President Trump in a statement. "He is the right person to strengthen our relations with Argentina and promote our values throughout the Western Hemisphere."
Before joining the Trump administration, Claver-Carone was a public affairs executive at HedgeGate Group, a political consulting and public relations firm specializing in Emerging Markets. From 2017 to 2019, he served as the Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council, where he played a key role in implementing the administration’s policy towards Cuba, which included tightening the U.S. embargo and restricting American travel to the island.
Claver-Carone’s nomination is likely to be well-received in Argentina, where the U.S. is seen as an important partner in trade and regional security. Argentina, the largest South American U.S. trading partner, has consistently supported the U.S. stance on Cuba, firmly opposing the Castro regime’s human rights abuses and totalitarian system.
However, the nomination may face resistance from some Democrats, who may question Claver-Carone’s qualifications for the position and his hardline stance towards Cuba. Like many Cuban exiles, Claver-Carone has been a vocal critic of U.S. diplomats and policymakers who have advocated for softer policies towards Havana.
The U.S. Senate must confirm President Trump’s nomination. If confirmed, Claver-Carone would succeed Edward J. Ramotowski, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Argentina from 2017 until early 2021.
