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Tom Barrack, a prominent businessman and longtime confidant of U.S. President Donald Trump, arrived in Ankara on Monday (May 5) to begin his tenure as the new United States ambassador to Türkiye.
Arriving late Monday at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Barrack called it a "really monumental day" for him and told reporters, "I feel the echo of this land from which my ancestors came."
Addressing the country as "Türkiye" rather than Turkey, unlike Trump, he said, "I come with a very simple message from President Trump, which is his desire to elevate the alliance between Türkiye and the United States to the level it deserves."
"We've always had a great relationship, but it should be an extraordinary one," he added.
He stated that Trump's goal is to "elevate through people, both great leaderships and great nations," to achieve faster peace and prosperity that "make Türkiye and the United States greater and the world better."
Barrack was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 29 with a 60-36 vote, clearing the way for him to assume the post at a time of evolving dynamics in U.S.-Türkiye relations.
Born and raised in Southern California, Barrack holds degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of San Diego School of Law. He is widely recognized for his close ties to Trump, having chaired the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee and served as a senior advisor during the 2016 presidential campaign.
At 78, Barrack emphasized Türkiye’s strategic value during his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing earlier this month.
“Sitting at the most strategic crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Türkiye's NATO contributions are numerous,” he told lawmakers, underlining the country’s pivotal role in both regional and global security frameworks.
He succeeds Jeff Flake, who served as ambassador from January 2022 until his departure in September 2024. The position had remained vacant since then.
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