Trump names Wesley Hunt as new U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia amid GOP slate

President Donald Trump nominated Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) to be the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia as part of a batch of Senate nominations ahead of the midterms. Hunt, a Texas Republican and one of the first Black Republicans from the state, ran in the GOP primary for the Senate and aligned with Trump throughout the race. The ambassadorship follows Michael Ratney’s tenure and signals renewed emphasis on U.S.-Saudi relations amid regional tensions and oil disruptions. The live updates also cover AI policy debates in Congress and other political moves, reflecting a busy week of nominations and national-security concerns.