U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay Kelly Keiderling is being replaced by Texan businessman and politician Kenneth George, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday.
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Pablo Castro, the embassy's press chief in Montevideo, told Radio Montecarlo that the details are unknown, but said Trump "made use of his legitimate right to whom he wants to be his ambassador."
Keiderling, appointed ambassador in 2016 during the Obama administration, congratulated her replacement via Twitter, saying she was sure he would enjoy working in the "jewel of a country" as much as she had.
Keiderling had previously worked as secretary of state for education and culture affairs, as well as manager of business affairs in the U.S. embassy in Venezuela, prior to being expelled by President Nicolas Maduro over allegations of destabilization.
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Recently, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Roberta Jacobson delivered her own resignation, saying that as bilateral tensions continued to mount, she had decided it was time to pursue other challenges.
Many had expected Trump to ditch Jacobson due to her links to the Obama administration and her often-vocal differences with the new U.S. president's proposals, including his border wall.
Others stepping down include U.S. Ambassador to Panama John D. Feeley, Undersecretary of Political Affairs Tom Shannon, and William Brownfield, the former U.S. assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs.