US President Donald Trump has announced his pick for the next American ambassador to Australia more than a year after the Republican leader’s return to the White House.

Former Virginia congressman David Brat was nominated for the ambassador role, which has been vacant since 2024.

Mr Brat represented Virginia’s seventh congressional district in the US House of Representatives for the Republicans.

He was first elected in 2014 and served two terms before losing his seat in 2018.

The ambassador position is yet to be finalised as the appointment needs to be ratified by the US Senate.

If successful in his selection, Mr Brat will succeed Caroline Kennedy in the role of ambassador to Australia.

In the interim, career diplomat Erika Olson has served as chargé d’affaires since Kennedy departed the role. 

Ms Kennedy, the only surviving child of former Democratic president John F. Kennedy, was appointed under the Biden administration. 

David Brat (pictured) has been nominated by President Trump as US Ambassador to Australia 

Donald Trump (pictured) previously endorsed Brat during a congressional run in 2018 

Brat is currently a senior vice president for business relations at Liberty University in Virginia, where he previously served as dean of the business school. 

Trump endorsed Brat during his 2018 congressional campaign, publicly calling him ‘a powerful vote for MAGA’. 

During his first term, Trump left the Australian ambassadorship unfilled for almost two years before making an appointment in 2019. 

He ultimately chose Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., a long‑time Republican operative who had served as an adviser to Ronald Reagan.