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President Donald Trumpโs latest ambassador pick has been met with criticism online. Earlier this week, POTUS announced the nomination of River Oaks Donuts owner Melinda Hildebrand as the next U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.
โI am pleased to announce that Melinda Hildebrand will serve as the next United States Ambassador to Costa Rica,โ he shared on Truth Social. โMelinda is an incredibly successful businesswoman and philanthropist who serves as the Vice Chair of the Hildebrand Foundation and Vice President of Hilcorp Ventures Inc. She is also the President and Owner of the popular River Oaks Donuts. She will fight tirelessly to protect Americaโs Interests abroad, especially in Trade and Immigration. Congratulations, Melinda!โ
Trumpโs decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some criticizing Hildebrandโs qualifications and background. But the commander-in-chief is confident sheโs a good fit and will get the job done.
Trumpโs Choice Heavily Criticized
Some of Trumpโs critics took to social media to ridicule his choice, with others claiming โit has to be a joke.โ Another critic slammed the president for choosing โinexperienced billionaireโ as candidate for a major political position.
Meanwhile, some commenters joked about Hildebrandโs Houston-based donut business. โIf sheโs giving away free donuts and coffee, Iโm all in,โ one wrote, while another added, โIโm sure the Costa Ricans will be impressed with a Donut Queen representing us.โ
Donald Trump and Melinda Hildebrand Go Way Back
Trumpโs nomination comes as no surprise to those who know their history. The Hildebrands, along with Tilman Fertittaโanother ambassador picked by the presidentโwere reportedly major fundraisers for Trumpโs presidential campaign.
In May 2024, the Financial Times reported that Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand hosted a campaign event for then-presidential candidate Trump. The host committee gave $250,000 or raised $500,000 per couple, while attendees donated a minimum of $10,000 per person.
In August 2024, the Daily Beast reported that the Hildebrands were also part of the host committee for another Trump fundraising dinner in Colorado. Similar to the previous one, the host committee gave or raised $500,000 per couple.
Following Donald Trumpโs official announcement, Hildebrand expressed her excitement about the potential new role. โI am honored to be nominated by President Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica,โ she told Paper City. โI look forward to engaging with the Senate throughout the confirmation process.โ
On Thursday, billionaire Hildebrand donated $20 million to her alma mater, the University of Texas at Austinโs McCombs School of Business. Her generous gift establishes the Hildebrand MBA Excellence Fund, designed to provide scholarships for incoming full-time MBA students and enhance leadership development opportunities across all five Texas McCombs MBA programs.
