Unqualified for Singapore posting: Senate grills Trump's pick Anjani Sinha

India Today

11-07-2025

India-born Anjani Sinha, US President Donald Trump's nominee for Ambassador to Singapore, faced sharp criticism during his Senate confirmation hearing, with lawmakers questioning his preparedness and qualifications for the high-stakes diplomatic role. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth called him unqualified for the position and said he needed to shape up and do his homework.Sinha, an orthopaedic surgeon and an entrepreneur, struggled to respond to basic questions about Singapore's geopolitical significance and the US-Singapore relationship – drawing a pointed rebuke from Senator Duckworth, according to a BBC report.advertisementSinha's nomination was announced by Trump in March, who described him as a "highly respected entrepreneur".
During the confirmation hearing by the Senate's foreign relations committee, he was introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as "a friend of President Trump for over a decade", according to the BBC.In his introduction and responses to senators' questions, Sinha described himself as a "lifelong bridge builder" and pledged to "create a very strong relationship with Singapore" while vowing to "defend the defence, security, and economic ties".SINHA GAVE INCORRECT NUMBERS ON TRADE TIES WITH SINGAPOREDuckworth opened her questioning by asking Sinha about Singapore's trade surplus with the US, to which he first responded with $80 billion (Rs 6.68 lakh crore), before changing his answer to $18 billion (Rs 1.50 lakh crore).Eventually, Duckworth noted the correct figure was $2.8 billion (Rs 23,380 crore).When asked how he would justify Trump's 10% tariff, imposed in April, to Singaporeans, Sinha gave multiple responses before concluding that "the dialogue is not closed".During the hearing, Sinha mistakenly stated that Malaysia currently chairs ASEAN and did not know that Singapore is set to take over the role in 2027."You are unqualified for this position," Senator Duckworth said during the hearing. She added that he needed to "shape up and do some homework.""You've not even done your homework, sir," Duckworth said."You think this is a glamour posting, that you're going to live a nice life in Singapore, when what we need is someone who can actually do the work," BBC quoted her as saying.Noting that Singapore is a key US ally in the Indo-Pacific, Duckworth said, "You are not currently prepared for this posting, period, and you need to shape up and do some homework."The exchange sparked a wave of online criticism from Singaporeans, with many questioning Sinha's performance and his suitability for the role of US ambassador.According to the BBC report, despite the controversy, Sinha's confirmation remains a strong possibility.WHO IS ANJANI SINHA?Anjani Sinha was born in India and is a graduate of MGM Medical School and Delhi University. He has a Masters in orthopaedic surgery, according to the US State Department.advertisementSinha is a distinguished surgeon on the US East Coast specialising in orthopaedics and sports medicine. He is an accomplished entrepreneur, and has served as a senior surgical consultant in Florida.The State Department also said that Sinha has native respect for both American and Asian values, and has deep social and cultural ties to the Indo-Pacific region. Hence, he is uniquely positioned to relate to key stakeholders.His appreciation for Singapore's role as a financial hub, and his own business expertise – particularly in the life sciences and healthcare sectors – render him well qualified to serve as US Ambassador to Singapore, the State Department also said.- Ends