An Australian-born former deputy mayor who once swore at a TV journalist is poised to become Donald Trump's man in Malaysia.
Nick Adams became a US citizen in 2021, years after serving as a Liberal councillor for the since-merged Ashfield municipality in Sydney's inner west, during which he suggested a cull of the area's pigeons to stop the spread of bird flu.
Since moving stateside in 2012, Mr Adams has styled himself as a MAGA influencer, motivational speaker and writer, describing himself on his website as "Trump's favourite author".
He entered the president's orbit in 2017 when Mr Trump tweeted: "Nick Adams new book, Green Card Warrior, is a must read."
The president announced Mr Adams' diplomatic nomination on Truth Social on Friday.
"Nick is an incredible Patriot and very successful entrepreneur, whose love of, and devotion to, our Great Country is an inspiration," Mr Trump said.
Mr Adams described the appointment as "the greatest day in the life of any American" in an Instagram video.
The former councillor had a chequered period of service on the Sydney council after being elected on the Liberal ticket in 2004 at the age of 19, becoming deputy mayor a year later.
It was in his time as deputy mayor that Mr Adams proposed a cull of the council's pigeons to stop the threat of bird flu.
Questioned on how he would prevent the birds coming in from other municipalities, he responded: "don't ask me about procedure".
He was later suspended by the Liberal Party after being filmed swearing at Channel 10 reporter Brett Mason in 2009.
In his time in the US, Mr Adams has become a prominent right-wing influencer with more than 600,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter.
"It starts with Fortnite and boneless wings. It ends with gender pronouns and communism," reads one 2022 post.
Mr Adams' appointment must now be confirmed by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee before he can take up his post in Kuala Lumpur.
