Imagine bombing a job interview so badly your interviewer checks if you understood what job you were applying for — then getting hired anyway. That’s the short version of Dr Anjani Sinha’s road to becoming the U.S. ambassador to Singapore. He stumbled through a Senate confirmation hearing on 9 July 2025, where Senator Tammy Duckworth repeatedly pressed him on facts about Singapore and regional policy. Yet the Senate still confirmed him later in an en-bloc vote.
Opening moves: what he told the committee
In his opening statement, Dr Sinha thanked President Trump and Secretary Rubio. He called Singapore “a key strategic partner” and said he’d focus on defence, trade, and people-to-people ties if confirmed. Short, safe, and diplomatic.
The Duckworth exchange — where things unraveled
Senator Tammy Duckworth didn’t mince words. She warned him that ambassadorship isn’t a “glamour posting” and said Singapore matters — strategically and economically. Then she hit him with specifics.
- She asked how big the U.S. trade surplus with Singapore was in 2024. He first said US$80 billion, then corrected to US$18 billion. Duckworth told him the correct figure was US$2.8 billion — and said he was off by a huge factor.
- She asked how he would explain the president’s threat to slap tariffs of up to 25% on countries — and pressed him on recent U.S. tariff measures that hit Singapore at 10%. His answers were vague. He promised dialogue and a personal relationship with Singapore’s government, but he didn’t clearly endorse or oppose the tariff move.
- Duckworth asked when Singapore will next hold the ASEAN chair. He couldn’t name the year (it’s 2027). When pushed on specifics about U.S. Navy cooperation with Singapore, his reply was judged too broad. The senator wasn’t impressed.
Put simply: he fumbled numbers, dodged direct stances on tariffs, and struggled with concrete regional details. That’s not exactly the “know-your-host-country” starter pack.
Backers, context, and the “why” behind the pick
Not everyone saw him as unfit. Senator Lindsey Graham gave him a warm intro and vouched for his regional understanding and fit with Singapore’s strong medical and biotech scene. GOP Senator Pete Ricketts highlighted some shared connections and contacts. Dr Sinha has long-standing ties to Trump — and to Trump’s social circles like golf clubs — which helps explain the nomination.
Officially, the State Department’s nomination file describes him as an accomplished orthopaedic surgeon who built several practices and served as a consultant in Florida and New York. The file also notes philanthropic work and business ties. Critics point out a lack of diplomatic experience and a shaky hearing performance.
Donations and politics
Records show Dr Sinha has donated to political campaigns over the years, including a contribution to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. That history of donations and political ties is part of the broader picture of how some ambassador picks are made.
How the confirmation finished
Despite the rough hearing, the Senate confirmed him later on. His nomination was cleared in an en-bloc vote and then passed by the full Senate. So he’ll head to Singapore as the official U.S. envoy. Politics can be messy. Votes don’t always track with how well you answer the hard questions. That sucks..
My take — straight talk
- A medical background doesn’t disqualify you. Doctors manage crises and teams. Those skills do translate.
- Still, diplomacy is a craft. You need regional know-how on day one. Singapore is too strategic for vague answers.
- Political connections and donations clearly matter in ambassador picks. That’s not new. But competency should too — especially for a post in a critical partner country.
- If he wants to succeed, he must do three things fast: learn Singapore’s priorities, meet top officials, and show concrete plans for trade and defence cooperation.
