Trump nominees’ past statements highlight administration’s ambivalence towards democracy, rights in Myanmar

Most American media attention on President Donald Trump’s new nominee for a high-ranking public diplomacy position has focused on his incendiary opinions about United States (US) politics rather than his views on Myanmar or other countries. 

However, the nomination of Darren J. Beattie to the post of undersecretary for public diplomacy in the US Department of State (DOS) is just one recent action by the Trump administration suggesting a noncommittal approach to opposing military rule and human rights abuses in Myanmar.