President Trump plans to nominate former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman as U.S. ambassador to Russia, the White House announced Tuesday.
The nomination of Huntsman had been long expected. He previously served as U.S. ambassador to China from 2009 to 2011 under former President Barack Obama.
Huntsman has served in the administrations of five U.S. presidents and was a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
If confirmed by the Senate, Huntsman will take the ambassador job during a tense period in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.
Originally published by the Washington Examiner.