No, you’re not reading a Mad Libs puzzle – President-elect Donald Trump has named Orlando-based attorney Dan Newlin as his Ambassador to Colombia when his second administration begins in January. Newlin is best known for his personal injury law firm, Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys, which advertises prominently in Central Florida.
The current Ambassador to Colombia is Francisco Palmieri, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Before him was Phillip Goldberg, who’d previously served as Ambassador to Chile, Bolivia, the Philippines, and Cuba. Before that was Kevin Whitaker, a veteran of the U.S. Department of State with diplomatic experience in five nations across three continents.
According to summaries of his career posted online, Newlin has no experience in international diplomacy. He began working as an emergency medic at the age of 20, before later graduating Florida State College of Law in 2000. He started Dan Newlin Injury Attorneys in October 2001, and has helmed it ever since. He’s well-known to the community for his extremely frequent cable television commercials, which have made him a household name if through nothing but brute force.
“I am pleased to announce our next Ambassador to Colombia will be Daniel J. Newlin,” Trump said on his Truth Social account Wednesday. “A highly accomplished business executive, entrepreneur, and former Sheriff’s Detective, Dan boasts an impressive 28-year career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, Florida.”
“Last night, I had the profound honor of receiving a personal call from President-elect Donald J. Trump,” Newlin said on Facebook. “The gravity of this moment was not lost on me; speaking with the President of the United States is an extraordinary experience that few are privileged to have. During our conversation, he graciously nominated me to serve as the United States Ambassador to Colombia. I accepted this prestigious nomination with both immense pride and a deep sense of responsibility.”
Newlin also clarified that he will be remaining on as a senior advisor for his law firm while serving as Ambassador to Colombia. Throughout the 2024 election cycle Newlin has been an outspoken supporter for Trump, even wearing a signature Make America Great Again hat in some of his commercials. Trump wrote that Newlin’s law enforcement background will empower him to succeed in ‘complex international issues’, though he did not expand on how.
“Throughout his tenure, Newlin rapidly advanced working in major crimes as a fugitive detective,” Trump continued. “Dan demonstrated exceptional investigative skills, successfully taking hundreds of violent offenders off the streets, including those involved in armed robbery, gang violence, human trafficking, and illegal gun and narcotics trafficking.”
