What? Trump Appoints a Conspiracy Theorist to Head the State Department

After being given a second chance by American voters, it seems President Donald J. Trump is extending the grace by reportedly appointing a once-fired speechwriter named Darren Beattie.

Trump tapped Beattie to serve as the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. In his role, Beattie is responsible for “lead[ing] America’s public diplomacy outreach” related to counterterrorism and violent extremism, according to the State Department website. But here’s the kicker...

Just six years ago, Beattie was fired from his role as Trump’s speechwriter under scandalous circumstances. But just like the president, who was convicted of 34 felonies less than a year ago, Beattie has been awarded a do-over.

Beattie, a former Duke University professor, first fell under scrutiny after CNN revealed he spoke at a conference attended by white nationalists. The conference in question— named The Mencken Club after the 20th century journalist known for spewing racism— is an annual function, and in 2016, Beattie made a special appearance.

“In 2016 I attended the Mencken conference in question and delivered a stand-alone, academic talk titled ‘The Intelligentsia and the Right.’ I said nothing objectionable and stand by my remarks completely,” Beattie told CNN’s KFile following the report. But despite Beattie’s plea of innocence, he was canned by the Trump Administration in 2018, according to the White House.

“It was the honor of my life to serve in the Trump Administration,” he said. “I love President Trump, who is a fearless American hero, and continue to support him one hundred percent.” It looks like his support for the 45th and now-47th president worked in his favor, as he has now been promoted to a top State Department job.

Beattie’s been a MAGA supporter since the very beginning, and even after the president fired him, his support never faltered. In fact, after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, Beattie claimed the FBI was responsible, according to NBC News.

But wait... there’s more. Beattie also has a long documented history of inflammatory and divisive statements— which ironically doesn’t quite align with his new job title. In October 2024, he took to X claiming that “Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work.” He continued writing “our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities, and demoralizing competent white men.”

He called Trump’s recent efforts placing all federal DEI employees “Amazing,” and Beattie said Trump’s pardon of all Jan. 6 rioters was “Beautiful news.” In 2020, he even wrote that “‘Shithole countries’ was the high-point of Trumps presidency.”

Beattie’s appointment has already sparked high criticism from leaders. Political analyst and author Van Jones called the matter “shameless and despicable.”