ambassadonor

English

Etymology

Blend of ambassador +‎ donor

Noun

ambassadonor (plural ambassadonors)

1. (neologism) Someone selected as an ambassador based at least in part upon their history of political donations or contributions.
   • 2014 May 8, “These are the 'essential skills' needed to be an Obama ambassadonor”, in Yahoo! News‎^[1]:

     Earlier this year, three of Obama’s "ambassadonor" picks raised eyebrows in their confirmation hearing testimony.

   • 2014 December 13, Paul Richter, “Obama donor George Tsunis ends his nomination as Norway ambassador”, in Los Angeles Times‎^[2]:

     Stumbles by other "ambassadonors" have played into a Republican narrative that the administration has been giving too many plum assignments to financial contributors.

   • 2015 January 13, James Warren, Dareh Gregorian, “U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley is big fundraiser for President Obama”, in New York Post‎^[3]:

     "Jane Hartley is more talented and much more prepared than most of President Obama's 'ambassadonors'," Hendershott said.

   • 2021 July 12, Olivier Knox, “The Daily 202: Biden nominates 'ambassadonor' to France”, in The Washington Post‎^[4]:

     During the campaign, Biden refused to rule out embracing the tradition of naming what I've called "ambassadonors," but promised in December 2019 "nobody, in fact, will be appointed by me based on anything they contributed."