President Trump is recalling nearly 30 diplomats from ambassadorial positions around the world.

The reason: To ensure his “America First” foreign policy continues without obstruction.

A senior State Department official confirmed the move to Fox News:

“An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda.”

These aren’t political appointees being replaced. These are career diplomats who received their posts under Biden — and who now need to get on board with Trump’s vision or find other assignments.

The Recalled Diplomats Were Given Posts Under Biden and Survived the Initial Purge

Here’s what makes this significant.

When Trump took office, he initially targeted political appointees for replacement. That’s standard.

These career diplomats survived that first round. They kept their posts through the early months of Trump’s second term.

That changed last week. According to the Associated Press, chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were informed their tenures would end in January.

The grace period is over. America First means America First — not America First except for diplomats who want to pursue their own agendas.

Africa Is Getting the Biggest Overhaul With 13 Countries Affected

The geographic breakdown tells a story.

Africa leads with career diplomats from 13 countries being recalled.

Asia follows with six countries affected.

Europe has four countries in the shake-up.

The Middle East, South and Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere have two each.

Africa’s prominence makes sense given Trump’s focus on the region — including his warnings about Christian persecution in Nigeria and surveillance operations tracking Islamic terrorists.

The president wants ambassadors who will implement his priorities, not resist them.

They’re Being Offered Other Assignments — If They Want Them

The State Department made clear this isn’t a mass firing:

“We encourage returning ambassadors to continue serving their country by finding new opportunities within the Department to advance President Trump’s America First agenda.”

Career diplomats can stay in government service. They can find new roles that align with the president’s vision.

But they can’t stay in ambassadorial posts if they’re not committed to America First.

That’s a reasonable position. Ambassadors represent the president personally. If they disagree with his foreign policy, they shouldn’t be representing him abroad.

Countries at War or in High-Stakes Negotiations Are Excluded

The administration is being strategic about timing.

Ambassadors won’t be recalled from countries at war or countries in the middle of high-stakes negotiations with the U.S.

Continuity matters in those situations. Disruption could harm American interests.

But in countries where a transition can happen smoothly, the transition is happening.

This is how you implement policy change without creating chaos — targeted recalls where they’re safe, stability where it’s necessary.

Rubio Explained the “America First” Test Perfectly

Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently articulated the standard these ambassadors will be held to:

“What you want us to do, is it going to make us stronger? Is it going to make us richer? Is it going to make us safer? If it is, he’s for it. If it’s not, he’s against it.”

Three questions. Stronger, richer, safer.

If a diplomatic initiative doesn’t meet at least one of those criteria, Trump isn’t interested.

If an ambassador isn’t pursuing initiatives that make America stronger, richer, or safer, they shouldn’t be in the job.

Simple. Clear. Revolutionary for a State Department that’s operated on different principles for decades.

“This Is a Standard Process in Any Administration”

The State Department emphasized that recalling ambassadors isn’t unusual:

“This is a standard process in any administration.”

That’s true — to a point.

What’s unusual is the scope and the rationale. Nearly 30 career diplomats, specifically because they need to align with America First.

Previous administrations replaced ambassadors for various reasons. Trump is replacing them explicitly to implement a coherent foreign policy vision.

The Foreign Service establishment may not like it. But the president has the authority to do it.

Career Diplomats Aren’t Entitled to Posts

There’s an assumption in Washington that career diplomats earn their positions through expertise and should be insulated from political change.

Trump rejects that assumption.

Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president. Their role is to implement his foreign policy, not to pursue their own vision of what American diplomacy should look like.

Career diplomats who want to advance different priorities can do so — after Trump leaves office. While he’s president, they either get on board or get reassigned.

The Foreign Policy Establishment Is Being Brought to Heel

For decades, the State Department has operated semi-independently from presidential control.

Career diplomats maintained relationships and pursued policies that sometimes contradicted the White House. Presidents came and went, but the bureaucracy remained.

Trump is changing that dynamic.

The initial purge targeted political appointees. Now career diplomats are being held to the same standard: Advance America First or find another job.

The deep state in foreign policy is being dismantled, one ambassadorship at a time.

“Peace, and Looking Out for the American People First and Foremost”

RedState’s Jennifer Van Laar summarized Rubio’s comments perfectly:

“Peace, and looking out for the American people first and foremost. How refreshing.”

That is refreshing.

For too long, American foreign policy prioritized international institutions, foreign interests, and abstract concepts of “global leadership” over concrete benefits for American citizens.

Trump is inverting that priority. Americans come first. Everything else is secondary.

The ambassadors being recalled apparently didn’t get that message. Their replacements will.

The Realignment Continues

This recall is part of a broader pattern.

The DOJ is being realigned. The intelligence agencies are being reformed. The military is being refocused.

Now the State Department is getting the same treatment.

Every part of the executive branch is being brought into alignment with America First.

Nearly 30 ambassadors are learning that lesson this week. The rest of the government should take notes.

“An ambassador is a personal representative of the President.”

And this president has a vision. Either represent it — or step aside.