James Holtsnider

James Holtsnider
Official portrait, 2025
26th United States Ambassador to Jordan
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 7, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byYael Lempert
Chargé d'affaires to Samoa
In office
May 2, 2024 – January 3, 2025
Personal details
BornJames William Holtsnider
EducationUniversity of Colorado Boulder (BA)
Princeton University (MPP)
Military service
Branch/serviceU.S. Marine Corps
Years of service
1997–2004

James William Holtsnider is an American diplomat and former military service member officer who has served as United States ambassador to Jordan since 2025. Holtsnider served as senior bureau official for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in 2025.

In addition, he previously served as an operations officer in the Department's Operations Center, and as the deputy chief of mission of the United States Embassy in Kuwait City.

Education and career

In July 1997, Holtsnider enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps due to him needing a break from school. He served for six years, including as a Marine security guard at U.S. Embassies in Zimbabwe and Turkey. He later earned a Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Masters degree from Princeton University. He served as an operations officer in the Department's operations center. He also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Kuwait City. President Biden had nominated him to serve as U.S. ambassador to Samoa but the full 118th Senate never voted on the nomination.

Holtsnider was nominated by U.S President Donald Trump as the Ambassador to Jordan. In October 2025, he went to Jordan to meet Secretary General of Jordan's Foreign Ministry Daifallah Alfayez. There, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations between the U.S and Jordan. He presented his credentials to King Abdullah II of Jordan on December 7, 2025. In January 2026, he faced backlash after two prominent Jordanian families rejected his condolence visit requests. This reaction was attributed by Jordanian journalist Lamis Andoni to Jordanians’ outrage over U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza war.

References

  1. ↑ "Jordan receives new US, Australian ambassadors". Roya News. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  2. ↑ Jordan, U.S. Embassy (2025-10-23). "Ambassador Jim Holtsnider - U.S. Embassy in Jordan". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Archived from the original on 2026-02-12. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Holtsnider, James – Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – July 2025". United States Department of State. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  4. ↑ Jordan, U. S. Embassy (October 23, 2025). "Ambassador-Designate to Jordan Jim Holtsnider". U.S. Embassy in Jordan. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ House, The White (May 2, 2024). "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ "James Holtsnider". www.ndia.org. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Nominations | United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations". www.foreign.senate.gov. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
  8. ↑ National, The. "James Holtsnider presents credentials as US ambassador to Jordan". The National. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ "New US ambassador to Jordan? White House sends James Holtsnider nomination to senate". Roya News. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ "New US ambassador's charm offensive is backfiring in Jordan". Responsible Statecraft. Retrieved April 8, 2026.