Nearly 17 months after the departure of the last U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, President Donald Trump has put forward a historic nomination to fill the long-vacant diplomatic post: Jennifer Johnson-Carroll, a Trinidad-born former Florida lieutenant governor with a decades-long record of U.S. public service.
The post has remained empty since former ambassador Candace Bond concluded her tenure on January 20, 2025, shortly before the new Trump administration took office. On June 1, 2026, the White House released an official statement listing Johnson-Carroll, a Florida resident, among a slate of new diplomatic nominees, tapping her to serve as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The nomination was formally submitted to the U.S. Senate for confirmation the day after the White House announcement.
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in 1959, Johnson-Carroll moved to the United States with her family at age 8, building a diverse career that spans military service, public office, and private sector leadership. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1979 as a jet mechanic, retiring 20 years later as a lieutenant commander aviation maintenance officer. She went on to earn multiple degrees in political science and business administration, and entered electoral politics in 2003, when she made history as the first Black female Republican elected to the Florida House of Representatives. In 2010, she was selected as running mate by Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, taking office as Florida’s 18th lieutenant governor in 2011—again breaking barriers as the first woman and first Caribbean-born person to hold the statewide post. She resigned in 2013 amid questioning connected to a federal investigation into an illegal gambling and money laundering scandal at a charity organization, though she was never criminally charged.
The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) has publicly welcomed the nomination, emphasizing its significance for bilateral relations between the two nations. In an official statement released shortly after the nomination announcement, the chamber noted that Johnson-Carroll’s roots in Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago make the appointment particularly meaningful. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she will become the first Trinidad and Tobago-born woman to serve as U.S. ambassador to her country of origin, a milestone that AMCHAM T&T says underscores the far-reaching global contributions of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian diaspora.
AMCHAM T&T also highlighted Johnson-Carroll’s long record of demonstrated leadership and commitment to public service across government, policy, and community advocacy, noting her repeated history of breaking barriers for underrepresented groups in U.S. politics. The organization acknowledged that the nomination must now advance through the formal Senate confirmation process: first a review by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, followed by a full vote by the entire Senate. AMCHAM T&T said it expects the process to conclude successfully and looks forward to welcoming the new ambassador in the near term.
Beyond welcoming the nominee, the chamber reaffirmed the deep strategic ties between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, which span trade, investment, energy, security, education, technology, and cultural and community connections. The bilateral relationship, the organization noted, remains a core driver of economic growth, democratic governance, and regional cooperation across the Caribbean. AMCHAM T&T said it remains committed to advancing the strong commercial and diplomatic partnership between the two nations, and looks forward to working with Johnson-Carroll, if confirmed, to expand opportunities for collaboration, innovation, increased investment, and shared prosperity for both countries.