Michelle Steel Nominated as Ambassador to South Korea

Former Congresswoman Michelle Steel Nominated as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

Former Orange County Congresswoman Michelle Steel has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. The 70-year-old Republican must undergo confirmation by the U.S. Senate before officially taking up the post.

Steel recently lost her seat representing California’s 45th Congressional District in a closely contested race against Democratic challenger Derek Tran in 2024. Previously, she served as a supervisor for Orange County and held office in the 48th Congressional District from 2021 to 2023.

Her political career is complemented by her multicultural background; born in South Korea and raised in Japan, she moved to the United States at the age of 19. Steel represented a diverse constituency that includes cities such as Garden Grove, Westminster, Cerritos, and several others throughout the region.

While Steel has not publicly addressed her nomination, Will O’Neill, Chair of the Orange County Republican Party, expressed support for her selection. "Congresswoman Michelle Steel is a proud American patriot who has served her county, state, and country for decades," he stated. "Now she has the opportunity to serve as our nation’s representative in the nation where she was born. On behalf of the Republicans throughout Orange County, we applaud this nomination from President Trump and encourage the U.S. Senate to move swiftly to confirm Rep. Steel."

If confirmed, Steel will bring her unique perspective and experience to an important diplomatic role, reflecting both her American citizenship and her roots in South Korea.