Aug 8, 2026 – 4.51amWashington | President Donald Trump’s top diplomat for Australia, incoming ambassador David Brat, is bound for Canberra after Republicans in the United States Senate rammed through dozens of nominations at once.Brat was waved through the US upper chamber on Friday (Saturday AEST) in a 51-47 vote for a bill that included more than 70 other appointees to posts in Brazil, Cambodia, Cyprus, and various federal agencies, as the Senate worked to clear its agenda ahead of a month-long summer recess.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles