Nick Adams

Nick Adams (born Nicholas Adamopoulos; 5 September 1984) is an Australian-American conservative political commentator, author, and diplomat. In 2026, Donald Trump created the new Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values position and tapped Adams for the position directly after dropping his nomination for United States Ambassador to Malaysia when Malaysian leaders...

Nick Adams (born Nicholas Adamopoulos; 5 September 1984) is an Australian-American conservative political commentator, author, and diplomat. In 2026, Donald Trump created the new Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values position and tapped Adams for the position directly after dropping his nomination for United States Ambassador to Malaysia when Malaysian leaders across the political spectrum protested, describing Adams as an anti-Muslim agitator and provocateur. Adams has written many slim books, several of which have forewards written by prominent right-wing American politicians and media personalities. He came to public attention in 2017, when Donald Trump made favorable comments and tweets about his books Green Card Warrior and Retaking America, and in 2020 about his book Trump and Churchill. He is best known for his messaging of aggressively promoting Donald Trump and describing himself as an "alpha male." He has been labeled a "social media heavyweight", a "Trump-backed raconteur", and a "far-right culture warrior" for his conservative social media advocacy and aggressive persona. Prior to his rise to prominence in the MAGA movement, Adams was a motivational speaker best known for his promotion of civics education, American exceptionalism, and free market capitalism. Adams has been granted honorary resident status or received commendations from eleven states, including Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Nevada, Missouri, and Arizona. Early life and education Adams was born Nikolaos Adamopoulos in Sydney, Australia. His father was a Greek Australian math teacher named Andrew and his mother is a German Australian named Angelika who worked as a carer in a retirement home but now has a paid position as Secretary in Adams's non-profit organization. He was raised in a strict household with parental expectations of being successful, and his father never told him, "I love you". His father died in 2021 from COVID pneumonia. From 16 months of age until he was about 4 years old, Adams was treated for Stage IV neuroblastoma. An American doctor working in the emergency room of an Australian hospital recommended that he be tested for the cancer, which he credits in part for his love of the United States. Adams attended Trinity Grammar School, where he graduated valedictorian of his class. At the University of Sydney, Adams earned a degree in journalism, and could not find work or even an internship in that field. He then trained to be a high school teacher, but was never called back for substitute teaching jobs. However, while attending university he was elected to be a councilman of his suburb in 2004, and deputy mayor in 2005. Political career Australia Adams was elected to the Municipality of Ashfield council in 2004 on the ticket of Australia's main conservative party, the Liberal Party, for North Ward (comprising the area of Ashfield north of the railway and west of Parramatta Road). In September 2005, at age 21, he was elected as deputy mayor, the youngest ever in Australia. He did not live in Ashfield at the time of his election and used a loophole to bypass the requirement for local councillors in New South Wales to live in their council area. In 2005, as Deputy Mayor, Adams put forward a motion to ban pigeons from the Municipality of Ashfield due to fears of the bird flu, but failed to explain how this plan would be implemented. Adams also suggested that the municipality use a DNA-test to catch dog owners, who fail to clean up their dogs' droppings. He was criticised for often missing council meetings because he was traveling the American speaking circuit as a motivational speaker. His term as Deputy Mayor was for a single-year term, and he did not nominate for re-election for the following term in September 2006. In October 2006, Adams was "formally condemned by fellow Councillors after racking up thousands of dollars worth of phone calls and cab charges for personal benefit". Mark Drury, a former member of the council, said that if Adams "didn't have a stunt, he wouldn't turn up to meetings". As a member of the Ashfield council, Adams denounced multiculturalism, saying "It creates groups and pockets of people that of course, then feel that there are certain elements of superiority and inferiority and I think that we need to be united". When Adams was a councillor, he privately expressed the goal of eventually becoming the Prime Minister of Australia. In 2009, the Liberal Party of Australia threatened to suspend Adams from the party for six months for conduct likely to "embarrass or cause damage to" the party during an altercation with Brett Mason, a journalist for Channel Ten - Mason was filming a report on Adams' absences from the council due to overseas travel when Adams confronted him, stating, "I would just like to say that Brett Mason is a [expletive] good-for-nothing [expletive]. Thank you." However, Adams claims he resigned from the party before he could be suspended. Adams retired from Australian politics in 2012. United States Near the end of his first term in office, President Trump appointed Adams to a six-year term on the Board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank focusing on global affairs. Some members of the center's staff found his presence on the board to be an "embarrassment" because of his misogyny. As of mid-2026, Adams remains a member of the Board, even as a March 2026 executive order drastically cut funding for the Center's staff and operations. Adams was a surrogate for Trump's 2020 reelection campaign. After Trump's loss, Adams promoted the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. During the Biden presidency, Adams frequently criticizing the Biden family outside the scope of policy and politics. Adams was again a surrogate and advisor for Trump in his 2024 presidential campaign. US Ambassador-designate to Malaysia On 9 July 2025, Adams was nominated by President Donald Trump to be the next US Ambassador to Malaysia. Adams' nomination was questioned by international media, including the South China Morning Post, which described the appointment as having "raised questions about Washington's commitment to continuity in its mission in Malaysia." The Post characterized US–Malaysia relations as in a challenging period amidst the Gaza War and trade tensions as a result of Trump's tariffs. Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Youth International Relations Bureau's Arief Izuadin expressed concern about Adams' nomination, citing his extremist background. Selangor Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth Chief Mohamed Sukri Omar also made a statement advocating for Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take a firm stance against the nomination. Sukri also stated that "Nick Adams is not just a controversial figure. He openly spreads hatred towards Islam and supports the Zionist colonial regime without consideration...This appointment is an insult to the sensitivities of Malaysians. If the government remains silent or accepts this appointment, it will be seen as betraying the people's firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause." Former Malaysian law minister Zaid Ibrahim and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin have criticized the appointment saying Malaysia "should not be treated as a dumping ground for ideological firebrands and partisan." Zaid also added that Adams' nomination "would not be a gesture of goodwill-it would be an insult." Former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said of Adams, "it would be good to have a U.S. ambassador who is very close to Trump... but you cannot compromise on certain principles." The Sydney Morning Herald stated that Adams' appointment as ambassador "in Muslim-majority Malaysia has gone down, of course, like a lead balloon." It was also reported that there were about 60 protestors outside the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur against this appointment. In February 2026, it was reported that Adams had not been renominated to the post, at which time he was quoted as saying he had been, "promoted from the role of Ambassador". The decision to not renominate Adams was well received in Malaysia. Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values On 17 March 2026, Adams was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as Special Presidential Envoy for American Tourism, Exceptionalism, and Values. The White House lauded the controversial Adams as "an America First patriot who will represent our country well" when asked for comment regarding his appointment. The position, which has not previously existed, has been described as being a "brand ambassador" for the United States of America, and "US Tourism Minister". Adams' appointment came at a time when international visitation to the United States was in decline in 2025, with travel outlets reporting that Adams had been tasked by the White House with improving traveler confidence and promoting the United States ahead of a decade of hosting major international events. In May of 2026, Adams delivered his first major international public address in the role, speaking at a World Travel & Tourism Council event. Adams' remarks emphasized international cooperation, investment, and public-private partnerships as key to restoring America's tourism economy. Adams announced a personal goal for the United States to reach an average of 100 million international visitors per year by 2030, arguing that major events such as America's 250th anniversary, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics, and other global sporting events create a major tourism opportunity. Adams has suggested that Donald Trump is the United States' "greatest marketer," running contrary to the views of many in the tourism industry. Adams has blamed the dip in international visitors to the United States on "people in the media that don't like the president" building false narratives that "America unsafe, that America is expensive, that Americans are inhospitable, that America does not welcome people." Adams also denied the existence of a social media policy that could require international visitors to provide a five-year personal social media history to border agents upon entry to the United States, calling it an "egregious misconception." Adams was the keynote speaker at the European Economic Forum 2026, a conference hosted by the European Conservatives and Reformists Party, alongside prominent European far right politicians such as former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, George Simion, and Antonio Giordano. Adams was the only government official from the United States to address the conference. Political activism Adams first visited the United States in 2009 as part of a speaking tour. In 2010, Adams was the PR consultant for The Halloween Institute, a march to make Halloween a public holiday in Australia. It was later revealed that those who protested were paid actors. Adams migrated to the United States in 2012. He said that he migrated to America because "I love guns, hot dogs, chicken fried steak, barbecue, cheerleaders, American football, small town parades, beauty pageants, pick-up trucks, muscle cars and 16-lane freeways lined with supersized American flags". Adams works as a motivational speaker and conservative activist. He has said that his fascination with the American political system led him to promoting American ideals. Then-Texas Governor Rick Perry crowned Adams an "honorary Texan" prior to a speech in 2013. In 2016, Adams founded a non-profit Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness (FLAG) that promotes American exceptionalism in schools. Adams, in conjunction with FLAG and former interns for Antonin Scalia, has produced and distributed kid-friendly versions of the American constitution that promote constitutional rights and originalism. Adams has fiercely defended First Lady Melania T