Trump's Controversial Diplomatic Pick Withdraws After Backlash

Trump's nominee for a top diplomatic post has been withdrawn from consideration after a growing backlash over his past remarks on race and Jewish people left him without crucial Republican support. Jeremy Carl, who had been tapped to serve as the assistant secretary of state for international organisations – a role overseeing US policy towards bodies such as the UN – announced on Tuesday that he was stepping aside after failing to secure unanimous backing from Republicans on the Senate foreign relations committee.

This failure to appoint Jeremy Carl is a rare setback for Trump, with the Republican-controlled Senate mostly approving his appointments so far. The withdrawal highlights the challenges the President has faced in filling key diplomatic positions, even with his own party in control of the upper chamber of Congress.

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The controversy surrounding Carl's nomination centered on his past comments, which critics described as "anti-Israel" and containing "racial undertones". In a 2016 blog post, for example, he argued that the US should end its special relationship with Israel, claiming it was not in America's national interest.

Carl also drew criticism for a 2017 article in which he suggested that African Americans were less intelligent than white Americans, citing discredited research on IQ differences between races. These remarks, which he later claimed were taken out of context, proved too much for several Republican senators, who withheld their support for his nomination.

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The failed nomination is a blow to Trump's efforts to reshape US foreign policy, particularly his push to take a harder line against international organisations like the UN. Carl's withdrawal also underscores the President's difficulty in finding qualified candidates willing to defend his controversial positions on issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Going forward, Trump will have to find a replacement for the assistant secretary of state role who can navigate the complex geopolitical landscape and secure bipartisan support in the Senate. The stakes are high, as this position plays a crucial part in shaping America's engagement with the world body.