Trump’s
new ambassador to South Africa happens to be a Mar-a-Lago member
Lana Marks has no
diplomatic experience, a history of fabricating her past, and a skill-set
devoted primarily to making six-figure designer handbags.
But there’s one hobby
that appears to qualify her to become the U.S.’s latest ambassador: a
membership at the Mar-a-Lago Club.
On October 19, the Palm
Beach Daily News reported that U.S. President Donald Trump
was tapping Marks to become the U.S.’s next ambassador to South Africa,
confirming weeks of rumors surrounding the appointment.
The U.S. has not had an
ambassador in Pretoria since 2016. Marks, who is originally from South Africa,
has yet to comment on the appointment.
Her nomination would
mean that Mar-a-Lago, one of Trump’s favorite destinations, has now produced at
least four individuals Trump has selected as ambassadors.
In addition to Marks,
Robin Bernstein, one of Mar-a-Lago’s founding members, became the U.S.
ambassador to the Dominican Republic under Trump.
Two other members —
Patrick Park and Brian Burns — were nominated by the president to ambassadorial
positions in Austria and Ireland, respectively, but eventually declined the
nominations.
Earlier this year,
Trump accused the South African government of not
doing enough to combat so-called “large scale killing” in the country,
allegedly against white South African farmers.
While killings have taken place,
the so-called “farm murders,” which have become a favorite talking point among
the far-right, don’t appear nearly as treacherous as Trump made them out to be.
Marks, though, appears
woefully unqualified for the position. Not only are designer handbags her main
claim to fame — some of which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars — but she
has also been dogged by accusations of lying about her past accomplishments time
and again.
For instance, Marks
claimed that she had previously played tennis in the French Open — a claim that
records don’t back up. The South African Business Live
outlet also noted that Marks’ claim that she played in the 1985 Maccabi Games
appears questionable.
While Marks claimed she played for the Bermuda team, the
Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association noted that she had participated “without their
knowledge.”
Marks brings with her a
satchel of legal troubles.
As the Palm Beach Daily
News wrote, “Marks has repeatedly been accused of stiffing her attorneys,
accountants, landlords and employees. She is also embroiled in bitter,
international legal battles in South Africa and Israel with her siblings over a
family trust and the care for their 89-year-old mother.”