Gor’s appointment to New Delhi comes at a time when India and the US are going through a bad patch, and many believe he will make an excellent representative of America given his close access to Trump; But lack of deep knowledge about India, its policy matters and his young age may be an issue. Besides, his broader mandate as a special envoy for South and Central Asia affairs “potentially hyphenates India with Pakistan,” say analysts
Incidentally, the original last name of Sergio Gor was Gorokhovsky, that is before it got shortened when he and his parents migrated to the US. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan—a part of the erstwhile USSR—Gor emigrated to the US with his parents in 1999 when he was around 12, according to reports
Amid ongoing tariff tensions between Washington and New Delhi, US President Donald Trump on Saturday nominated close aide Sergio Gor as the new Ambassador of India.
He is currently the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
Who is Sergie Gor
Just around 38 years old, Gor has no previous known connection/work/ scholarship related to India. His father Yuri Gorokhovsky was reportedly an aviation engineer who worked on aircraft designs for the Soviet military, according to reports
“Sergey Gorokhovsky was born on November 30, 1986, in Tashkent, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union.
“The Gorokhovskys moved to Malta by 1994, when his mother established a business and registered as an Israeli national.
“The Gorokhovskys emigrated from Cospicua in 1999.
“He attended high school in Los Angeles and graduated from George Washington University,” as per reports
While in George Washington University, he was said to be active in conservative, Republican circles before joining Senator Rand Paul as a staffer and rising in political circles. His association with Trump began around the 2020 elections. He was named Director of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel after Trump won in November 2024.
His influence with Trump also earned him adversaries. Billionaire businessman Elon Musk called Gor a “snake” after one of his recommendations were spiked by Trump on Gor’s advice
India hyphenated with Pakistan?
Gor’s appointment to New Delhi comes at a time when India and the US are going through a bad patch, and many believe he will make an excellent representative of America given his close access to Trump.
But lack of deep knowledge about India, its policy matters and his young age may be an issue.
Besides, his broader mandate as a special envoy for South and Central Asia affairs “potentially hyphenates India with Pakistan,” say analysts
Loyalty to Trump is unquestionable
Gor on Saturday said he was “beyond grateful” to President Donald Trump for his nomination as the US ambassador to India.
However, Gor will also be Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, expanding his role in the region.
“Beyond grateful to @realDonaldTrump for his incredible trust and confidence in nominating me to be his next U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs! Nothing has made me prouder than to serve the American people through the GREAT work of this Administration! Our White House has achieved historic results in MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! It will be the honor of my life to represent the United States!” he wrote on X
He will fill the vacancy in New Delhi that has remained since January, when former US Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after Trump assumed office in Washington, DC.
Announcing the appointment Trump wrote on Truth Social: “For the most populous region in the world, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my agenda and help us ‘make America great again’. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!”
Referring to Gor as a “great friend”, who has been at his side for many years, the US President added: “Gor worked on my historic presidential campaigns and published my best-selling books”.
Trump said that in his current role as Director of Presidential Personnel, Gor has hired nearly 4,000 “America First patriots” across every department of the federal government.
Gor’s role has been essential in delivering on the unprecedented mandate received from the American people, he also said.
Gor will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation by the Senate.
