The Senate approved Trump’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, retired Gen. John Abizaid, in a strong 92-7 vote.
Democratic presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, and Kirsten Gillibrand all voted “no.”
Abizaid is a decorated general who led U.S. Central Command after Saddam Hussein was removed from power in the wake of the second Gulf War under Republican President George W. Bush.
He will lead Trump’s diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia at a time of increasingly strained relations between the two countries. Tensions have grown in recent months amid a controversial military campaign in Yemen and the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly at the order of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
More recently, senators have been pressuring the Trump administration to cease all discussions with Saudi Arabia on a civil nuclear energy agreement, fearing the oil-rich kingdom would use the technology to build a bomb.
Trump had made a phone call to Crown Prince Mohammed on Tuesday night ahead of the vote.
The president discussed Saudi Arabia’s role in ensuring Middle East stability, maintaining maximum pressure against Iran, and the importance of human rights issues, according to the White House.
