Dearborn Heights mayor nominee to Tunisia pledges partnership on terrorism, economic ties and exchanges amid program cuts

Bill Bazzi, President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Tunisia and current mayor of Dearborn Heights, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he would prioritize the safety of Americans, pursue economic ties and engage Tunisians across government and civil society if confirmed.

Bazzi, who served 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and described multiple visits to Tunisia including participation in State Department exchange programs, said he plans to build a “mutually beneficial partnership” focused on counterterrorism, illegal migration control and commercial opportunity. He told senators he intends to engage Tunisians “from across the political and economic spectrum” and to press for return on U.S. investments in the country.

Senators pressed Bazzi on two practical concerns: first, cuts to U.S. counter‑violent‑extremism (CVE) programs in Tunisia and the region; second, whether the embassy would defend Tunisians and U.S. citizens targeted for human‑rights work. Senator Jack Reed asked whether CVE efforts — such as a previously reported $60 million youth program — remain important; Bazzi said he would be “boots on the ground” to identify needs and relay them to the U.S. government.

Senator Chris Murphy described a case in which Tunisian authorities issued an arrest order against a U.S. constituent who had submitted a human‑rights report to the State Department and asked whether, under current departmental guidance, an ambassador could speak up for Americans and Tunisian human‑rights defenders. Bazzi responded that safeguarding Americans is a foremost mission and pledged to confer with the U.S. government and Tunisian counterparts to seek remedies for detained Americans and to bring issues to Washington for further action.

Senator John Barrasso highlighted longstanding state partnership work between the Wyoming National Guard and Tunisia, which has included mine clearance training and reconstruction projects. Bazzi said he was eager to visit partnering states and to deepen military, academic and civil‑society ties, and he referenced his 2019 participation in a State Department MEPI (Middle East Partnership Initiative) program that included visits to schools, orphanages and universities.

Bazzi’s introduction and supporters were noted by senators, but the committee did not take a formal vote at the hearing; the record remains open for additional submissions.

This article attributes direct quotes only to speakers who spoke during the hearing and uses only details that appear in the hearing record.