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KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Reuters) – Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Friday to protest against the proposed appointment of Nick Adams, a self-styled “alpha male” influencer, as the United States’ envoy to Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Donald Trump<\/a> last week named outspoken author and political commentator Adams as the White House’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adams, a naturalised U.S. citizen originally from Australia, has cultivated a brash social media persona, using a macho, “alpha male” branding to weigh in on cultural issues and appeal to an audience of mainly young men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it is his posts harshly criticising Islam and showing support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza that has angered Muslims in Malaysia, triggering a rare protest against a foreign diplomatic appointment in the Southeast Asian country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The outcry comes at a critical time for Malaysia<\/a>, which has until August 1 to reach a trade deal<\/a> with Washington to avoid a steep 25% tariff imposed on its exports to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters on Friday it was too early in the process to decide on Adams’ appointment but his government would give the matter due consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “At the same time, we will seek to protect the good relations between Malaysia and the United States,” Anwar said, according to a recording of his remarks provided by his office to Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Demonstrators led by youth leaders from Anwar’s ruling coalition submitted a memorandum of protest to the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur asking for Trump to reconsider his nomination of Adams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The memorandum cited “divisive rhetoric” used by Adams, and characterised his postings as insensitive towards Malaysia’s multi-cultural society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n