Pete Hoekstra

Pete Hoekstra
Official portrait, 2025
United States Ambassador to Canada
Assumed office
April 29, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDavid L. Cohen
Chair of the Michigan Republican Party
In office
January 20, 2024 – February 22, 2025
Preceded byKristina Karamo
Succeeded byJim Runestad
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
In office
January 10, 2018 – January 17, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byShawn Crowley (Acting)
Succeeded byMarja Verloop (Chargé d’Affaires)
Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byJane Harman
Succeeded byDutch Ruppersberger
Chair of the House Intelligence Committee
In office
September 23, 2004 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byPorter Goss
Succeeded bySilver Reyes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byGuy Vander Jagt (redistricting)
Succeeded byBill Huizenga
Personal details
Born
Cornelis Pieter Hoekstra

(1953-10-30) October 30, 1953
Groningen, Netherlands
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Diane Johnson
Children3
EducationHope College (BA)
University of Michigan (MBA)

Cornelis Pieter "Pete" Hoekstra (/ˈhʊkstrə/; born October 30, 1953) is an American politician of Dutch descent. He has been the United States Ambassador to Canada since 2025. He was the United States Ambassador to the Netherlands from November 2017 to January 2021. He is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 2nd congressional district from 1993 to 2011. Hoekstra is a member of the Republican Party.

In July 2017, Hoekstra was nominated to be the next United States Ambassador to the Netherlands by President Donald Trump.[1] This nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 9, 2017.[2]

He moved to the United States at the age of three, studied political science at Hope College and obtained an MBA at the University of Michigan.

Before entering into politics he was working as a marketing employee in a furniture business.

Hoekstra is a member of the Reformed Church in America. In January 2024, he became Chair of the Michigan Republican Party.

In November 2024, Hoekstra was nominated by President-elect Trump to be the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.[3] On April 9, 2025, Hoekstra was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Ambassador to Canada.[4]

References

  1. Todd Spangler (July 24, 2017). "President Donald Trump nominates U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra to be Dutch ambassador". The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  2. "PN831 — Peter Hoekstra — Department of State". U.S. Congress. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  3. Staff (November 20, 2024). "Trump picks former congressman Pete Hoekstra to be ambassador to Canada". Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  4. "Pete Hoekstra confirmed as US ambassador to Canada". www.bbc.com. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-11.