Sergio Gor, a close associate of former US President Donald Trump and the former White House Director of Personnel, is set to become the new US Ambassador to India. Trump has also appointed Gor as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Gor’s name gained prominence amid a public dispute between Trump and Elon Musk, and his past, including a mysterious trip to Russia, has also attracted attention. This article delves into the background of Sergio Gor, the man chosen by Trump to represent the United States in India.
Trump announced Gor’s appointment via social media, expressing his pleasure in nominating him as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Gor reciprocated with gratitude, stating that it was a great honor to lead the United States in any country.
According to US media reports, Gor was born in Uzbekistan (then part of the Soviet Union) in 1986. His family resided in Malta for several years before immigrating to the United States in 1999. Gor completed his schooling in the Los Angeles suburbs and later attended George Washington University in Washington D.C. Interestingly, he initially enrolled under the name Gorokhovsky before shortening it to Gor.
Gor’s career includes working as a campaign worker for John McCain in 2008, during McCain’s presidential bid against Barack Obama. He also worked with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
In June 2020, Gor left his position with Senator Paul to become the Chief of Staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee, and the following month, he began working as an advisor and book publishing manager for Donald Trump Jr. In November 2024, Trump appointed Gor as the White House Director of Personnel.
Gor has been linked to the controversy between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Trump. Musk referred to Gor as a ‘snake’ following the public dispute. This comment was made after a New York post, which alleged that Gor, who oversees the vetting of thousands of employees, had not completed the necessary documentation for his own security clearance and was still operating on an interim clearance.
However, the White House refuted these claims, asserting that Gor had completed all required documentation and his security clearance was active.
Despite his prominence in the United States, Gor’s place of birth has been shrouded in ambiguity. He has never clearly stated his birthplace. Some reports claim Gor was born in Kazakhstan (during the Soviet era). A Washington D.C. report described Gor as a migrant from Malta. Gor has remained silent on the subject, only stating that he was not born in Russia. In 1994, Gor’s mother created a Maltese company in which her nationality was listed as Israeli. However, most reports suggest Tajikistan, indicating that Tajikistan is Gor’s birthplace.
Gor’s past includes connections to Russia. In 2018, Gor traveled to Moscow with Paul for research and discussions on Russia-US relations. A leaked Russian record indicated that Gor had visited Moscow a year prior. The reason for Gor’s 2017 visit to Moscow remains a mystery.
Trump shared the announcement of Gor’s appointment on social media. In the post, Trump praised Gor, highlighting his long-standing association and contributions to his campaigns. He also mentioned that Gor managed one of the largest Super PACs supporting their movement. Trump added that Gor would remain in his current White House role until his appointment was confirmed.
Gor responded with gratitude, acknowledging his appointment as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. He expressed his honor in serving the American people and representing the United States in any country.
Eric Garcetti previously held the position of US Ambassador to India, serving from May 11, 2023, to January 20, 2025. The position was vacant after January, and Sergio Gor has now been assigned this responsibility.
