“Radical jihadists hate Americans for who we are. They cannot be managed. They cannot be trusted. Engaging them is a tragic fool's errand. We need to realize that they are at war with us and that we cannot control their motivations. We instead need to confront them, contain them, and ultimately defeat them before they defeat us.”

American politician and diplomat

Pete Hoekstra is an American politician and diplomat. A Republican, he has served since 2025 as the 33rd United States ambassador to Canada. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands from 2018 to 2021 and represented Michigan’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2011. Hoekstra’s career has centered on public office and diplomacy, with long service in Congress followed by ambassadorial posts in Europe and Canada. He is known for his work in U.S. foreign relations and national politics.