Kuala Lampur, July 11 -- The nomination of two unconventional candidates by President Donald Trump as ambassadors to Malaysia and Singapore has stirred waves of speculation across diplomatic circles in Washington, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. To many, the selections appear confounding.

But to those familiar with Trump's worldview - honed through decades in Manhattan's real estate jungle and the gilded corridors of Mar-a-Lago in Florida - they make perfect sense.

These appointments break sharply from the traditional mold of US ambassadorial roles, which typically emphasiSe diplomatic credentials, cultural sensitivity, and long-standing foreign policy experience. Under Trump, none of that matters - unless it complements one quality above ...