**President Trump Hosts Oval Office Send-Off for Former Personnel Chief Sergio Gor**
WASHINGTON — President Trump held an Oval Office farewell event on Monday for his former personnel chief, Sergio Gor, who is relocating to India to serve as the U.S. ambassador. Critics have referred to Gor’s new appointment as a “soft landing” following investigative reporting by The Post into his controversial past.
Earlier this year, Gor sparked a significant political clash between Trump and Elon Musk. Throughout his career, Gor had misleadingly claimed to be “from” Malta, though he was actually born in Uzbekistan. He also went months without submitting his own standard security clearance forms while vetting others for positions in the Trump administration.
“Most people love him. Some people don’t like him so much, I’ll be honest with you, Sergio,” Trump said during the send-off. “Some people, when they don’t like Sergio, they don’t like him. But when they like him, they like him more than anybody.”
Interestingly, Gor took his oath of office using a Trump-signed Bible, available for purchase starting at $64.99, and sometimes free in the “merch room” adjacent to the Oval Office.
Gor’s appointment to ambassador in Delhi was approved by the Senate last month. However, his nomination was bundled with dozens of others, a new tactic employed by Republican leaders that avoided individual consideration.
The event resembled Trump’s previous send-off for Elon Musk in May, when Musk left his unpaid role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Sergio’s leadership was essential to fulfilling the historic mandate entrusted to us by the American people,” Trump remarked. “I’m trusting Sergio to help strengthen one of our country’s most important international relationships, and that’s the strategic partnership with the Republic of India. It’s a big deal.”
Earlier this year, as Musk departed, Gor reportedly convinced Trump to withdraw the nomination of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, citing Isaacman’s prior support for Democrats. Gor hinted at “payback” against Musk for criticizing the slow pace of filling 4,000 administration roles.
The fallout was dramatic. An outraged Musk threatened to launch a third party that could jeopardize Republican chances in the midterms, endorsed Trump’s impeachment, and claimed the president was implicated in files from the Jeffrey Epstein case that could derail a second Trump term. Despite the turmoil, Trump and Musk recently reconciled, and last week Trump renominated Isaacman to lead NASA as Gor prepares to leave his post.
Critics question why Gor, whose original surname was Gorokhovsky, delayed submitting his background check paperwork and operated under a temporary clearance for an extended period. During the presidential transition late last year, Gor argued that such checks were unnecessary and a tool for the “deep state” to reject appointees — a stance not shared by most Trump officials, who complied promptly.
Some insiders believe Gor hesitated because he was embarrassed about presenting himself as Maltese, despite being born in the former Soviet Union. Others speculate alternative reasons. Gor’s family did reside in Malta for a time before moving to the U.S. when he was 12 years old.
Eventually, Gor submitted his background check paperwork, and the results became a popular topic of discussion among administration officials. In August, Trump announced he would nominate Gor as ambassador.
Gor received praise at his sendoff from Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, and Erika Kirk — widow of the assassinated Turning Point USA (TPUSA) cofounder Charlie Kirk.
“I am so proud of you, and Charlie is going to be with you every single day in spirit,” Erika Kirk said. “I will be praying for you every day, because I know that this is just the beginning of an incredible opportunity for you. Sir, thank you for allowing Sergio to have this beautiful moment.”
TPUSA was an important early source of resumes for Trump administration hires.
In addition to his ambassadorial role, Gor serves as presidential envoy to Central Asia. Leaning into his recently disclosed connection to the region, he last week attended an East Room dinner with Trump and the leaders of the five Central Asian countries.
Gor was replaced as director of presidential personnel by Dan Scavino, one of Trump’s most trusted and longest-serving aides.
Gor rose quickly from relative obscurity as an aide to Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), launching a book publishing company in 2021 that generated millions by publishing Trump’s books. In 2022, he purchased a seven-bedroom mansion near Palm Beach, Florida.
Throughout his second term, Trump has not fired any of his key aides. He recently “promoted” former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to serve as ambassador to the United Nations after Waltz accidentally added an anti-Trump journalist to a Signal group chat discussing airstrikes in Yemen.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/10/us-news/trump-wishes-sergio-gor-well-in-india-some-people-dont-like-him-so-much/
