The State Department lashed out at The Daily Beast for a “sexist” story mocking the appointment of Mora Namdar as head the Bureau of Consular Affairs — a role in which she will oversee who gets visas and passports.
The lefty tabloid published a story skewering the appointment with the headline, “Trump Hires Beauty Salon Owner to Decide Who to Ban From U.S.”
“What a shameful, pathetic, and quite frankly sexist way to describe her career,” Tommy Pigott, State Department principal deputy spokesperson, fired back in response.
The Senate confirmed Namdar — a lawyer and owner of a Dallas law firm — on Dec. 18 before adjourning for the holidays.
Prior to being tapped as Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Namdar served as the department’s Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
In that role, she helped support President Trump’s peace efforts in the war-torn Gaza Strip, human rights agenda, and more.
Before joining the Trump administration, Namdar — the daughter of Iranian immigrants — worked as a Dallas attorney and had been a Project 2025 writer.
The law firm she founded, Namdar Law PLLC, which did work in Texas and Washington, DC, focused on international and business law.
She announced the firm closed last week due to her State Department appointment.
During Trump’s first administration, she also held the role of Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs on an interim basis.
But The Daily Beast’s focus on her work as a part-time salon owner in its story of her appointment vexed the State Department.
The outlet detailed how she owns a mini-chain of salons named “BAM” in Texas
“Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar is an accomplished lawyer, business owner, and government official,” Pigott added.
“Americans can be proud that patriotic public servants like her are stepping forward to serve our country and advance our national interests.”
The Post contacted the Daily Beast for comment.
The outlet has frequently butted heads with the Trump administration.
Over the summer, it was forced to retract and apologize for a story alleging there was a link between late sex predator Jeffrey Epstein and the president meeting first lady Melania Trump.
That story was based on claims by author Michael Wolff and triggered a legal threat from Melania’s team.
