Former DeSantis campaign speechwriter Nate Hochman has been hired as a senior aide at the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, serving as deputy director of the policy planning office and chief speechwriter. Hochman was fired in 2023 after promoting a pro-DeSantis video containing a symbol embraced by white supremacists. His career rebounded through work with America 2100, a right-wing group tied to Rubio, and a stint for a Republican senator. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called Hochman a "trusted and key member" advancing the president's foreign policy agenda.

Hochman's hiring reflects a broader pattern in the Trump administration of overlooking past controversies involving race and ethnicity. Darren Beattie, a senior adviser on Brazil policy, was previously fired from the first Trump White House after speaking at a conference attended by white nationalists. Jeremy Carl withdrew his nomination for a top State Department post after scrutiny over comments on "white erasure" and alleged antisemitic remarks. Paul Ingrassia, who admitted to a "Nazi streak" in leaked chats, withdrew as nominee for Office of Special Counsel but was later named acting general counsel at the General Services Administration.

Hochman, a Colorado College graduate, rose quickly in conservative circles with roles at National Review, the Claremont Institute, and The New York Times opinion pages. He previously faced criticism for praising white nationalist Nick Fuentes's influence in an online discussion, losing a journalism fellowship. Hochman told The Dispatch he disagreed with Fuentes's worldview and had "said some really stupid things, which I don't actually believe."