It sounds like the title of a children’s book about geography, but it’s far more than that. It is, in fact, the mysterious tale of a real-life, enigmatic, Soviet-Uzbek-Maltese-American man now known as Sergio Gor.

Since I love a good mystery — and because, when it comes to politics or espionage, I do not believe in coincidence — the elusive Mr. Gor has aroused my curiosity.

I first heard of him back in June, when he ran afoul of then presidential best buddy Elon Musk. Gor was, and still is, head of the White House personnel office, and opposed the hiring of an individual recommended by Musk. Musk was angry; the two men feuded; Gor won the dispute; and Musk departed the White House inner circle shortly thereafter. Considering Musk’s well-known influence with Donald Trump up to that time, Gor’s triumph was a clear signal that he was not a man to be messed with.

But who was he, really? His entire history — his birthplace, his parentage, his application for U.S. citizenship, his security clearance vetting for the White House post — all were being questioned.

After Musk’s departure, however, Gor — and all the questions — faded back into the shadows. He was no longer news. And, in all honesty, he had also receded from my thoughts, overtaken by the greater urgency of multiple national and international crises.

Until this morning.

As I said, I do not generally believe in coincidence . . . at least, not where the shady business of politics is concerned. So when I began my usual morning routine today — clearing the junk mail from my inbox, scanning the news headlines, and checking to see whether anyone had been reading my blog — I was astonished to see, first, that six people had suddenly decided to read the article I wrote about Gor some two and a half months ago.

That was no coincidence: not one, but six people (and later, a seventh), from other parts of the world, had simultaneously become interested in what I had previously written about this little-known person. So I did a Google search, and found that Sergey Gorokhovsky, or Sergio Gor, or whoever he is, is now Donald Trump’s nominee to serve the dual — and very different — roles of Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Affairs.

Furthermore, with some 30 ambassadorial posts still vacant and awaiting Congressional approval, this one is being fast-tracked, and looks like smooth sailing. Gor should probably be getting his shots for travel to India soon, if he hasn’t already done so.

The surprise is not that there is a rush to fill the post in India. These are contentious times between our two countries, what with Trump’s excessive tariffs and India’s playing the U.S. against Russia by continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas.

And not to be overlooked is India’s role as a founding member of BRICS, and President Modi’s participation, even as I write this, in China’s hosting of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and — for the first time — North Korean President Kim Jong Un.

So yes, having an Ambassador in place in India is a matter of some urgency. But why Gor? And again, who is he, really?

He claims to have been born in Malta, but they have no record of his birth. Other sources identify him as Sergey Gorokhovsky, born November 30, 1986, in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union. His father is not identified by name, but his parents are said to have left Russia for Malta in 1994, where his mother Liya registered as an Israeli national and “started a business.” They then emigrated to the United States in 1999. [Wikipedia.org.]

Like so many of Trump’s upper echelon, he is completely unqualified for the job he is being offered. He has zero diplomatic training or background. None. Zilch. He found his way to the White House by joining conservative causes while still in college, and later working for various Republican representatives, the Republican National Committee, and Senator Rand Paul’s political action committee (PAC).

Then he made the leap to the Trump camp: he began working for Donald Trump, Jr. as his consultant and book publishing manager. Together, Gor and the younger Trump founded a conservative publishing house, churning out several books about Daddy Trump.

Gor was also a senior advisor to MAGA Inc., and led a PAC, known as Right for America, for Trump. Finally, after the election in November 2024, Trump named Gor as his director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. [Wikipedia.org.]

So, while having no diplomatic background to qualify him as ambassador, no negotiating experience to support him as special envoy, and having held no elected office, he has now managed to leapfrog into one of the nation’s most sensitive overseas posts . . . an appointment that makes India’s President Modi very happy, as it gives him a direct, friendly line to the Oval Office.

But have the questions of Gor’s personal history and his security clearance been answered? The White House says they have, but without presenting any evidence. We do — for what it’s worth — have the word of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said in a statement to Semafor:

“I have known Sergio Gor for many years from his time in the US Senate, and now working with him daily in the White House. I am confident he will make an exceptional Ambassador.” [Shelby Talcott, Semafor, August 29, 2025.]

And we have this assurance from White House counsel David Warrington:

“Mr. Gor is fully compliant with all applicable ethical and legal obligations. His SF-86 form has been completed, and his security clearance is active; any insinuation otherwise would be completely false.” [Id.]

An unnamed White House official also added:

“He’s super trusted. He’s known the president for a very long time.” [Id.]

“Super trusted”? Wow . . . isn’t that super keen!

Someone also pointed out that “he has traveled extensively — including with White House delegations and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — and has already been on the ground in parts of the region he’ll now be focused on.” [Id.]

Well . . . I feel much better now. He has experience as an aide to various officials, knows how to pack for overseas travel, and has the trust of several equally unqualified government officials. But he is unstintingly loyal to the one person who matters: Donald J. Trump.

And that’s all that counts in Washington these days.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/31/25