John Arrigo

John Arrigo
Official portrait, 2025
United States Ambassador to Portugal
Assumed office
September 30, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byRandi Levine
Personal details
Born(1964-05-12)May 12, 1964
PartyRepublican
SpouseMegan Arrigo
Children3
EducationPalm Beach State College (AA)
Occupation

John Joseph Arrigo (born May 12, 1964) is an American businessman and diplomat who has served as the United States Ambassador to Portugal since 2025. [1]

Early Life and Education

He earned an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from the Palm Beach State College. [1]

Career

He spent about 36 years as Vice-President of the Arrigo Auto Group in West Palm Beach, Florida. Here, he became noted for the ads his company aired.[2]

Family

He married Megan Noderer on March 27, 2021, at Mar-a-Lago. Former President Donald Trump, who he's called a close friend for more than two decades, gave a two-minute wedding toast.[3] [4]

Ambassadorship

On Christmas Eve 2024, Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Arrigo would be his nominee to be United States Ambassador to Portugal.[5][6] He was sworn in on September 10, 2025,[7] after a Senate confirmation on August 2, 2025, by a vote of 52-42.[8] He presented his credentials to Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on September 30, 2025. [9] He has urged Portugal to increase its defense spending. [10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Ambassador John Joseph Arrigo". U.S. Embassy in Portugal. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  2. ^ "Trump picks former owner of car dealerships as ambassador". CBS 12. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  3. ^ "Trump uses wedding speech to complain about Biden". Business Insider. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  4. ^ "'Miss me yet?': At wedding toast, Trump talks about himself". Times of Israel. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  5. ^ "Trump announces new ambassador nominations". Fox News. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  6. ^ "John Arrigo named by President-Elect Trump to Portugal Ambassadorship". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  7. ^ "John Arrigo sworn in as United States Ambassador to Portugal". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  8. ^ Silva, Lurdes C. da (September 10, 2025). "John Arrigo sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Portugal". Fall River Herald News. O Jornal. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  9. ^ "Ambassador John Joseph Arrigo Presentation of Credentials". U.S. Embassy in Portugal. Retrieved 16 Mar 2026.
  10. ^ "The F-35 and the future of European alignment". DefenseMatters. Retrieved 16 Mar 2025.