The president's decision to name Rep. Darrell Issa USTDA director comes just weeks before Issa was set to retire from politics. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images Trade Trump taps Darrell Issa to lead trade agency

President Donald Trump on Wednesday named retiring Rep. Darrell Issa to head the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, setting up what could be a contentious confirmation battle in the Senate.

As former House Oversight Committee chairman, the nine-term congressman built a name for himself by dogging the Obama administration for years. He turned the IRS upside down by accusing top officials of targeting conservative groups for political purposes, led the charge to hold then-Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt, and accused President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton of trying to cover up the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya.


That’s left him virtually friendless on the left, which could be problematic for his confirmation in a chamber with a very slim GOP majority.

Trump’s decision to name Issa USTDA director comes just weeks before Issa was set to retire from politics. Due to the changing demographics in his Southern California district, Issa’s once-safe GOP seat has become a top target for Democrats.

Issa barely won reelection last year, squeaking by with only a couple thousand more votes than his Democratic challenger.

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Issa briefly considered running for Rep. Duncan Hunter’s more conservative neighboring seat should the now-indicted Californian retire. But Hunter refused to budge, promising GOP leaders he was innocent and that his name would be cleared.

If confirmed, Issa would take the helm of the trade agency as Trump upends trade deals and tries to renegotiate more favorable terms for the U.S. Issa has been a supporter of those tough trade policies. He frequently appears on Fox News praising the president.

Before running for Congress, Issa built a small business and made a fortune in the technology sector. Issa also served in the Army and is a former chairman of the Consumer Electronics Association.

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