Donald Trump to nominate David Malpass to lead the World Bank

Malpass’ nomination could prompt debate given his past comments about the role of multilateral institutions. Like Trump, he has questioned the scope and mission of international institutions such as the World Bank, saying they have grown “more intrusive” and need to be refocused.

Malpass, like Trump, has cited the World Bank’s continuing loans to China as an example of its outdated approach to financing developing countries. (AP Photo)

Written by Peter Baker

President Donald Trump plans to nominate David Malpass, the undersecretary of the Treasury for international affairs, to head the World Bank, selecting an outspoken critic of the institution who has pushed to overhaul its long-standing practices, administration officials said Monday.

The officials, who insisted on anonymity to confirm the choice before the formal announcement, said the president will unveil his selection Wednesday. The nomination must be ratified by the bank’s board, but by tradition, the United States, the largest shareholder, has long named its president.

Malpass’ nomination could prompt debate given his past comments about the role of multilateral institutions. Like Trump, he has questioned the scope and mission of international institutions such as the World Bank, saying they have grown “more intrusive” and need to be refocused. The larger trend toward multilateralism, he has said, “has gone substantially too far.”