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Kara Westercamp
Nominated Trump 2.0
Nominated to the United States Court of International Trade
On February 12, 2026, President Trump nominated Kara Westercamp to the United States Court of International Trade.
View/download the fact sheet here.
View/download the letter of opposition here.
Biography
Westercamp comes from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She received a B.A. in Political Science and a B.B.A. in Finance and Management from the University of Iowa in 2005. In 2009, she graduated with an MBA from the University of Iowa College of Business, as well as a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.
Legal Experience
Since May 2025, Westercamp has served as an associate counsel at the White House, advising on legal issues and litigation in trade and tariff-related matters. She drafts and revises Trump’s executive orders, presidential proclamations, and presidential reports to Congress as they pertain to tariffs and other trade matters. Her job entails providing guidance to agency general counsels on how to effectuate Trump’s agenda.
Prior to joining the White House, from 2014-2025, Westercamp worked as trial counsel for the Justice Department’s Civil Division, National Courts Section. At the Justice Department, Westercamp primarily represented the United States Department of Commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. From 2011-2014, she was an associate in business and tort litigation at Jones Day. Upon graduating from law school in 2011, Westercamp clerked for Chief Judge John A. Jarvey of the United States District Court of the Southern District of Iowa.
Key Facts & Context
Professional and Legal Associations
- Daughters of the American Revolution, Judge Lynn Chapter (2019-2023)
- American Bar Association (2020 – 2021)
- Customs and International Trade Bar Association (2022 – 2023, 2026 – present)
- Iowa State Bar Association (2011 – 2015)
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- Young Lawyers Division Board (2018 – 2024)
- President (2021 – 2022)
- DC Young Republicans (2014 – 2021)
- New York Young Republicans Club (2011 – 2014)
- Federalist Society (intermittent membership from 2009 – present)
- Iowa State Society (2014 – present)
- National Review Institute, DC Regional Fellow (Spring 2018)
- Republican National Lawyers Association (intermittent membership from 2018 – present)
- Women’s National Republican Club (2013 – 2015)
While Westercamp’s Twitter/X thread is now private, Wayback Machine’s screen grabs from previous years show statements on various topics that she’s made over the years, including while serving as a government attorney with the Department of Justice:
- July 15, 2020 – “Minneapolis’ Third Precinct damaged during George Floyd riots will cost $10M to fix: report https://www.foxnews.com/us/minneapolis-third-precinct-damaged-during-george-floyd-riots-will-cost-10m-to-fix-report … @MayorFrey you let this precinct burn & protests turn into violent riots. US taxpayers shouldn’t pay to rebuild YOUR inept and hapless LARP-ing as mayor.”
- January 20, 2017 – “Can’t decide if we’re more excited to see @WattersWorld or Trump getting sworn into office! @FoxNews #tcot @TrumpInaugural”
- (#tcot means “Top Conservatives on Twitter”)
- October 25, 2017 – “Lies breed lies: Brain may get desensitized to dishonesty via the @FoxNews App //#HillaryClinton in a nutshell!#lies”
- October 22, 2017 – “On my approach into DC today, all I could think of was to #DrainTheSwamp – #TrumpTrain #tcot #TrumpPence16 #conservative @Danielle_Hamel_”
- October 20, 2017 – “Hillary’s jokes at the #AlSmithDinner are going over like…. #HillaryMustWithdraw #HillarysHealth #ImNotHer #DrainTheSwamp”
- December 19, 2016 – “Even my dog is excited that PE Trump is over 270!!! #ElectoralCollege @realDonaldTrump #MAGA #TrumpPence16 #trump #dogs4Trump”