Alexandra McKnight

Alexandra McKnight is an American diplomat. McKnight was the charge d'affaires and interim chief of mission in Ireland from January 19, 2021, until February 10, 2022.

Life McKnight is originally from Texas but grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from the University of Texas, with a B.A. in German and Russian. After graduation, she joined the Harvard Institute for International Development’s WorldTeach program and taught English in Lask, Poland, and Kaliningrad, Russia. It is customary to tender one's resignation with the incoming of a new president, although not guaranteed that the incoming president will accept the resignation. McKnight was chosen to be interim chief of mission until a new ambassador could be appointed. During her tenure as interim chief of mission, the U.S. Embassy in Ireland held a tribute in 2021 to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack of 2001. During this memorial, McKnight defended President Joe Biden's treatment of the war in Afghanistan. In February 2022, Claire Cronin presented her credentials as the new US Ambassador to Ireland.