Tom Barrett’s residence these days is nice enough that it has a name. The massive Dolibois House, home to the United States ambassador to Luxembourg, features glassed-in porticos, beautiful curved staircases and marble flooring, all wrapped in a stone exterior slightly paler than Cream City brick. Out front, a flapping American flag flies in the heart of one of Europe’s smallest countries.
The longtime Milwaukee mayor assumed the role of President Joe Biden’s eyes and ears in Luxembourg in February 2022. “I arrived in Luxembourg less than a month before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” Barrett says. “That changed attitudes in Europe tremendously.” The war accelerated his work coordinating with Luxembourg, the EU and NATO.
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Diplomacy – particularly in a wealthy, calm, American-friendly country like Luxembourg – is a sea change from the gritty issues affecting a large U.S. city.
For nearly 18 years, for better or worse, he was the face of Milwaukee, he says, and got used to people yelling at him on the street or while out for a drink. “I’m learning as quickly as I can. But there’s also less stress than at my previous job. I would be lying if I didn’t say that,” he says. “I loved the job as mayor of Milwaukee, but it’s a 24-hour-a-day job.”
The post has allowed Barrett to spend a lot more time with his wife, Kris. “We’ve had more meals together in the last six months than we had in the last six years in Milwaukee,” he says.
The Barretts also have been taking advantage of Luxembourg’s central location (as well as their driver and security detail). Belgium, France and Germany are all within a 25-minute drive from Luxembourg City.
They recently decided to visit Maastricht in the Netherlands – arriving in less time than it takes to go from Milwaukee to Door County. And one day, during a bike ride, the couple extended their route just to say they’d biked to France.
But the ambassador says he takes the day job seriously, working with partners in Luxembourg on hot-button issues including climate change, relations with China and instability in the Middle East.
Barrett says he’s drawn on his experiences as mayor to immerse into Luxembourg’s community and to cultivate connections. “Those ties are important for building trust and gaining a better understanding of the people and culture of the country,” he says. “They also make the job more professionally and personally rewarding.”
It’s small: At just under 1,000 square miles, it’s a hair bigger than Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties combined, with a population of about 633,000 residents (vs. about 928,000 for Milwaukee County).
It’s linguistically diverse: Its three official languages are German, French and Luxembourgish, and English is also commonly spoken. Barrett is trying to learn French to fit in. “I know how to speak two languages,” he quips. “English and American.”
It’s friendly: Luxembourg has a very close relationship to the United States, goodwill forged in American troops’ liberation of the country in both world wars. World War II hero Gen. George Patton is even buried in Luxembourg City.
