Kara C. McDonald is an American diplomat who has served as the United States ambassador to Lithuania since 2024.

She previously served as the deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor from 2020 to 2024.

She has also served as deputy chief of mission in Chișinău, Moldova, from 2015 to 2017 to serve as director of policy, planning, and coordination in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs,[3] deputy special coordinator for Haiti, director for United Nations and International Operations at the National Security Council, special assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and the Czech Republic desk.

From January 2021 to April 2022, she was designated to serve concurrently as the senior official to monitor and combat antisemitism for the Office of the Special Envoy.

[2] On March 20, 2023, Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate McDonald to serve as the next United States ambassador to Lithuania.