Senate Approves Trump’s Picks for Ambassadorships to the UK, Turkey, and Italy
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate, currently under Republican control, confirmed President Donald Trump’s selections for three key ambassador roles—sending representatives to the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy.
The newly appointed envoys—Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Fertitta—are all billionaires and major donors to Trump and Republican causes. Their confirmations received full Republican support, along with votes from a few Democrats.
Warren Stephens was confirmed as ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in a 59-39 vote Tuesday morning.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) praised Stephens, an investment banker from his home state, calling him a “family man, businessman, philanthropist, and patriot.”
“He is the right person to lead our strong, special relationship with the United Kingdom,” Cotton said, as reported by The Hill.
Stephens previously led Stephens Inc., an investment banking firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas, stepping down from the CEO role in January. According to data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC), he initially contributed $1 million to “Our Principles PAC,” which opposed Trump’s first campaign. However, he later backed pro-Trump groups in 2019 and 2020, and donated $3 million to MAGA Inc. in 2024.
“Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies,” Trump stated in December.
Tom Barrack, a longtime friend and ally of Trump, was confirmed as ambassador to Turkey with a 60-36 Senate vote.
“For three decades, Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm,” Trump said on Truth Social last December. “He is a well-respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.”
Barrack, who has known Trump since the 1980s, worked in the Reagan administration and later founded Colony Capital, a private equity firm. He played key roles in Trump’s 2016 campaign and chaired the 2017 presidential inauguration committee.
In 2021, the Department of Justice charged Barrack with acting as an unregistered agent for the UAE. He denied wrongdoing and was acquitted in 2022.
Tilman Fertitta received overwhelming Senate support, with an 83-14 vote confirming him as ambassador to Italy.
Appointed by Trump in December, Fertitta is the CEO of Landry’s, a hospitality group managing restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment venues. He also owns the Houston Rockets basketball team.
“Tilman is an accomplished businessman who has founded and built one of our Country’s premier entertainment and real estate companies, employing approximately 50,000 Americans,” Trump shared on Truth Social in December.
These appointments come at a time when Trump’s approval ratings have climbed significantly, despite criticism from Democrats, some establishment Republicans, and media outlets over his aggressive trade policies.
A recent poll from J.L. Partners and the Daily Mail found that Trump’s approval has risen to 53 percent, up four points from the previous week’s 49 percent.
Young voters, aged 18 to 29, have shifted notably, with Trump gaining 13 points in that demographic since March 7. The poll suggests this continues a trend seen in the last election, where support among younger voters shifted 10 points in Trump’s direction after favoring Joe Biden in 2020.
The study also found a six-point increase in Trump’s favorability among Democrats and independents. His support among Black voters has surged by 17 points compared to the previous week’s results.
Nearly 100 days into his current term, Trump has received strong marks from American employers and job platform leaders, who say the U.S. economy “can win now,” even if they admit it hasn’t “started to win yet.”