Senate Confirms Trump Envoys To UK, Turkey, Italy
The Republican-led U.S. Senate has confirmed three of President Donald J. Trump’s ambassadorial nominees, placing them in key diplomatic posts in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy.
Each nominee — Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Fertitta — is a prominent business leader with long-standing ties to the President and support for Republican causes. While they secured unanimous backing from Senate Republicans, a number of Democrats also crossed the aisle to vote in favor of their confirmations.
Earlier this week, the Senate confirmed Stephens as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland in a 59–39 vote. Stephens, a well-known investment banker from Arkansas, was praised by Sen. Tom Cotton, who described him as a “family man, businessman, philanthropist, and patriot.”
“He is the right person to lead our strong, special relationship with the United Kingdom,” Cotton said.
Stephens previously served as President and CEO of Stephens Inc., a major investment banking firm headquartered in Little Rock. While Stephens initially contributed $1 million to “Our Principles PAC,” which opposed Trump during the 2016 primary, public records show his support shifted in later years. He donated to Trump-aligned political committees in 2019 and 2020, and most recently, contributed $3 million to MAGA Inc., the principal Super PAC backing the President’s agenda.
“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,” President Trump said in December.
The Senate also confirmed Tom Barrack as U.S. ambassador to Turkey by a vote of 60–36. Barrack, a private equity investor and longtime Trump confidant, first worked in public policy during the Reagan administration before founding Colony Capital. He advised Trump during the 2016 campaign and chaired the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Barrack successfully defended himself against federal charges in 2021 alleging he acted as an unregistered foreign agent; a jury acquitted him in 2022.
Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire hospitality and sports executive behind Landry’s and owner of the Houston Rockets, was confirmed as ambassador to Italy in an 83–14 vote. He was first nominated by President Trump in December.
These confirmations come as the federal government enters its 30th day of shutdown.
The Republican-controlled House passed a clean funding bill a month ago, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has instructed Democrats to block it. While a handful of Senate Democrats have broken ranks, there have not yet been enough votes to reach the 60-vote threshold required to move the measure forward.
Democrats — who passed Obamacare in 2010 without a single Republican vote and have continued to subsidize the law ever since — are now demanding both new long-term healthcare subsidies and nearly $1.5 trillion in additional spending. Much of that spending would reverse reductions previously secured by Republican leadership.
Republicans have stated they are open to negotiations on healthcare subsidies — but only after the government is reopened.
Meanwhile, the political narrative is shifting. Even mainstream outlets that typically lean left are acknowledging that the shutdown is backfiring on Democrats. CNN noted that Republicans appear to be gaining leverage. ABC News reported that Democrats are largely responsible for the impasse. CNBC has joined a growing chorus urging Democrats to end the standoff, citing the economic damage and disruptions to American families.
President Trump and Senate Republicans have framed the situation clearly: reopen the government first — then negotiate.