HOUSTON, Texas – According to CBS News, Houston Rockets owner, business mogul and billionaire Tilman Fertitta may be adding another name to his belt... the ambassador of Italy.
Since winning the November elections, newly-elected President Donald Trump has been announcing some prominent names on his cabinet and staff. The former president has a history of naming family members and people with close personal ties to key positions. He has chosen Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, to serve as ambassador to France, and has tapped the father-in-law of daughter Tiffany Trump to be a Middle East adviser.
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This week, he elected Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Ron Johnson was nominated to be ambassador to Mexico, and Kimberly Guilfoyle to be ambassador to Greece. Next, according to CBS News, he’s expected to pick Tilman Fertitta to be the U.S. ambassador to Italy.
All U.S. ambassador nominations will require confirmation from the Senate.
If you’re not too familiar with Fertitta, he’s a billionaire Houstonian who owns several businesses, including several restaurants, hotels and casinos.
Although Trump’s team nor Fertitta have not confirmed the nomination, here’s what we can expect from him if he’s selected:
What is an ambassador/ what are their responsibilities?
An ambassador is the president’s top representative in a foreign country or international organization. To do the job well, an ambassador needs to be a strong leader, skilled at managing people, negotiating effectively, and representing the United States with respect. One of their main responsibilities is to oversee the work of both Foreign Service staff and officials from other U.S. agencies in the country.
Who currently holds the position?
The current U.S. Ambassador to Italy is Jack Markell, confirmed by the Senate on July 27, 2023.
He formerly served two terms as Delaware’s governor and has held several positions in government, including U.S. Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome.
How does one become nominated for an ambassador?
They are often nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.