The Senate on Tuesday confirmed a trio of President Trump’s ambassadors, who will be stationed in the United Kingdom, Turkey and Italy.
All three new ambassadors — Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack and Tilman Feritta — are billionaires and generous donors to Trump and other Republicans. They all received at least a handful of Democratic votes, along with all Republicans.
The upper chamber confirmed Stephens on Tuesday morning in a 59-39 vote to be the next ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Tuesday morning spoke in support of Stephens, an investment banker from his home state, lauding 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 was President and CEO of Little Rock-based investment banking firm Stephens Inc. until January.
In 2016, Stephens gave $2 million in 2016 to “Our Principles PAC,” a group that opposed Trump’s White House first bid, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
But he donated to Trump-aligned groups in 2019 and 2020, and in 2024 dished out $3 million to MAGA Inc., the main Super PAC that backed Trump, FEC filings show.
“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 said in December.
The Senate confirmed Barrack, a private equity executive and longtime Trump ally, in 60-36 vote on Tuesday.
“For three decades, Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm,” Trump said of Barrack on Truth Social in 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 has known Trump since the 1980s. He served in the Reagan administration before founding private equity firm Colony Capital. He was an advisor to the Trump campaign in 2016 and chaired his 2017 inaugural committee.
Barrack was indicted by the Department of Justice in July 2021 on charges of acting an unregistered lobbyist for the United Arab Emirates. He has denied wrongdoing and was acquitted in November 2022.
The senators also confirmed Fertitta to be the U.S. ambassador to Italy in an 83-14 vote on Tuesday.
Fertitta, who Trump tapped for the post in December last year, is the CEO of hospitality company Landry’s, which owns restaurants, hotels, casinos and other entertainment venues. He also owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
“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 said of Fertitta on Truth Social in December.
During his confirmation hearing, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) spoke highly of the billionaire, recalling how he offered his support when Kelly’s wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), was shot at a campaign event in Tucson, Ariz.
“One of the things you learn about Tilman is the man keeps striving and challenging himself,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), said at the hearing.
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