The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate approved three ambassadors appointed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, stationing them in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy, respectively.
All three new ambassadors, Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Feritta, are billionaires who generously support Trump and other Republicans. They all garnered a few Democratic votes, as did all Republicans.
On Tuesday morning, the upper house approved Stephens as the new ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland by a vote of 59-39.
Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton spoke in favor of Stephens, an investment banker from his home state, describing 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, according to The Hill.
Stephens served as President and CEO of Stephens Inc., a Little Rock-based investment banking business, until January.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Stephens donated $1 million to “Our Principles PAC,” a nonprofit that opposed Trump’s first presidential campaign.
However, he donated to Trump-aligned entities in 2019 and 2020, and in 2024, he gave $3 million to MAGA Inc., the primary Super PAC that supported Trump, according to FEC records.
“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 worked in the Reagan administration before establishing the private equity company Colony Capital. He advised Trump’s campaign in 2016 and led his 2017 inauguration committee.
The Department of Justice accused Barrack in July 2021 on allegations of working as an unregistered lobbyist for the UAE. He denied any involvement and was acquitted in November 2022.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted 83-14 to approve Fertitta as the United States ambassador to Italy.
Fertitta, who Trump appointed to the position in December last year, is the CEO of Landry’s, a hospitality corporation that operates restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other entertainment facilities. He also owns the NBA team 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.
This comes as President Trump’s approval rating has risen to near-record levels, despite several days of outrage from Democrats, establishment Republicans, and mainstream media outlets over the president’s ambitious trade changes.
Trump’s support rating increased even after sweeping tariffs were imposed on dozens of trading partners on April 2, according to a new poll conducted by J.L. Partners in collaboration with the Daily Mail.
The study indicated that Trump’s approval rating increased to 53 percent, a four-point improvement from last week’s poll, when it was 49 percent.
Breaking down the numbers further, Trump’s favorability rating among voters aged 18 to 29 has improved by a wonderful 13 points since March 7.
The study implies Trump is building on the tremendous support he earned from the group in the November presidential election, when voters aged 18 to 29 switched 10 points in Trump’s favor after heavily supporting Joe Biden in 2020.
The president’s support rating increased by six percentage points among registered Democrats and independents, according to the study. The president’s favorability among black voters has increased by 17 points since last week’s survey.
Nearly 100 days into his presidency, American employers and job board leaders have given Trump a very favorable report card, saying they believe the economy “can win now,” even though, as they note, it hasn’t “started to win yet.”
