WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday announced his intent to appoint his former producer from « The Apprentice » to serve as special envoy to the United Kingdom.
Mark Burnett has received three-dozen Emmy nominations, winning the award for about a third of those, according to the Television Academy’s website. Trump has previously praised Burnett during campaign trail appearances.
« With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role, » Trump said in his post to Truth Social.
« Mark will work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities, and cultural exchanges, » the president-elect added.
Besides « The Apprentice, » Burnett has worked as a top producer on « Shark Tank, » « The Voice » and « Survivor. » Trump also cited Burnett’s previous experience at MGM.
Several of those shows, including « The Apprentice, » aired on NBC. NBCUniversal is the parent company of NBC and NBC News.
Trump became a reality-TV star during his time hosting « The Apprentice » from 2004 to 2015, and Burnett launched the show with Trump.
The show helped boost the now president-elect’s fame in the run-up to his first bid for the White House.
Burnett is the latest in a string of selections with personal ties to the president-elect. Trump previously announced he was picking his two daughters’ fathers-in-law, Charles Kushner and Massad Boulos, to serve as ambassador to France and senior adviser on Arab and Middle East issues, respectively.
Trump has also tapped several others with TV ties — frequently those who have appeared on Fox News — for prominent positions, including former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, though controversies threaten to derail his confirmation.
Special envoys often focus on a particular issue. Trump previously announced that he had selected Warren Stephens as the ambassador to the Court of St. James, « a role in which he will act as our Representative to the United Kingdom » if confirmed by the Senate, the president-elect said in a post to Truth Social earlier this month.
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