Donald Trump nominates billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens to be US ambassador to UK
Mr Stephens is a longtime Republican donor who reportedly gave to conservative groups that opposed Trump in 2016 but then supported him in the 2020 and 2024 races.
Monday 2 December 2024 23:46, UK
US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens to be his ambassador to the UK.
Mr Trump made the announcement in a post on social media, calling him "one of the most successful businessmen in the country".
Mr Stephens is chairman, president, and CEO of Stephens Inc, a privately owned financial services company with its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to the firm's website.
Mr Trump said his pick for ambassador "has built a wonderful financial services firm, while selflessly giving back to his community as a philanthropist".
He added: "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 USA to one of America's most cherished and beloved allies."
Mr Stephens is a longtime Republican donor who reportedly gave to conservative groups that opposed Trump in 2016 but then supported him in the 2020 and 2024 races.
He was also a top campaign fundraiser, known as a "bundler", for the Republican party's presidential nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 US election, according to reports.
The Senate is required to confirm Mr Stephens as the choice for ambassador to the UK.
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During his first presidential term, Mr Trump selected Robert "Woody" Johnson, a contributor to his campaign and the owner of the New York Jets football team, as his representative to the United Kingdom.
Mr Trump has already named many of his nominees for his cabinet and high-profile diplomatic posts, assembling a roster of staunch loyalists.
Over the weekend, Mr Trump announced he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France.
No 10 might be prepared for some shuffling of feet at the ambassador's reception
He was once dubbed the "King of Little Rock" such is the wealth and influence of Warren Stephens in his Arkansas heartland.
The investment banker worth more than $3bn enjoys the trappings of a considerable fortune, accumulated as he grew the family business, Stephens Inc, started by an uncle who switched from selling bibles.
Over the years, the 67-year-old has spent his profit pursuing his passions 鈥� owning an exclusive golf course, private jets and a wine collection to match his means.
Mr Stephens is something of a political chameleon, putting his money towards different parties and politicians.
A long-time Republican donor, he did nonetheless support Arkansas Democrat Bill Clinton in his presidential run in 1992.
The father-of-three wasn't always a friend to Donald Trump. Indeed, in 2016, Mr Stephens was a leading light and funder of the "Stop Trump" campaign, Republicans opposed to him becoming their presidential nominee.
Clearly, bridges have been built since.
In 2020, he gave more than $3m to super PACs backing Mr Trump, although earlier this year he supported rival candidates Asa Hutchinson and Nikki Haley in the Republican primaries.
Cementing the UK-US "special relationship" takes on a particular importance amidst heightened geopolitical uncertainty - the new ambassador will be Mr Trump's point man on a range of pressing issues in Britain and beyond.
A priority for his British hosts will be progress on negotiations towards a UK-US trade deal, although there may be some shuffling of feet at the ambassador's reception.
It's only a matter of weeks since Team Trump criticised Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party for "blatant foreign interference" in the US election after Labour volunteers travelled to campaign for Kamala Harris.