The Republican-led Senate confirmed three of President Trump’s ambassador picks on Tuesday, sending wealthy GOP donors Warren Stephens to the UK, Tom Barrack to Turkey, and Tilman Fertitta to Italy.
Stephens, an investment banker from Arkansas, was approved 59–39 despite past opposition to Trump, having since donated millions to pro-Trump groups. Barrack, a longtime Trump ally and former Reagan official, was confirmed 60–36; he was acquitted in 2022 of charges of lobbying for the UAE. Fertitta, a billionaire restaurateur and NBA team owner, was confirmed 83–14.
Meanwhile, Trump’s approval rating rose to 53% in a recent poll, with notable gains among young, Black, and independent voters, despite backlash over new tariffs.
