Trump Taps Billionaire Warren Stephens as UK Ambassador

President-elect Donald Trump nominates Warren Stephens, CEO of Stephens Inc., as the next US ambassador to the UK, bringing financial expertise to the role.

US President-elect Donald Trump nominated billionaire financial executive Warren Stephens as the next US ambassador to the UK. “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,” Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform.

Stephens serves as chairman, president, and CEO of Stephens Inc, a financial services company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has a net worth of $3.4 billion (€3.2 billion), according to US news outlet Forbes.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin congratulated Stephens on the nomination, saying Trump “tapped one of our state's finest to represent our nation and continue the special relationship we have with our cousins and staunch allies in the United Kingdom.”

Warren Stephens, a billionaire investment banker, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as the US ambassador to the UK. This nomination is seen as a reward for Stephens' significant donations to Trump's 2024 election campaign. Specifically, Stephens donated $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC.

It's a common practice in US politics for presidents to appoint campaign donors to ambassadorial posts. Trump's nomination of Stephens follows this trend. Stephens' appointment will need to be confirmed by the US Senate, which is expected to have a Republican majority in January.

Stephens is the chairman, president, and CEO of Stephens Inc., a financial services firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas. His nomination as ambassador to the UK is not the first time Trump has appointed a donor to this role. During his first term, Trump appointed Woody Johnson, a donor to his 2016 campaign, as US ambassador to the UK.