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Mark Burnett Appointed as Special Envoy to the UK
In a significant political move, former television producer Mark Burnett, best known for his work on The Apprentice, has been appointed by Donald Trump as his Special Envoy to the United Kingdom. This announcement comes two decades after Burnett first introduced Trump to television audiences.
Trump revealed this appointment through a post on Truth Social, stating, “With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role.” He highlighted Burnett’s creation of some of television’s most popular shows, such as Survivor, Shark Tank, The Voice, and, most notably, The Apprentice. Trump also noted Burnett’s prior role as the chairman of MGM and his impressive accolades, which include 13 Emmy Awards.
Notably, it is important to clarify that Burnett served as chairman of MGM’s Worldwide Television Group, rather than the entirety of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
In his new role, Burnett is expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic ties between the U.S. and the UK, with an emphasis on trade, investment opportunities, and cultural exchanges. Despite the significance of the position, experts have noted that U.S. presidents typically appoint envoys to conflict-ridden regions, raising questions about the reasoning behind choosing the UK, one of America’s closest allies. Additionally, it remains to be seen how Burnett’s responsibilities will intersect with those of the U.S. ambassador to the UK, a position Trump has designated for billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens.
Burnett’s longstanding relationship with Trump dates back over twenty years. According to a recent report from The New York Times, Burnett and the team behind The Apprentice played a pivotal role in shaping Trump’s public persona as a wealthy businessman, carefully masking the reality of his financial struggles and failed ventures at the time. Producer Jonathon Braun reflected on this responsibility, stating, “Our job was to make him look legitimate, to make him look like there was something behind it, even though we pretty much all knew that there wasn’t — but that was our job.”
Over the years, Burnett’s sentiments toward Trump have fluctuated. In a 2010 interview with the BBC, he praised Trump, describing him as “fearless” and “a big, strong tough guy.” He further characterized Trump as “a very, very down-to-earth normal guy” and “a really, really loyal friend,” suggesting that he could be a challenging adversary. Yet, following the controversial Access Hollywood scandal during the 2016 election season, Burnett distanced himself from Trump’s political aspirations. He publicly stated, “I am not ‘pro-Trump,’” and expressed his and his wife Roma Downey’s rejection of the divisive rhetoric associated with Trump’s campaign, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
As Burnett steps into this new diplomatic role, the implications of his appointment and the potential impact on U.S.-UK relations thus remain to be fully assessed.
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