Donald Trump has appointed British producer Mark Burnett, who brought the president-elect to international fame with ‘The Apprentice’, as special envoy to the United Kingdom.
“It is my great honor to appoint Mark Burnett as Special Envoy to the United Kingdom,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his personal social media platform. “With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role.”
Burnett helped launch Trump as a media figure on the international stage with the success of the reality series “The Apprentice,” which ran on NBC from 2004 to 2016, with Trump running the show from the boardroom of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.
In announcing the appointment, Trump highlighted Burnett’s thirteen career Emmy wins and several of his credits, adding that he is “known for creating and producing some of the greatest shows in television history, including ‘Survivor,’ ‘Shark Tank’, ‘The Voice’ and especially ‘The Apprentice’.
“Mark will continue to improve diplomatic relations,” Trump continued. “Focus on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities and cultural exchanges. Congratulations Mark!”
One of the most successful TV producers of the past three decades, Burnett largely kept his distance from Trump during his first term, when Trump’s extreme policies and harsh rhetoric sparked immediate opposition in Hollywood’s creative community, where Burnett worked with a broad audience must work together. range of creatives. Burnett’s appointment is a sign that Trump is likely to face less organized resistance from Hollywood liberals in his second term. During Trump’s first presidential campaign and term, Burnett faced periodic bursts of public pressure to release clips from Trump’s many seasons on “The Apprentice,” amid speculation and accusations that Trump had made disturbing comments about women and people of color.
The appointment also comes at a time when Burnett is between chapters. He left MGM in 2022 after Amazon completed its acquisition of the studio. Burnett sold his One Three Media company to MGM, including his stakes in NBC’s “The Voice,” CBS’ “Survivor,” ABC’s “Shark Tank” and more, in two transactions in 2014 and 2015 that netted him more than $100 million . Burnett then became chairman of MGM Television, although he remained an active producer of his own projects.
Trump appointed investment banker Warren Stephens as United States ambassador to Great Britain in early December. Although both are diplomats, Burnett’s role as envoy is a specialized position designated for specific transactions and negotiations. As ambassador, Stephens will have a more permanent position and will act as the main point of communication between Britain and the US.
“I am truly honored to serve the United States of America and President Trump as his Special Envoy to the United Kingdom,” Burnett said through a spokesperson.
(Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.)