As newly-elected president Donald Trump is continuing to prepare his cabinet for his new administration when he’s inaugurated next month. Among the many new additions he’s making is tabbing an NBA owner for an ambassador’s role.
According to Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News, Trump is expected to name Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as the U.S. ambassador to Italy. Fertitta donating significant money to Trump’s recent campaign though he has a number of friends in both Trump’s political party and his opposition.
“News: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, CEO of a hospitality group and the owner of the Houston Rockets, is expected to be Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Italy, per sources. Fertitta, who starred in a reality TV show called “Billion Dollar Buyer,” owns Landry’s, a corporation with restaurants, hotels, casinos,” Jacobs wrote on X last night.
News: Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, CEO of a hospitality group and the owner of the Houston Rockets, is expected to be Trump’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Italy, per sources.
Fertitta, who starred in a reality TV show called “Billion Dollar Buyer,” owns Landry’s, a corporation…— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 11, 2024
In 2017, Fertitta purchased the Houston Rockets for a then-record $2.2 billion. Under his leadership, the franchise reached the playoffs several times with Mark D’Antoni as the head coach. However, the franchise endured three straight losing seasons under head coach Stephen Silas from 2020 to 2023. They only recently had their first winning season since 2020 with Ime Udoka as their head coach last season.
Fertitta was in the news most recently for publicly expressing interest in buying the New Orleans Saints in the event the team goes up for sale. He previously owned a stake in the Houston Texans until being forced to sell his stake in 2008. Fertitta was also one of the many who eyed the Washington Commanders when that team previously went up for sale.
Fertitta has also shown an interest in adding teams from a number of other sports leagues to his portfolio. He’s been linked to the NHL and WNBA in trying to add a team in those leagues to the city of Houston under his leadership.
In Trump’s previous administration, he tabbed New York Jets owner and longtime supporter Woody Johnson as his ambassador to the United Kingdom. Johnson would serve in the role until the end of Trump’s term in early-2021.
Will Fertitta be officially named ambassador to Italy?
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