Trump picks Tom Barrack to serve as US ambassador to Turkey, Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece

Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg News on Dec 10, 2024

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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said he is tapping Tom Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital LLC, to serve as ambassador to Turkey, elevating a longtime friend to a crucial diplomatic post.

Trump made the announcement in a post to his Truth Social account on Tuesday, calling Barrack a “well respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.”

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Barrack would be the top envoy to a NATO ally and a nation that has played a critical role in flash points in the Middle East.

A private equity investor, Barrack has known Trump for decades and was an adviser on his 2016 presidential campaign and a chair of the inauguration committee.

That role drew scrutiny from prosecutors who tried him on charges that he tried to influence the campaign and administration of Trump as an agent of the United Arab Emirates.

A jury in 2022 found Barrack not guilty of all nine counts against him, including failing to register as a foreign agent, obstructing justice and lying to federal agents. Barrack took the stand in his own defense during the trial, saying that he had sought to steer the Trump administration’s Middle East policy in a more positive direction.

Trump on Tuesday also announced that he was tapping Kimberly Guilfoyle as the U.S. ambassador to Greece. A onetime lawyer and television personality, Guilfoyle has been close to the Trump family and is another case of the president-elect tapping people in his personal orbit for posts. Trump has also said he will nominate Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, as U.S. ambassador to France.

“Her extensive experience and leadership in law, media, and politics along with her sharp intellect make her supremely qualified to represent the United States, and safeguard its interests abroad,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

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(With assistance from Chelsea Mes, Lauren Dezenski and Meghashyam Mali.)

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