Trump Appoints Mark Burnett, ‘Apprentice’ Producer, as Special UK Envoy

Donald Trump, the US President-elect, has named British television executive Mark Burnett, known for producing him on The Apprentice, as his special envoy to the United Kingdom. Trump stated that selecting his former colleague for this position, which is distinct from the US ambassador to the UK role, was his “great honour.” He further commented, “Mark will work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities, and cultural exchanges.” In a statement, Burnett remarked, “I am truly honoured to serve The United States of America and President Trump as his Special Envoy to the United Kingdom.” Burnett is credited with creating and producing The Apprentice, in addition to numerous other reality television programs, for which he has received 13 Emmy Awards. On Saturday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, 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.” The president-elect, scheduled to assume office next month, previously selected billionaire donor Warren Stephens as his ambassador to the UK. Unlike Stephens’s nomination, which requires confirmation from the US Senate, Burnett’s appointment does not need such approval. Burnett, aged 64, grew up in Essex and served as a paratrooper in the Army before moving to the United States in 1982 at the age of 22. Subsequently, he worked for MGM and established himself as a prominent figure in the reality television genre. Beyond his work on The Apprentice, Burnett also developed formats for shows like Survivor and Shark Tank, which is the American adaptation of Dragon’s Den. From 2008 to 2015, Burnett contributed to elevating the fame of real estate developer Trump through his starring role in The Apprentice. In December 2015, Burnett assumed the role of president of MGM Television, a position he relinquished in 2022 following Amazon’s acquisition of the studio. He also participated in the planning of Trump’s initial inauguration in 2017. In 2010, Burnett informed the BBC that Trump was “fearless” and “a big, strong tough guy.” Burnett further described him as, “a very, very down-to-earth normal guy and he’s a really, really loyal friend and, as I’ve seen him with many other people, not the kind of enemy you would want.” Trump’s initial presidential campaign as the Republican nominee in 2016 faced a crisis when recordings surfaced of him telling Access Hollywood presenter Billy Bush that “you can do anything” to women “when you’re a star.” At that time, Burnett issued a statement denying his support for Trump. He added, “Further, my wife and I reject the hatred, division and misogyny that has been a very unfortunate part of his campaign.” Burnett is married to actress Roma Downey, who was born in Londonderry. Subsequently, another former producer of The Apprentice alleged that Trump had been heard making “far worse” comments in recordings from the program. However, Burnett declined requests to release all unaired footage of Trump, stating his inability to do so and citing “various contractual and legal requirements.” This report is copyrighted by BBC 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.