President-elect Donald Trump's latest diplomatic appointments showcase his continued preference for successful business leaders in key ambassadorial positions.
According to The Daily Caller, Trump announced via Truth Social on Thursday his nominations of investment firm founder Joe Popolo as ambassador to the Netherlands and healthcare entrepreneur Benjamin Leon Jr. as ambassador to Spain.
Popolo, who established Charles & Potomac Capital, brings extensive experience from his two-decade tenure at the Freeman Company, where he helped transform it into a global leader in live event experiences.
Leon Jr.'s nomination follows an impressive trajectory from arriving in the United States as a teenage Cuban immigrant to building a successful healthcare enterprise.
Trump praised Popolo's business acumen and philanthropic contributions across various sectors, highlighting his instrumental role in the Freeman Company's growth. The company specialized in live event and trade show production, with Popolo serving on multiple private equity and holding firm boards.
Leon Jr.'s journey began with just five dollars in his pocket when he fled Communist Cuba at age 16. He went on to establish the LEON Medical Center and created one of Cuba's first Health Maintenance Organizations, Clínica Asociación Cubana HMO, which he later sold to UnitedHealthCare for $500 million in 1994.
President-elect Trump shared his appreciation for Leon Jr.'s achievements, stating:
He came to the U.S. from Communist Cuba at 16-years-old, with only Five Dollars in his pocket, and proceeded to build his company, Leon Medical Centers, into an incredible business.
Both nominees have demonstrated substantial financial support for Trump's political endeavors. Leon Jr. has contributed significantly to Trump's campaigns, including a $700,000 donation to his victory fund in 2020 and $900,000 to the Trump 47 Committee in 2024.
Popolo's financial backing includes a minimum contribution of $100,000 to Trump's Save America Fund in 2024. These appointments align with Trump's pattern of selecting campaign donors for diplomatic positions.
The nominations follow similar appointments of other business leaders, including Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta for the Italian ambassadorship and former Trump administration advisor Tom Barrack for the Turkish diplomatic post.
These latest diplomatic nominations reflect President-elect Trump's strategy of appointing successful business leaders and campaign supporters to represent American interests abroad.
Joe Popolo and Benjamin Leon Jr. bring extensive business experience and demonstrated leadership capabilities to their proposed roles as ambassadors to the Netherlands and Spain, respectively.
The nominations now move to the next phase, requiring Senate confirmation before the appointees can assume their diplomatic positions. Their appointments represent significant steps in shaping Trump's diplomatic corps with business-minded individuals at the helm of U.S. relations with key European allies.
