WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� , the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� is being tapped by the president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his upcoming administration.
鈥淲ith a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role,鈥� Trump announced Saturday.
Burnett, who was born in London, helped produce hits like 鈥淪urvivor鈥� and 鈥淭he Voice,鈥� but is perhaps best known for teaming up with Trump for 鈥淭he Apprentice,鈥� which first aired on NBC in 2004.
Trump had been well-known in real estate and pop culture circles for decades. But the show helped again make him a household name 鈥� though Trump severed ties with NBC in 2015, the same year he launched his first White House run.
The selection of Burnett continues Trump's trend of with people who have 鈥� including his choice to be defense secretary, , a former co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekend,鈥� and ex-television doctor and unsuccessful Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, .
Trump鈥檚 first campaign in 2016 was rocked by allegations about his conduct on 鈥淭he Apprentice鈥� and other appearances during his association with NBC, notably in footage in which he said and get away with it because he was a 鈥渟tar.鈥�
Almost a decade after he left his reality TV role, Trump鈥檚 television career remains central to his biography and political rise. The show presented Trump Tower to tens of millions of people as a symbol of power and success before Trump launched his first campaign from the building鈥檚 lobby.
鈥淢ark is known for creating and producing some of the biggest shows in Television History," Trump wrote in his statement on Burnett, listing many of his biggest hits before adding, 鈥渕ost notably, 鈥楾he Apprentice鈥�" and noting that Burnett 鈥渉as won 13 Emmy Awards!鈥�
Later Saturday, Trump announced in a separate statement that he was picking casino magnate as his choice to be U.S. ambassador to Italy.
Burnett, meanwhile, will be a special envoy, posts usually filled by presidents for the world's traditional hotspots, including the Middle East 鈥� where Trump has already said he'd like to fill the role. The United Kingdom, which has long enjoyed a 鈥渟pecial relationship鈥� with the U.S. that makes it one of Washington's strongest global allies, is not typically a candidate for such posts.
But Trump has announced a series of special envoy positions to several top loyalists ahead of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, including his former ambassador to Germany who he chose as envoy for special missions. That announcement joined previous ones including Adam Boehler as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, and Keith Kellogg to serve as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
Trump previously announced on Dec. 2 that he was picking billionaire investment banker for the more standard role of U.S. ambassador to Britain. That might raise questions about how a special U.K. envoy could overlap duties, but the president-elect said in his statement that Burnett 鈥渨ill work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities, and cultural exchanges.鈥�
Will Weissert, The Associated Press
