President-elect Donald Trump named two business leaders, Joe Popolo and Benjamin Leon Jr., as ambassadors to major European countries in a Thursday Truth social post.
President Trump nominated Popolo, founder of investment firm Charles & Potomac Capital, to be ambassador to the Netherlands, and Leon Jr., founder of Medicare provider LEON Medical Center, to be ambassador to Spain.
“Joe is a successful businessman and philanthropist in a variety of fields. For more than 20 years, he helped transform the Freeman Company into one of the world's leading live event brand experience companies,” said the president-elect. I talked about Popolo.
President Trump said of Leon Jr., “He came to the United States from communist Cuba at the age of 16 with just $5 in his pocket and built his company, Leon Medical Centers, into a great business.'' Ta.
He added that the businessman founded one of Cuba's first health maintenance organizations (HMOs), Clinica Asociación Cubana HMO, which he sold to United Healthcare in 1994 for $500 million. According to Go to FloridaPolitics.com
Popolo also heads the Freeman Company, which specializes in live event and exhibition production. The president-elect said he also served on the boards of private equity and holding companies.
The nominations mark a continuation of President Trump's pattern of selecting corporate and community leaders who have donated to political campaigns to serve as ambassadors. (Related: President Trump selects leader of major Catholic political organization and father of nine children as ambassador to the Vatican)
Leon Jr. has an extensive history of donating to both Democrats and Republicans. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) Filings. More recently, he poured large sums of money into the president-elect's coffers and made donations. $700,000 to the 2020 President Trump Victory Fund, and another $900,000 Trump 47 Committee in 2024.
Popolo also donated at least $100,000 to President Trump's Save America Fund in 2024. According to In FEC filings.
Other benefactors Trump has named to represent the country abroad include Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets, whom Trump has appointed. nominated To Italian Ambassador and former Trump administration advisor Tom Barrack, chose Serves as ambassador to Turkey.
Both Mr. Popolo and Mr. Leon Jr.'s appointments require Senate confirmation.
