The U.S. Senate, currently under Republican control, has confirmed three of President Donald Trump’s ambassadorial nominees, officially assigning them to posts in the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy. The confirmations mark a significant diplomatic shift, as each of the newly appointed ambassadors—Warren Stephens, Tom Barrack, and Tilman Fertitta—is a billionaire with a long record of financial support for Trump and GOP causes. Their approvals came with unanimous Republican backing and a handful of crossover votes from Democrats.

Warren Stephens, a prominent investment banker from Arkansas, was confirmed earlier in the week as ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The Senate approved him by a vote of 59–39. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas strongly championed Stephens, calling him a “family man” and a respected leader who embodies business experience, philanthropy, and a deep commitment to American interests. Cotton argued that Stephens was uniquely qualified to strengthen the United States’ close diplomatic relationship with the United Kingdom.

Stephens, who led Stephens Inc.—a major investment banking firm in Little Rock—until early this year, has a complex political history. Federal Election Commission records show that he donated $1 million to “Our Principles PAC,” a group that opposed Trump during the 2016 primaries. However, in later years, Stephens shifted his support, contributing to Trump-aligned organizations in 2019 and 2020. His most notable recent contribution came in 2024, when he donated $3 million to MAGA Inc., the primary super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign efforts. Trump praised the appointment, saying Stephens had always hoped to serve the country full-time and expressing confidence that he would excel as the top American diplomat in London.

Next, the Senate confirmed Tom Barrack as ambassador to Turkey in a 60–36 vote. Barrack has been closely associated with Trump for decades, with their relationship dating back to the 1980s. After serving in the Reagan administration, Barrack founded Colony Capital, a major private equity firm. He played an influential role in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and chaired the committee overseeing Trump’s 2017 inauguration.

Barrack’s nomination had drawn scrutiny because of past legal controversies. In 2021, the Justice Department charged him with acting as an unregistered foreign lobbyist for the United Arab Emirates—a charge he consistently denied. He was acquitted in 2022, and Republicans argued that his acquittal cleared the path for his diplomatic service.

Tilman Fertitta, CEO of the massive hospitality conglomerate Landry’s and owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets, was confirmed overwhelmingly as ambassador to Italy, with an 83–14 vote. Fertitta’s business empire spans restaurants, hotels, casinos, and entertainment operations nationwide. Trump first tapped Fertitta for the role in December, citing his experience in global business relations and his connections in international markets.

These confirmations come at a time when the federal government has been partially shut down for 30 days. The House, led by Republicans, passed a clean funding bill a month earlier. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has instructed most Senate Democrats to reject the measure. A few Democrats have broken ranks, but not enough to help Republicans reach the 60 votes needed to move the bill to the president’s desk.

Complicating negotiations further is the legacy of Obamacare. Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act in 2010 without any Republican support and have approved new taxpayer-funded subsidies several times since. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats extended healthcare subsidies but applied a time limit to them; those subsidies will expire in December unless Congress acts.

Republican leaders have stated they are open to negotiating new subsidy arrangements but only after the government reopens. Democrats, meanwhile, have pushed for nearly $1.5 trillion in additional spending—much of which would reverse GOP-backed cuts from previous sessions—as part of any broader funding package.

Public perception of the shutdown appears to be shifting. CNN acknowledged recently that the prolonged gridlock has been politically advantageous for Republicans. ABC News went even further, stating directly that Democrats are largely responsible for the stalemate. CNBC has joined a growing chorus of media outlets calling on Senate Democrats to end the shutdown, citing the harm it is causing to federal workers, American families, and the broader economy.

As the government remains paralyzed, the Senate’s swift action on Trump’s ambassadorial nominations stands in contrast to the broader legislative deadlock—highlighting the deep partisan divide shaping Washington’s political landscape.