Mark Burnett, producer of Trump’s reality TV show, dismisses controversy over duplication of work
“We will be responsible for strengthening diplomatic relations with the UK and focusing on trade, investment and cultural exchanges.”
“Specially distributed positions” rather than special envoys for conflict areas or diplomatic issues?
Controversy has arisen as it is reported that US President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing Mark Burnett, the former producer of “The Apprentice” who made him a nationally popular figure by selecting him as the host of the TV reality show, as special envoy to the UK. there is.
As for the position of ‘special envoy’ dispatched to the UK, the duplication of ambassadorial duties may be controversial as Trump had already nominated billionaire investment banker Warren Stevens as ambassador to the UK in the regular and traditional sense on December 2. there is.
The key question is how different or overlapping the special duties of a special envoy are with those of a resident ambassador. Nevertheless, Trump dismissed concerns about overlap, saying, “Burnett will work to strengthen diplomatic relations in the future, focusing primarily on increasing trade and investment opportunities and cultural exchanges for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”
Trump said on the 21st, “Mark has demonstrated outstanding capabilities and experience as a TV producer and businessman, and I am confident that he will demonstrate a unique ability that combines diplomatic acumen and international sensibility in taking on this important role.”
Burnett, who was born in London, has directed hits such as “Survivor” and “The Voice,” but also worked with Trump on NBC’s “The Apprentice” talk show, which aired in 2004. He attracted attention as the most famous director.
Although Trump has been a household name in the real estate industry and pop culture for decades, the program put his name in homes across the country. However, Trump severed ties with NBC ahead of his first presidential run in 2015.
In addition to Burnett’s appointment, Trump recently announced the selection of the next administration and showed a tendency to select people with backgrounds in TV broadcasting, politics, or both.
The nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, as Secretary of Defense, and the nomination of Mehmet Oz, a heart surgeon famous as TV Doctor who lost his bid for the Pennsylvania Senate, as director of the Centers for Health Insurance Services (CMS) under the Department of Health and Human Services. This is a representative example.
When running for president in 2016, Trump shook the nation with his inappropriate words and actions, such as making a comment while hosting the “Apprentice” program that he “was such a star” that he always got away with sexually assaulting women. .
Almost 10 years after he quit hosting the TV reality show, he still shows off his hosting skills in his autobiography and during his political activities. In fact, even before Trump declared his candidacy, he had become a celebrity widely known to tens of millions of people thanks to the program.
Even at the inauguration party for the Trump Tower building and when he declared his candidacy, Trump emphasized his experience as a host on The Apprentice or even showed related footage.
While announcing Burnett’s appointment as special envoy, he praised The Apprentice, saying, “Mark is the person who created the best and biggest show in TV history,” and emphasized that he is the winner of 13 awards at the Emmy Awards, a famous TV-related award.
However, in the United States, a special envoy is a special diplomat dispatched by the president to traditional conflict areas or special regions around the world, such as the Middle East. Trump has already announced that he will nominate Stephen Witkoff as special envoy for the Middle East.
The United Kingdom is a country that has traditionally maintained a “special relationship” with the United States as its strongest ally, so it is not a country to which a special envoy should be dispatched.
However, Trump announced that he would appoint several close associates and loyalists as ‘special envoys’ ahead of the inauguration ceremony on January 20th. They include Special Envoy Richard Grenell, who was announced as the special envoy for Germany, Adam Böhler, previously dispatched as the special envoy for the hostage issue, and Keith Kellogg, a former military general who was recently appointed as the special envoy to resolve the war between Ukraine and Russia.
However, appointing The Apprentice producer Mark Burnett as special envoy again soon after being nominated as British ambassador not only duplicates work, but the controversy over whether the UK needs a special envoy is not expected to subside easily.
[웨스트 팜비치( 미 플로리다주)=AP/뉴시스]