In a statement, Trump pointed to Fertitta's background in business, including his work as CEO of Landry's, a Texas-based restaurant and entertainment company.

Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is tapping Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to be the next ambassador to Italy, where firebrand Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has become a European power player — and a Trump favorite.

Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year.

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Houston billionaire and businessman Tilman Fertitta to become the next U.S. ambassador to Italy. "Tilman is an accomplished businessman, who has founded and built one of our country’s premier entertainment and real estate companies,

Donald Trump will nominate CNBC’s Billion Dollar Buyer host and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as the United States ambassador to Italy.

In a post to Truth Social, Trump praised Fertitta for his "long history of giving back to the community through numerous philanthropic initiatives."

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday plucked a little-known Houston businessman ... to Italy the guy whose name decorates about half of the city's buildings. Tilman Fertitta, the CEO of Landry's, 67-year-old owner of the Houston Rockets and valued ...

Trump tapped Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta for ambassador to Italy—putting him on a growing list of billionaires selected for administration roles.

Donald Trump has nominated Tilman Fertitta, Houston Rockets owner and Landry's CEO, as the next U.S. ambassador to Italy. Trump praised Fertitta's business acumen, overseeing a vast empire of restaurants,

Donald Trump has appointed TV personality Tilman J. Fertitta as ambassador to Italy, continuing his trend of selecting entertainment world figures for key roles.

Donald Trump just shook up the news cycle by naming Tilman Fertitta—owner of the Houston Rockets—as the next U.S. ambassador to Italy. The announcement dropped

Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year and is a regular donor to both parties.