‘You’re hired!’ Meet Mark Burnett, the Hollywood producer who rebuilt Donald Trump’s public image: from British paratrooper to The Apprentice creator – and being picked as special envoy to the UK

On January 20, Donald Trump will officially take office as the 47th president of the United States. In the run up to his inauguration, Trump has been naming political allies and friends in key positions in his administration, with Hollywood producer Mark Burnett even making the cut as the US special envoy to the UK.

Burnett has been widely credited for not only turning Trump into a household name on The Apprentice, but also helping to rebuild the president-elect’s image.

“With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role,” wrote Trump on his Truth Social platform. Burnett is the recipient of 13 Emmy Awards to date.

Trump said in a statement that Burnett, in his new role, would “work to enhance diplomatic relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment opportunities and cultural exchange”. Politico reports that Burnett’s position would be different to that of the ambassador, who acts as the main US diplomat based in London, describing the UK envoy role as “a sleepy one, as most contact between both countries’ governments occurs at the direct official level”.