Trump appoints US football team owner as envoy to Britain

US President Donald Trump has announced he will formally nominate Republican fundraiser and American football team owner Woody Johnson to be his ambassador to Britain.

The pick had been expected since January, when Trump announced his intention to tap Johnson as the envoy to Washington’s closest European ally during a leadership lunch with congressional Republicans and incoming cabinet members.

Johnson, 70, owns the New York Jets, a member of the National Football League, and has an extensive record for raising cash for Republicans. Last year he was named a co- leader of Trump’s national fundraising team.

He also comes from American enterprise royalty, being the heir to a vast Johnson & Johnson fortune. His great- grandfather founded the company in 1887, and it became a health care behemoth.

Incoming presidents often reward major supporters, donors or fundraisers with plum ambassador posts.

But the Trump administration is behind on filling many key jobs.

Only nine of the state department’s 121 political appointee positions have been taken by confirmed nominees, and only a handful of the more than 70 vacant ambassadorial roles are filled. Former US President Barack Obama sharply condemned the healthcare plan unveiled by Senate Republicans on Thursday as a “massive transfer of wealth” to the rich, at the expense of poor and middleclass Americans.

In a Facebook post hours after the Republican bill was made public, Obama made some of his most pointed comments since leaving office in defence of the most signature accomplishment of his two terms.

“The Senate bill, unveiled today, is not a healthcare bill,” Obama wrote.

“It’s a massive transfer of wealth from middle-class and poor families to the richest people in America.”

“Simply put, if there’s a chance you might get sick, get old, or start a family, this bill will do you harm.” he added.