Trump taps NY Jets owner to be UK Ambassador

Woody Johnson, the billionaire owner of the New York Jets football team, will be Donald Trump’s pick for ambassador to the United Kingdom, the president-elect hinted Thursday.

{mosads}At a luncheon in Washington, Trump pointed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and noted that he was sitting next to “the ambassador Woody Johnson.” Trump also said Johnson was “going to St. James,” Reuters reports, a reference to the Court of St. James where ambassadors to the U.K. are accredited. 

A Trump transition team official confirmed the selection to NBC News.

After Trump references @woodyjohnson4 as ambassador at luncheon today, transition official confirms his role as ambassador to the U.K.

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) January 19, 2017

Johnson, a member of the Johnson & Johnson family, has known the real estate mogul for years.

He started the 2016 campaign as ex-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s finance chairman, drawing a critical tweet from Trump last January that dinged both Johnson and his football team. 

“Woody Johnson, owner of the NYJets, is @JebBush’s finance chairman. If Woody would’ve been w/me, he would’ve been in the playoffs, at least!” Trump tweeted at the time. 

Woody Johnson, owner of the NYJets, is @JebBush’s finance chairman. If Woody would’ve been w/me, he would’ve been in the playoffs, at least!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2016

But Johnson became a big-time donor to Trump’s presidential bid, and hosted a number of high-dollar fundraisers for him later in the cycle.