Senate Confirms Warren Stephens as Trump’s Ambassador to UK

Warren Stephens speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on April 1 (Senate Foreign Relations Committee)

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens of Little Rock as President Donald Trump’s envoy to Britain.

Senators voted 59-39 to confirm Stephens as the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. A simple majority is required for confirmation.

Stephens assumes the coveted diplomatic role amid tariff negotiations between the two allies. Trump this month imposed a 10% baseline tariff on most goods imported from the U.K. but paused higher “reciprocal” tariffs. The U.K. government hasn’t imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods but is preparing a list of potential targets.

Stephens has vowed to advance Trump’s “America First” economic policies. In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this month, he pledged to re-evaluate ties between the U.S. and U.K. while maintaining the alliance. He said it’s “critical that the American people receive the full benefit of this partnership.”

Stephens also said he backs a formal trade agreement between the U.S. and the U.K.

“Any such agreement should include public and private methods of raising capital,” he said. “Our depth of capital markets and legal frameworks are very real assets and a great advantage our countries have over the rest of the world. We should take advantage of it.”

On the war in Ukraine, Stephens said he would encourage the U.K. to continue to lead on advancing plans for viable, long-term peace. But any peace deal “should be structured and paid for by Europe,” he said.

Stephens is a Republican donor whose 2024 contributions included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC.

He stepped down as CEO of Stephens Inc. of Little Rock in January after nearly 40 years at the helm of the family-owned financial services firm.