{"id":19937,"date":"2017-01-20T11:36:23","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T11:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=19937"},"modified":"2017-01-20T11:36:23","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T11:36:23","slug":"jets-owner-woody-johnson-named-donald-trumps-uk-ambassador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/jets-owner-woody-johnson-named-donald-trumps-uk-ambassador.html","title":{"rendered":"Jets owner Woody Johnson named Donald Trump’s UK ambassador"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jets owner Woody Johnson named Donald Trump’s UK ambassador<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Jets owner Woody Johnson named Donald Trump’s UK ambassador:-<\/strong> Woody Johnson, the billionaire owner of the New York Jets who endorsed President-Elect Donald J. Trump after at first supporting Jeb Bush, will become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, a transition official confirmed Thursday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump, on the eve of his inauguration as 45th president, referred to Johnson, a major Republican fundraiser, as \u201cambassador\u201d during remarks made at a Washington D.C. luncheon on Thursday and said that he would be \u201cgoing to St. James,\u201d a reference to the Court of St. James\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

The transition official who confirmed the appointment spoke on the condition of anonymity because the nomination, which had been rumored for about a month, has not been formally announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson, 69, who lives in New York City and has a residence in Bedminster, is the great-grandson of the founder of the New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company and was the national finance chairman for Jeb Bush\u2019s run in the Republican presidential primary. After Bush ended his candidacy, Johnson endorsed Trump, serving as the candidate\u2019s fundraiser and adviser.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro Football Talk previously reported that if Johnson received the appointment, which would require him to move to the United Kingdom, his younger brother, Christopher Wold Johnson, would take over the day-to-day duties of running the Jets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Johnson called reports linking him to the ambassadorship \u201cspeculation,\u201d but added that \u201cit would be an honor to be considered for something like that.\u201d He could not be reached for comment on Thursday. The Jets did not respond for a request for information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trump poked fun at Johnson in a tweet early last year that suggested the Jets, a team that has struggled for years and last participated in a playoff game in 2011, would be more successful if their owner backed him instead of Bush.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWoody Johnson, owner of the NYJets, is @JebBush\u2019s finance chairman,\u201d Trump said in the tweet. \u201cIf Woody would\u2019ve been w\/me, he would\u2019ve been in the playoffs, at least!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some people who took to twitter on Thursday to comment on the appointment suggested that Johnson take the Jets \u2013 who were 5-11 in 2016 and finished last in their division \u2013 with him to the United Kingdom. The Jets played a regular-season NFL game at London\u2019s Wembley Stadium in 2015, defeating the Miami Dolphins. The NFL is planning to play four regular-season games in London in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson, who purchased the Jets in 2000, owns a home in Bedminster that overlooks the Trump National Golf Club and is assessed at almost $7 million, according to tax records.<\/span><\/p>\n

His appointment appears to follow a tradition of plum diplomatic going to top fundraisers. The outgoing ambassador to the United Kingdom, Matthew Barzun, served as national finance chairman for President Obama’s re-election campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson’s remarks about cornerback Darrelle Revis two years ago, when the player was a member of the New England Patriots, led the NFL to fine the Jets $100,000 for tampering. “I’d love Darrelle to come back,\u201d Johnson said, apologized to New England owner Robert Kraft later that day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnson would become at least the second NFL team owner to serve as a U.S. ambassador. Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner Dan Rooney was the U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012 during Obama\u2019s first term.<\/span><\/div>\n

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