In a statement issued Saturday, President-elect Donald J. Trump nominated Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Italy.

Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is tapping Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to be the next ambassador to Italy, where firebrand Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has become a European power player — and a Trump favorite.

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta will serve as the US Ambassador to Italy, as president-elect Donald Trump named the businessman as his pick this weekend. Fertitta, who has a long-standing relationship with Donald Trump,