WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump nominated Jamie McCourt, former co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to be the ambassador to Belgium on Thursday night.
McCourt, who co-owned the Dodgers with her husband, Frank, until their messy 2011 divorce, has donated money to several Republican organizations, including funds for Trump's campaign and his transition to the White House.
McCourt was among many business leaders who signed their support for Trump early on in his campaign, praising his plan for economic development and growth. In the months leading up to Trump's victory, McCourt gave more than $400,000 to the "Trump victory" fund, according to data from the Federal Election Commission. She signed a letter in October 2016 with 100 other business executives and CEOs championing Trump's plan and criticizing opponent Hillary Clinton for having "thrown in the towel on strong economic growth."
McCourt was listed as a 2016 State Victory Finance Chair for Trump's campaign in July, according to a report from the GOP. Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson, chairman and CEO of the New York Jets and Trump's nominee for ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was also on the list as Trump Victory vice chair.
After Trump won the election, McCourt continued to financially support his transition to office. In December, she helped host a fundraiser breakfast for the incoming president where tickets sold for $5,000 a piece.
Prior to her support for Trump, McCourt also donated to the campaigns of several other Republican presidential candidates, including John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Carly Fiorina, although in much smaller amounts.
In the past, she has also supported former President Barack Obama, contributing to his campaign and victory funds in 2011 and donating $50,000 to the inauguration in 2009. She donated about $2,000 to Hillary Clinton for her presidential campaign in 2007, according to the FEC.
McCourt's ex-husband said his former wife had political aspirations of her own, with an end goal of ending up in the White House, according to a March 2010 Los Angeles Times article. Her high-profile divorce gathered a lot of public attention and ended in dispute over finances and assets.
McCourt has founded and directed entrepreneurial enterprises in Los Angeles and Boston throughout her career as an entrepreneur and attorney. Her investment firm, Jamie Enterprises, invests in real estate and technology start-ups. She has degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Maryland School of Law and from MIT/Sloan School of Management.
The Senate must confirm McCourt's nomination for ambassador.
