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.

Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets and Landry’s restaurant group, hosted a fundraiser for Trump earlier this year.

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.