MIAMI – A little more than a week after announcing his plan to nominate a Miami-Dade commissioner as ambassador to Panama, President-elect Donald Trump is once again looking to South Florida to fill a diplomatic role.
In a Truth Social post Thursday evening, Trump said he intends to nominate Leon Medical Centers founder Benjamin Leon Jr. — a major Republican financial backer — as ambassador to Spain.
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In the post, Trump describes the businessman, who turned 80 in December, as “a highly successful entrepreneur, equestrian, and philanthropist.”
“He came to the U.S. from Communist Cuba at 16-years-old, with only Five Dollars in his pocket, and proceeded to build his company, Leon Medical Centers, into an incredible business,” Trump posted. “He has helped support many worthy causes, like La Liga Contra el Cancer, and important Medical Research at Johns Hopkins and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.”
He also touted Leon’s support for Miami Dade College and Florida International University.
MDC President Madeline Pumariega was among those in South Florida who reacted to the announcement on social media, posting in part to X that Leon’s “leadership and generosity, exemplified through his transformative support of our Benjamin León School of Nursing, have changed countless lives.”
“I have no doubt he will serve President @realDonaldTrump with the same dedication, vision, and compassion that have defined his lifelong commitment to service,” she said.
Also on X, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida, called Leon “a true patriot who will represent U.S. interests with great honor in Spain.”
Leon, like any ambassador nominee, will be subject to Senate confirmation.