Trump taps Lake Worth Beach restaurant owner for next Philippines ambassador
Lee Lipton of Benny’s on the Beach has no experience in Asia but is a loyal friend and Mar-a-Lago Club member
President Donald Trump wants the owner of Benny’s on the Beach in Lake Worth Beach to be the next United States ambassador to the Philippines.
If Trump’s nomination, submitted Oct. 8, is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lee Lipton would become the first non-career diplomat in modern history to be appointed as the U.S. envoy to Manila, breaking White House tradition of selecting a political ally over a career diplomat for one of Washington’s most important Asia posts.
Lipton, 67, is a Mar-a-Lago Club member and a long-time Trump golfing buddy. A political outsider with no experience in Asia, he spent over 25 years in apparel licensing before getting into the restaurant business.
