Former President Donald Trump has selected Jared Novelly, the majority owner of the Australian basketball team Illawarra Hawks, to be the next U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa. The announcement was made on Trump's Truth Social platform, where he praised Novelly as a highly respected philanthropist.

Novelly holds the position of chairman at both Crest Sports and Entertainment and Crest Management. His LinkedIn profile also indicates that he's a shareholder in the East Asia Superleague Basketball. Trump expressed confidence in Novelly's commitment to prioritizing American interests in the Indo-Pacific region.