CEO of Colony Capital Tom Barrack is a real estate investor and a close friend of President Donald Trump's. | Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images Trump friend Tom Barrack said to be in talks to become ambassador to Mexico

Tom Barrack, a real estate investor and a close friend of President Donald Trump’s, is in talks to become ambassador to Mexico, according to three White House officials and advisers familiar with the matter.

The high-profile post — one of the most important in Trump's orbit, given his tense relationship with the country and his crackdown on immigration along the border — has been the subject of intense talks within the administration, these people said.


Barrack, a gregarious billionaire, is the front-runner for the position but has expressed some concerns about taking it, one of the White House officials said. It is unclear whether he will end up accepting, "but it is his if he wants it," one of these people said.

A White House spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the administration had "nothing to announce at this time."

One White House official said it would be complicated for Barrack to sell all of his assets, while another person familiar with the talks said he would like to have more sway over South America and "really try to set some wider policy."

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Barrack is known for encouraging Trump to think more globally, several White House aides said, and to avoid governing in a manner that appeals only to his base — a strategy favored by some of his advisers.

Unlike some outside friends who Trump speaks to, one of these people said, the president "usually leaves his conversations with Barrack on the right track."

Trump seemed to highlight the possibility in a recent Wall Street Journal interview when he was asked about the position. In the transcript of the interview, he asked the reporters whether they liked Barrack.

"Call him up, tell him I'm giving it to him," Trump says to laughter.

Eliana Johnson contributed to this report.