The White House is eyeing Portland hotelier Gordon Sondland to be ambassador to the European Union and has asked E.U. officials if Sondland is an acceptable nominee, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The apparently imminent nomination comes as tensions have been bubbling between the U.S. and European allies over disagreements on trade and immigration.

The Oregonian/OregonLive first reported in September of last year that Sondland, 60, was being vetted for a State Department security clearance -- a key hurdle to becoming a U.S. diplomat.

Sondland is the founder and chief executive of Provenance Hotels, a local company that owns and manages the Dossier Hotel, Hotel Lucia, Hotel deLuxe, The Benson, Sentinel and The Heathman Hotel and several Portland restaurants. Sondland also co-founded a merchant capital bank called Aspen Capital.

Along with business, Sondland is active in politics. He is the regional vice chairman of the Republican National Committee's finance leadership team. He also gave $1 million to then-President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural committee. Sondland's name was not explicitly attached to the seven-figure donation because it was given by several companies he controls.

If officially nominated by Trump for the E.U. envoy post, Sondland would have to be confirmed by the full U.S. Senate.

-- Gordon R. Friedman

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