MIAMI—Miami Mayor Francis Saurez congratulated Benjamin Leon Jr. on Thursday after President-elect Donald Trump named him the next U.S. ambassador to Spain.
"I couldn’t be happier for my good friend. Seeing Benjamín become U.S. Ambassador to Spain is a testament to his hard work, big heart, and dedication to helping people," Saurez said. Great pick @realDonaldTrump."
Leon Jr, 80, founded Leon Medical Centers in Miami in 1996. The company is Miami's leading healthcare service provider for medicare patients with over 42,000 recipients.
On Truth Social, Trump noted Leon Jr. as a "highly successful entrepreneur, equestrian, and philanthropist."
"He [Benjamin Leon Jr.] 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 said. "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."
Trump also touted his investment in Miami-Dade College's Benjamin Leon Jr. School of Nursing and the Benjamin Leon Center for Geriatric Research and Education at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Florida Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart also congratulated Leon Jr. on Friday.
"Congratulations to my dear friend, Benjamin Leon Jr., a true titan in the healthcare field, who is making a profound difference in the lives of seniors and families in Miami-Dade County," Diaz-Balart said. "As an outstanding member of the exiled Cuban-American community, he consistently gives back, advocating for freedom and standing up for those who are oppressed."
In addition, Diaz-Balart called Leon Jr. a true patriot who "embodies the American Dream."
Outside of his work, Leon Jr. is also a noted horse breeder.
Leon Jr. is the latest pick for U.S. ambassador by Trump with Florida ties. The president-elect also recently named Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as U.S. ambassador to Panama last week.
Trump also has tapped several other Floridians for ambassador roles, including Kimberly Guilfoyle (West Palm Beach) to Greece, Callista Gingrich (North Naples) to Switzerland, Dan Newlin (Orlando) to Colombia, and Dr. Peter Lamelas (West Palm Beach) to Argentina.
