>> reporter: as he formally rolled out his pick to be u.s. ambassador to china, iowa governor terry branstad, a longtime friend of the chinese president. >> a man who knows china and like s china. better like china if you're going to be over there. >> reporter: all of this as all eyes are on two big picks next week, a news conference on thursday to announce potentially backing away from his family business. but the incoming president is keeping his ties to "celebrity apprentice," the nbc reality show he launched nearly 15 years ago. sources tell cnn trump will stay on as executive producer of the show, and continue being paid as he is in the oval office, raising even more questions about the growing list of c conflicts between his business dealings and the presidency. >> all right, sunlen serfaty reporting. i want to take you now live to