- Trump has publicly floated the idea of appointing ‘money machine’ Paulson
- Insiders say his name is one of several listed as finance minister
- But the Trump campaign said there had been ‘no discussions’
Donald Trump has begun holding meetings with potential cabinet picks and has discussed appointing billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson as Treasury secretary, according to insiders.
Publicly, his campaign insists it has not begun discussions about who would join another Trump administration.
But the former president himself has publicly floated Paulson’s name.
“And John Paulson, the great John Paulson made a lot of money in Nevada,” he said in January after his New Hampshire primary victory, picking the billionaire from the crowd. ‘Don’t live there, but he makes a hell of a lot of money. He makes money everywhere he goes, actually.
‘So, money machine. Maybe we’ll put him in the Treasury, you know what. Do you want to make some money?’
Donald Trump has begun holding meetings with potential cabinet picks and has discussed appointing hedge fund manager John Paulson as Treasury secretary, according to insiders
The Trump campaign said there had been no discussion about staffing a second cabinet
Bloomberg reported Wednesday that his name had come up in recent discussions, citing sources familiar with Trump’s thinking who stressed that talks were at an early stage.
The former president is known to throw out a number of names for any job and change his mind often before making a decision.
Other names reported to be in the frame include: former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer; Susquehanna International Group founder Jeff Yass; and Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung poured cold water on the speculation. He said: ‘There have been no discussions about who should serve in another Trump administration.
‘President Trump will ultimately pick the best people for his cabinet to undo all the damage Crooked Joe Biden has done to our country.’
Paulson is to hold a fundraiser for Trump in Palm Beach, Fla., next month with Howard W. Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald’s chief executive.
“I am very pleased to support President Trump’s re-election efforts,” he told Bloomberg.
“His policies on the economy, energy, immigration and foreign policy will be very beneficial to the country.
“His landslide victory over all other Republican candidates shows the tremendous support he has among American voters.”
He also held a fundraiser at his Palm Beach home last month, where well-heeled donors such as New York Jets owner Woody Johnson pledged to contribute at least $1 million each.
