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 on who would join a second Trump administration.
But the former president himself has publicly floated Paulson’s name.
‘And John Paulson, the great John Paulson made plenty of money in Nevada,’ he said in January after his New Hampshire primary win, picking the billionaire out of the crowd. ‘Doesn’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, you know what, put him at Treasury. You want to make a little 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 emphasized that talks were at an early stage.
The former president is known to throw out a range of names for any job, changing his mind frequently 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 of who will serve in a second Trump administration.
‘President Trump will ultimately choose the best people for his cabinet to undo all the damage Crooked Joe Biden has done to our country.’
Paulson is due to hold a fundraiser for Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, next month with Howard W. Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald 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 for the country.
‘His landslide victory over all other republican contenders shows the enormous 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 promised to contribute at least a million dollars each.