Donald Trump is ‘considering billionaire hedge fund titan John Paulson as his Treasury secretary’
- Trump has publicly floated the idea of appointing Paulson as a “money machine.”
- Insiders say his name is one of several candidates for Finance Minister
- But the Trump campaign said there had been “no discussions.”
Donald Trump has started holding meetings with potential Cabinet members and has discussed appointing billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson as Treasury secretary, according to insiders.
His campaign publicly maintains that discussions have not yet begun over who would join a second Trump administration.
But the former president himself has publicly brought up Paulson’s name.
“And John Paulson, the great John Paulson, made a lot of money in Nevada,” he said in January after his victory in the New Hampshire primary, plucking the billionaire from the crowd. ‘Doesn’t live there, but he makes a lot of money. In fact, he makes money everywhere.
‘Money machine then. Maybe we’ll put him in the Treasury Department, you know what. Do you want to make some money?’
Donald Trump has started meeting 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 on Wednesday that his name had come up in recent discussions, citing sources familiar with Trump’s thinking who emphasized that the talks were in their early stages.
The former president is known to throw out a series of names for each position and frequently change his mind before making a decision.
Other names reportedly featured in the frame include: former US trade representative Robert Lighthizer; Susquehanna International Group founder Jeff Yass; and Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung poured cold water on the speculation. He said: “There have been no discussions about 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 will hold a fundraiser for Trump next month in Palm Beach, Florida, with Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard W. Lutnick.
“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 candidates shows the enormous support he has among American voters.”
He also held a fundraiser at his Palm Beach home last month, where wealthy donors such as New York Jets owner Woody Johnson pledged to contribute at least $1 million each.