Richest White House
Trump’s 27 top officials are worth £1.8billion
DONALD Trump campaigned as a champion of the working class but his administration team has turned out to be the richest in history.
His 27 senior White House aides had combined assets of more than £1.8billion when they joined the staff, financial disclosures reveal.
Together with the billionaires and multi-millionaires in his cabinet, the latest figures confirm that for all his talk of ‘draining the swamp’ of Washington, the property tycoon prefers to surround himself with fellow members of the financial elite.
The list is headed by the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka, whose property, investment and fashion empire is reportedly worth as much as £590million.
His wife, who has also taken an unpaid formal role in the White House, has put her clothing and jewellery businesses into a trust worth more than £40million which will be overseen by two of her in-laws.
legal advisers insist the Trumps have avoided conflict of interest problems. although as president Mr Trump is exempt from conflict of interest laws, both Mr Kushner and Miss Trump could face charges if they took action in government that could benefit their holdings.
another Trump adviser worth hundreds of millions of dollars is Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs president, and Mr Trump’s economic adviser. His disclosures showed he had assets of at least £183million but his total fortune is put at up to £478million. although Mr Cohn is bound by a two-year ban on dealing with matters related to Goldman Sachs, as head of the White House’s economic council he will still be heavily involved in policy issues affecting the bank. Meanwhile, Reed Cordish, a White House technology adviser and member of a Baltimore property dynasty with strong ties to Mr Trump, earned £44million last year and his total wealth is put at up to £636million.
Steve Bannon, the president’s chief strategist, held assets worth up to £43million. Kellyanne Conway, the presi- dent’s counsellor, was valued at up to £ 32million. Mr Trump’s assets are not included but his cabinet is packed with billionaires and multi- millionaires such as commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, education secretary Betsy DeVos and linda McMahon, head of the small business administration.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said: ‘I think it’s something that should be cel- ebrated that the president has brought a lot of people into the administration... who have been very blessed and very successful..’ Many assets will have been sold since January to avoid conflict of interest.
‘It’s something to be celebrated’