If Donald Trump wins the White House, it sounds like he may fill his administration with a bevy of fellow billionaires.
During a speech in Michigan Tuesday, Trump said he talked to Carl Icahn about joining his administration to lead America’s trade negotiations with China and Japan, and the 79-year old billionaire investor apparently told him he was ready and willing.
“I said, ‘Carl, if I get this thing, I want to put you in charge of China and Japan, can you handle both of them? Okay? China and Japan,'” Trump narrated. “And he said, ‘I’ll do it, I’ll do it, I wanna do it.'” )RELATED: The Message Trump Has Consistently Promoted For Three Decades: America Needs A Master Negotiator)
Trump has brought up the idea of using Icahn as an international negotiator in speeches before, including during the first Republican presidential debate last week. Though in the debate Trump did not mention that he had yet talked to Icahn about the possibility, Icahn actually took to Twitter after the debate to joke that he would accept an appointment to lead the Treasury Department in a Trump administration.
1/3 After last night’s debate I decided to accept @realDonaldTrump offer for Secretary of Treasury.
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015
Icahn followed up the tweet with two more calling for reform of America’s political process.
2/3 Seriously, the methods of electing our corporate and political leaders have become completely dysfunctional.
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015
3/3 In both areas, we are in dire need of a breath of fresh air.
— Carl Icahn (@Carl_C_Icahn) August 7, 2015
According to Bloomberg, Icahn is worth more than $21 billion, which is more than seven times what Bloomberg estimates Trump himself is worth.
The Daily Caller reached an assistant to Icahn Tuesday to get comment about whether Icahn is really willing to join a Trump administration. She said she would pass TheDC’s request for an interview on to the legendary investor, but no comment or interview has yet been produced.