President-elect Donald Trump has selected yet another billionaire for his cabinet: infamous corporate raider Carl Icahn will advise Trump on his sweeping plans to dismantle government regulations, it was announced late Wednesday.
“According to Forbes he is worth $16.5 billion, making him the 50th richest man in the world,” notes CNN Money. “That would make him the richest member of the Trump administration, including the President-elect himself, who Forbes estimates is worth is worth $4.5 billion.”
“Donald Trump has selected a man who epitomizes predatory corporate capitalism to lead his deregulatory charge,” observed Robert Weissman, president of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, in a statement.
“In accepting the designation,” Weissman continued, “Icahn cites fanciful and false claims about the cost of regulation, while failing to acknowledge regulatory benefits, which include preventing consumer rip-offs, protecting the air and water, making our food and water safer, and much more.”