Donald Trump is banking on real estate bigwigs to shape U.S. economic policy if he wins the November election. The Republican presidential candidate on Friday unveiled an economic policy team including Vector Group’s Howard Lorber, Vornado Realty Trust’s Steven Roth and Colony Capital founder Tom Barrack.
Others who made the team include hedge fund manager John Paulson, Federal Savings Bank CEO Stephen Calk, banker and poker player Andy Beal, economic policy analyst Stephen Moore, former Goldman Sachs banker and chief Trump fundraiser Steven Mnuchin, Cerberus Capital Management CEO Steve Feinberg, ex-Nucor Corporation executive Dan DiMicco, oil and gas billionaire Harold Hamm, and former Bear Stearns executive and politician David Malpass.
UC Irvine economist Peter Navarro appears to be the only member of the all-male team who holds a PhD in economics.
Trump name-dropped Roth [TRDataCustom] (who holds an MBA from Dartmouth) in his victory speech after the New York Republican primary in April. “Steve’s building a big building on Central Park South,” Trump said, speaking of 220 Central Park South. “It’s a tremendous success. I said ‘Steve, congratulations on the building.’ He said: ‘Donald, it’s nothing compared to what’s happening with you.’”
Howard Lorber (who holds a master’s degree in taxation from CW Post) has also been spotted at Trump campaign events and fundraisers. He donated $100,000 to Trump Victory, a Super PAC backing the candidate.
Although Roth joined a Trump fundraising lunch for real estate executives in June, he has yet to donate to his campaign, filings indicate.
Roth and Lorber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump has been vague on his economic plans to date, although he proposed a debt-financed, $500-billion infrastructure investment program earlier this week. He is expected to hold a speech on economic policy in Detroit on Monday.