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| Billionaire businessman Vincent Viola picked as Trump's army secretary Billionaire businessman Vincent Viola picked as Trump's army secretary | |
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| President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has picked the New York billionaire businessman Vincent Viola to be his secretary of the army. | President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he has picked the New York billionaire businessman Vincent Viola to be his secretary of the army. |
| Trump has appointed a number of billionaires to his cabinet, along with leading figures from the world of banking, prompting criticism from some quarters, given the success of a presidential campaign built around an appeal to working-class voters. | Trump has appointed a number of billionaires to his cabinet, along with leading figures from the world of banking, prompting criticism from some quarters, given the success of a presidential campaign built around an appeal to working-class voters. |
| Prior to the appointment of Viola, 60, the net worth of Trump’s cabinet picks was reported to be around $14bn, making it the richest such group ever assembled. | Prior to the appointment of Viola, 60, the net worth of Trump’s cabinet picks was reported to be around $14bn, making it the richest such group ever assembled. |
| The website Quartz reported that such a concentration of wealth was “more than that of the 43 million least wealthy American households combined – over one third of the 126 million households total in the US”. | The website Quartz reported that such a concentration of wealth was “more than that of the 43 million least wealthy American households combined – over one third of the 126 million households total in the US”. |
| Viola, known as Vinnie, is the founder of several businesses including Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm. He also owns the NHL’s Florida Panthers and is a past chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). | Viola, known as Vinnie, is the founder of several businesses including Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm. He also owns the NHL’s Florida Panthers and is a past chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). |
| In a statement, Trump said Viola was “living proof of the American dream”, having grown up in a family of Italian immigrants in Brooklyn, where his father worked as a truck driver. | In a statement, Trump said Viola was “living proof of the American dream”, having grown up in a family of Italian immigrants in Brooklyn, where his father worked as a truck driver. |
| The statement also cited Viola’s leadership of NYMEX after the terrorist attacks of September 11, when his “heroic leadership served as a beacon to thousands of Exchange members and staff”. | The statement also cited Viola’s leadership of NYMEX after the terrorist attacks of September 11, when his “heroic leadership served as a beacon to thousands of Exchange members and staff”. |
| Viola is a 1977 West Point graduate who trained as an airborne ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. | Viola is a 1977 West Point graduate who trained as an airborne ranger infantry officer and served in the 101st Airborne Division. |
| He is also a graduate of New York Law School who in 2003 founded and helped fund the creation of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. | He is also a graduate of New York Law School who in 2003 founded and helped fund the creation of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. |
| In August, he told Bloomberg News in a rare interview he had “tried to re-create … in my Wall Street experience” in his experience in the army, as a member of a division known as the Screaming Eagles. | In August, he told Bloomberg News in a rare interview he had “tried to re-create … in my Wall Street experience” in his experience in the army, as a member of a division known as the Screaming Eagles. |
| Viola bought the Panthers for about $250m in 2013. Reported to be worth $1.8bn himself, he ranks No 374 on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest people in the US. | Viola bought the Panthers for about $250m in 2013. Reported to be worth $1.8bn himself, he ranks No 374 on Forbes’ list of the 400 wealthiest people in the US. |