President Donald Trump nominated billionaire Vincent Viola to be secretary of the Army shortly after becoming president in January 2017.
Two weeks later, Viola, founder of the electronic trading firm Virtu Financial, withdrew his name from consideration because of potential conflict of interests between the companies he owned and their financial interests with the government.
He was the first Trump nominations to be withdrawn from consideration from a cabinet position.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/viola-withdraws-as-trumps-army-secretary-nominee-234641
Trump praised Viola, a West Point graduate and Army major who once served in the 101st Airborne, for his “deep background in national security affairs with an impressive track record of leading and managing high-performing teams within the military and the private sector.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/viola-withdraws-as-trumps-army-secretary-nominee-234641
Trump, CNN reported, preferred to hire billionaires over non-billionaires – and this created unintended consequences.
“Viola is one of a handful of billionaires Trump has nominated to serve in his administration who have faced intense pressure over potential conflicts of interest,” CNN said.
CNN also reported that Defense Secretary James Mattis was displeased with the selection of Viola because Trump did not notify Mattis before announcing Viola’s nomination. CNN said that one source said Mattis threatened to resign if Trump made other Pentagon appointments without consulting him.
