President Trump has long used his own wealth to bolster his attractiveness, first as a candidate, then as a president. But Vice President Mike Pence, according to a New Yorker profile, does not have a bank account with numbers anywhere near those of President Trump’s. In fact, Pence’s political career has been “sponsored at almost every turn,” but the same donors slammed by Trump — and this has some concerned at the prospect of a Pence Presidency, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon.
“I’m concerned he’d be a president that the Kochs would own,” Bannon told the New Yorker. History between the billionaire brothers and Pence stretches back years, the outlet reports, to when they contributed at least a million dollars to Pence’s gubernatorial race in Indiana.
“The Kochs were very excited about the vice-presidential pick,” Marc Short, the head of legislative affairs in the White House, told the New Yorker. “There are areas where they differ from the Administration, but now there are many areas they’re partnering with us on.”
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, was more brazen. “If Pence were to become President for any reason, the government would be run by the Koch brothers—period. He’s been their tool for years,” Whitehouse reportedly said.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
