Ricketts Withdraws as Trump’s Deputy Commerce Nominee to Spend More Time with His Father’s Money
Ricketts Was Named Months Ago as Trump’s Nominee for Deputy Commerce Secretary Despite Having Little Serious Experience Not Tied to His Billionaire Father
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, billionaire Ameritrade-founder Joe Ricketts’ son, Todd Ricketts, withdrew from his nomination to serve as President Trump’s Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Allied Progress, which said of the Ricketts nomination that “almost anyone would be better qualified,” released the following statement:
“Todd Ricketts is the latest Trump nominee to suddenly withdraw his name from consideration–and with good reason. Other than being from a wealthy, well-connected family of GOP mega-donors who helped bankroll Trump’s political aspirations, it was always difficult to see what the administration saw in him,” said Karl Frisch, executive director of Allied Progress.
He continued, “His only claim to fame was being fired on a reality television show for incompetence. And even then, the job was only made possible because of his family’s wealth. Almost anyone would have been better qualified for this important administration appointment overseeing job creation, economic growth, and sustainable development.
“The fact is that Todd Ricketts was uniquely unqualified to hold the job that President Trump nominated him to. We applaud Ricketts for accepting that reality and withdrawing from consideration,” he concluded.
Allied Progress launched Trump Transparency Project to hold the administration accountable for economic appointments and policies that betray working families. As part of the effort, the organization released a detailed research dossier on Ricketts and ran ads encouraging senators to oppose his nomination, including a parody LinkedIn profile (above) that highlighted the fact that much of his career–from business to politics–could be tied directly to the success of his billionaire father instead of his own merit.
After nearly 100 days since taking office, President Trump continues to leave hundreds of vital positions unfilled.
To speak with Karl Frisch about the Ricketts nomination, please contact Rachel Palermo at 202-464-6951 or rpalermo@skdknick.com.
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Allied Progress is a nationwide, progressive advocacy organization that uses hard-hitting research and creative campaigns to hold Wall Street and powerful special interests accountable. Since launching in 2015, the organization has led high-profile campaigns on several issues including reforming the payday lending industry and exposing the those working to cripple the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).