Statement on Confirmation Hearing of Trump Commerce Secretary Nominee Wilbur Ross

“I can’t believe I have to say this, but anyone who would make homophobic and sexist jokes while presiding over a meeting of a secret society of wealthy financial industry figures that featured skits and songs mocking the poor should not be confirmed by the senate for such an important post.” – Karl Frisch, Allied Progress


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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Allied Progress released the following statement concerning the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary nominee, Wilbur Ross:

I can’t believe I have to say this, but anyone who would make homophobic and sexist jokes while presiding over a meeting of a secret society of wealthy financial industry figures that featured skits and songs mocking the poor should not be confirmed by the senate for such an important post,” said Allied Progress Executive Director Karl Frisch.

He continued, “Wilbur Ross is an out-of-touch billionaire who thinks the one percent is unfairly picked on. Unfortunately, he is the one that has indicated an interest in ‘picking on’ other Americans. He has stripped workers of their retirement savings and healthcare benefits. He supports the outsourcing of jobs and raising the Social Security retirement age. He has no respect for the hardworking Americans who built this country or he would not support such policies. Wilbur Ross should not be confirmed.”

Last month, Allied Progress launched Trump Transparency Project, an initiative aimed at holding the incoming administration accountable for its economic appointments and policies that will hurt America’s middle class. You can read the project’s profile on Wilbur Ross here.

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. is President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary. Known as the “bankruptcy king,” he is a careless, out-of-touch billionaire investment banker who has made a fortune exploiting workers and gutting companies. Ross thinks the one percent are unfairly criticized, and as the former president of a secret society of elite financial industry figures, he made homophobic and sexist jokes at an event that also featured skits and songs mocking the poor. He has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to politicians over the years and supports a variety of policies that would hurt hard-working Americans, including increasing the retirement age on Social Security and outsourcing jobs.

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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).

To speak with Allied Progress about this release, please contact Mike Czin, 202-286-7654.

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