Phil Ruffin advised Trump against appointing John Bolton as national security advisor but the latter had already been hired
Former President Donald Trump just appeared in a three-hour interview with famous podcaster Joe Rogan, providing some insights into his political career. In a curious reveal, Trump admitted that he needed a lot of outside advice for key staff appointments – some of which he got from casino mogul Phil Ruffin.
“He’s Got That Poker Sense”
When asked how he made appointments, the former president explained that, at first, he didn’t know many people from Washington. As a “New York guy,” Trump had to lean on trusted contacts for advice.
One of these contacts was Phil Ruffin, the owner of Treasure Island and Circus Circus in Las Vegas, and a close friend to Trump, who advised the ex-president against appointing John Bolton as national security advisor.
Bolton, for context, was appointed as national security advisor following the exit of Mike Flynn in 2018. However, he had multiple disagreements with Trump and constantly scrutinized the then-president. As a result, Trump asked him to resign several months later.
Trump described Ruffin as a great card player who has got a great “poker sense.” Trump noted that his fellow businessman rightly predicted that Bolton would mean trouble. Unfortunately, by that point, the latter had already been hired, the former president explained.
Ruffin, for context, is one of Trump’s mightiest businessman allies. The casino owner has so far donated millions to Trump’s cause and has also held rallies at his Treasure Island property.
The Election Draws Near and Every Vote Counts
The fate of America for the next few years will be decided next week. The election has been set to take place on November 5, prompting a surge in political betting.
A few days ago, Kalshi, the popular regulated exchange and prediction market, recorded a spike in election bets.
The two candidates, in turn, have intensified their campaigning. Trump, for example, recently became the first US president to have ever completed a Bitcoin transaction. The ex-POTUS has been trying to appeal to influential businessmen, promising better business conditions.
Kamala Harris, on the other hand, has been working hard to appeal to the average American. She recently secured backing from former president Barack Obama who said that she not only has an idea but an actual plan on how to tackle some of the issues the US society faces.
