Confidential Memo: Company of Trump Inaugural Chair Sought to Profit From Connections to Administration, Foreigners

Claims supported by this source

1. factdocumented

   On November 15, 2016, Donald Trump's presidential transition named Thomas Barrack chairman of Trump's inaugural committee; the contemporaneous announcement described Barrack as a longtime friend and business associate of Trump, and later independent reporting documented the same inaugural-chair role.

   Independent reporting identifies Barrack as Trump's longtime friend and inaugural chair

   Trump put longtime business associate Thomas Barrack in charge of his inaugural committee · Historical role concluded after the 2017 inauguration · reviewed 2026-09-03

2. factreported

   ProPublica and WNYC reported on February 5, 2019 that a February 2017 Colony NorthStar memo proposed using Thomas Barrack's relationship with Donald Trump and foreign officials to cultivate administration contacts and attract infrastructure investment, while seeking to avoid the appearance of lobbying; the report said the firm then managed $44 billion, a company assets-under-management figure rather than Barrack's personal wealth, and quoted Colony saying the proposal was never acted upon or implemented.

   Obtained February 2017 memo, proposed access mechanism, $44 billion company AUM, and Colony response

   Barrack's firm drafted a plan to turn Trump-administration access into investment leads · Investigative report published; Colony disputed that the plan was implemented · reviewed 2026-09-03