The US President has chosen Lynne Patton, Eric Trump’s wedding planner and former Vice President of the Eric Trump Foundation, to lead a major region of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In the role, Ms Patton will be responsible for billions of dollars in federal funding for public housing across states including New York and New Jersey – despite having no experience in urban planning.
However in 2014, she did plan Eric Trump’s wedding, while from 2009 to 2011 she organised “upscale events ad celebrity golf tournaments as well as PR and fundraising for the Trump organisation.
A family affair
But it’s not such a surprise when you look at some of Trump’s other controversial appointments. His daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner are now familiar faces in the White House, while his former golf caddie Dan Scavino Jr is director of social media.
It’s a decision that’s prompted a strong response in New York, with Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had the same job when Bill Clinton was President, telling local radio that it’s an unprecedented move.
“Like many things in the Trump universe, we’re dealing with things we’ve never seen before,” he said.
Ain’t that the truth.