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The Paychex billionaire says he is not investing in the rumored Trump TV station.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
As President Donald Trump’s days in the White House are numbered, there’s speculation that he might start his own television network—what’s being referred to as “Trump TV.” Launching a network is expensive and would require help from well-heeled investors, but New York Times media columnist Ben Smith identified a possible funder on Monday—billionaire Tom Golisano.
Golisano, however, says he has no such plans. “It’s absolutely false. I don’t know where he got it from,” the billionaire says, speaking from his home in Florida on Tuesday. “100% false. I never even talked about it.”
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Golisano says it’s unlikely that he would fund a TV network if given the opportunity.
“It’s not my kind of investment. I have no experience in that area, that’s number one,” he added, “and I don’t know any entrepreneurs who would turn a project like that over to [Trump].”
The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment. Smith said he had previously reached out to Golisano, who acknowledged his question but did not respond directly.
Worth $4.3 billion, Golisano is best-known for building Rochester-based payroll processor Paychex and mounting three losing bids to become governor of New York. (He ran on a campaign promising to lower local property taxes by 20 to 30 percent.) He also once owned the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and is currently married to former tennis star Monica Seles.
Golisano is also known for his strong dislike of property taxes and for his decades-long, high-profile attempts to lower his tax bill.
He did not seem to know anyone else who might be interested in funding Trump TV and says he has not spoken to Trump or his team. “I have nothing to offer, quite frankly,” Golisano explained, adding that he was about to light up a cigar and enjoy Florida’s beautiful weather.