Fishback’s request for the Fed seat followed earlier attempts to draw on Trump-world connections for capital. Documents reviewed by ABC News show he asked conservative activist Alex Bruesewitz to wire $25,000 into a newly launched Azoria exchange-traded fund, promising strong returns. Bruesewitz declined after informal due-diligence raised concerns, and the fund’s trustees voted in October to liquidate two Azoria ETFs, citing litigation involving a firm principal.
That litigation stems from Fishback’s previous employer, Greenlight Capital and DME Capital Management, which accused him in a civil suit of falsely claiming to be the firm’s “Head of Macro.” A joint court filing in September states Fishback admitted to sharing confidential information and agreed to return or delete it. Fishback argues the dispute was narrowed to a routine breach-of-contract claim and points to an internal 2023 email that referred to him as “head of macro.”
The failed Fed bid did not end Fishback’s political ambitions. Over the past several weeks he has signaled plans to enter Florida’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary, targeting Representative Byron Donalds, whom Trump has endorsed as a successor to term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis. Fishback is scheduled to make a formal announcement on Monday.
Since late October, Fishback’s social-media feed has attacked Donalds over past comments supporting H-1B visas, labeling the congressman “DEI Donalds.” Critics within conservative circles call the nickname racially charged; Fishback says the initials stand for “Didn’t Earn It.” He contends his decision to run solidified after an Aug. 18 dinner with Donalds in Naples. Yet video from an Aug. 24 event shows Fishback praising Donalds as a “friend”—posts he has since removed.
The emerging primary is already complicated. While Trump backs Donalds, allies of DeSantis have considered alternative contenders, including Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins and, at one point, Casey DeSantis. Former Representative Matt Gaetz weighed a campaign before a House Ethics Committee report dampened interest.
Imagem: Internet
Fishback’s rise began earlier this year when conservative media labeled him a “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) adviser” after he promoted a proposal on social platform X to send Americans dividend checks funded by government savings. Elon Musk picked up the idea and relayed it to Trump, who later floated a similar $2,000 “tariff dividend.” Fishback’s television appearances grew, but former DOGE officials say he never held an official or informal advisory position. Fishback maintains he contributed by drafting the dividend concept and argues critics are disputing “semantics.”
Fishback also cultivated ties with 2024 presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy. Early in that campaign, Fishback attended events uninvited, former staffers said, even asking to stay in campaign-booked hotel rooms. Ramaswamy initially supported Fishback’s high school debate nonprofit, Incubate Debate, but aides claim enthusiasm waned as the behavior continued. Fishback rejects the characterization, attributing criticism to “jealous staffers.”
As Fishback prepares to challenge Donalds, Trump advisers who fielded his Fed lobbying now question his motives. “A lot of people are just asking themselves, who the hell is this guy?” one adviser told ABC News. Fishback counters that establishment figures fear a candidate committed to preserving DeSantis’ policies while opposing what he describes as corporate overdevelopment, higher electric bills, and expanded use of foreign labor.
For now, Fishback faces skepticism from influential Republican operatives and scrutiny over his short-lived financial products, contested résumé details, and shifting alliances. Whether his insurgent run gains traction could depend on how Florida’s GOP electorate views those unresolved questions against Donalds’ endorsement from the former president.
Crédito da imagem: ABC News
