Trump Ballroom Donor Appointed to Lead $200m State Department Central Asia Fund

Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born investor and major Trump donor, will chair the Tripp+ enterprise fund overseeing investments in transportation and energy infrastructure across Central Asia and the Caucasus.

• The State Department confirmed Konstantin Sokolov's appointment as chairman of the Tripp+ fund on Friday.
• Sokolov was one of 36 donors who contributed over $350m to Donald Trump's ballroom project, according to campaign records.
• The $201m Tripp+ fund will make loans, equity investments, and grants in eight countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, a State Department spokesperson said.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed the broader Tripp economic and security agreement in late May.