Earlier this month, reports from the New York Times indicated that Donald Trump was considering Brooke Rollins, the former Domestic Policy Council director and current president of the America First Policy Institute, to potentially serve as his chief of staff if he were to return to the White House. Within a day, news emerged that the America First Policy Institute had been hacked by Chinese hackers, which was not surprising to some within Trump’s inner circle as the institute had been breached almost a year earlier and again recently. Speculation arose that someone who opposed Rollins may have leaked this information to undermine her chances of becoming chief of staff.
This incident highlights the intense competition behind the scenes for such a crucial position in the White House even before the election results are known. The role of chief of staff has always been challenging for Trump, who had four different chiefs during his first term. Trump himself has been superstitious about making plans before securing victory and has been hesitant to discuss the matter extensively. However, discussions among those close to him are ongoing.
Among the three individuals most frequently mentioned for the chief of staff role – Rollins, Susie Wiles, and Kevin McCarthy – Wiles appears to be the frontrunner according to insiders. Her history of helping Trump succeed and her ability to maintain order within his campaign have earned her the trust of the former president. However, there are concerns about her lack of recent government experience and whether she would actually want the job given its demanding nature and past turnover in the position.
Rollins, on the other hand, has been praised for her policy expertise and potential to advance Trump’s legislative agenda. However, some insiders question her suitability for the role, citing her relatively short time in Trump’s inner circle and potential clashes with his economic policies. McCarthy, a former speaker of the House, is seen as someone who could bridge the gap between politics and policy, but there are doubts about whether he would actually accept the position given his current success and financial stability.
Overall, the competition for the chief of staff position in a potential second Trump administration is intense, with each candidate bringing different strengths and weaknesses to the table. Trump’s ultimate decision on who to appoint will be crucial for the success of his administration. Dos confidentes de Trump nos señalaron sin que se les preguntara que el consejero de confianza de McCarthy durante mucho tiempo, Jeff Miller, ha estado haciendo lobby para Howard Lutnick, el CEO de Cantor Fitzgerald que también lidera la transición de Trump, lo que plantea preguntas sobre la influencia de Miller en las decisiones de personal.
Miller le dijo a Playbook que no está involucrado: “Howard ha sido un amigo y cliente durante bastante tiempo, pero no tengo ningún papel, oficialmente, extraoficialmente o de ninguna manera en la transición”.
En cuanto a la opinión de Trump, es complicada. Trump no hizo mucho para intervenir cuando los seguidores acérrimos de MAGA se movieron en contra de McCarthy en la Cámara. Algunos dicen que lo veía como un negociador débil durante sus meses como orador, y sigue molesto de que el californiano no cumplió su promesa de “expurgar” sus dos destituciones.
Sin embargo, los dos siguen siendo cercanos y hablan con frecuencia. Trump aprecia que McCarthy fue uno de sus primeros aliados en el Congreso. Pero la opinión entre aquellos más cercanos al ex presidente es que se sorprenderían si le diera a McCarthy el trabajo.
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La publicación Dentro de la batalla por dirigir la Casa Blanca de Trump apareció primero en World Online.