As we all know, Donald Trump is back. Not only did he return, but he also brought with him a cadre of familiar and new faces. So now we deal with a Trump 2.0 brain, which still resembles quite a lot Trump 1.0, including the longtime loyalists who stood beside the president throughout his Florida exile, as well as his Manhattan courtroom days, and an array of friends and donors who have long traveled the Mar-a-Lago circuit.
However, now it also features newcomers who showed their mettle and loyalty on the 2024 trail by using their platform or their money to support the whole MAGA cause, and also reflect the broad coalition the president runs.
Who are they?
These are the people Trump always dials up at all hours of the day to gab and get their counsel or who are in close physical proximity to him at all times. They are also the people who will have his ear as he enters his second four-year term as the President of the United States, with a robust policy agenda that also includes mass deportations, expansive tariffs, and trying to buy Greenland.
Trump is, as he has always been, no ordinary politician. His orbit clearly shows that, including the wealthiest man out there, the head of a mixed martial arts promotional company, and the “human printer” who credits the president with saving her life.
But it’s true that one’s place in President’s Trump world can be quite ephemeral. Those who have his ear today can easily be out tomorrow. I mean, look at Elon Musk. Moreover, those seemingly cast into exile could easily find their way back. Everything is unpredictable like that.
Inside Trump World: the loyalists, gatekeepers, and power players that shape a potential second term
Since Donald Trump got the White House return he was hoping for, a constellation of loyalists, operatives, and insiders surrounds him now. Some are familiar, others are newly empowered. They’re not only part of his campaign team: it’s an entire parallel administration-in-waiting. And at the center of it is no other than Susie Wiles.
Susie Wiles: the Queen of Trump world
Wiles, who has been seen as the most professional and disciplined campaign manager Trump ever had, now serves as his de facto chief of staff. Trump trusts her fully, which is an exceedingly rare dynamic, considering his antics.
She has managed to stay close without ever overstepping, completely mastering the art of controlling the chaos without attempting to control the man at its center. This delicate balance has somehow kept her influence intact.
Wiles is also the gatekeeper. Every single meeting, personnel decision, and strategic move passes through her orbit. Unlike many other Trump insiders, she manages to shun the spotlight, being more reserved and quiet. What she wants is quite simple, in fact: to execute the mission, while successfully surviving the turbulence that wrecked her predecessors.
Stephen Miller: The Ideologue returns
If Wiles has become the architect of Trump’s political machine, Stephen Miller is the ideological engine. Since he is now even more empowered, Miller seems to be the driving force behind Trump’s “America First” policy agenda, especially when it comes to immigration.
In a second term, he aims to go even further, pushing for sweeping deportations and tighter border controls. However, Miller’s reach extends way beyond immigration. He’s, in fact, a seasoned operator, with plenty of institutional knowledge from the first administration.
He also plays quite a central role in shaping domestic and foreign policy alike. His main goal is to institutionalize the nationalist-populist agenda that defines Trumpism as it is today.
The Trusted Insiders: from the fairway all the way to the frontlines
Trump’s secret world definitely thrives on trust, proximity, and familiarity. Steve Witkoff, a well-known billionaire real estate developer and also Trump’s long-term buddy, checks all the boxes. He was sent as a special envoy to the Middle East, he has a strong bond with Trump, which gives him unusual sway over foreign policy.
Their long golf games double as policy meetings, oftentimes, a Witkoff uses all this to keep an open door and influence many external matters, from Middle East negotiations to regional realignments.
Of course, there’s also Karoline Leavitt, 27 years old, but already making history as the youngest White House press secretary ever. A rising star, if we may, in newly established conservative media circles, she somehow proved her mettle as one of the fastest and most effective communicators during this campaign.
Now, she has to face the daunting task of defending Trump from the White House podium. Her main goal is to avoid the fate of Sean Spicer and carefully build trust with both the press corps and the public.
The Power brokers behind the curtain
Supporting Wiles is no less than a cadre of battle-tested ops, such as James Blair, deputy chief of staff for legislative and public affairs, or even Taylor Budowich, who now oversees communications and personnel.
Blair, a well-known Florida-based political strategist, is by far one of the most well-connected players in Trump’s inner circle. Budowich, who was Trump Jr.’s former gatekeeper, has received a prime West Wing office, which was normally reserved for the press secretary. This should also point to his central role.
Vince Haley, the ghostwriter of Trump’s domestic policy, is another name worth knowing. As director of the Domestic Policy Council, it seems he has a huge influence, yet subtle. He crafts the words our president, Trump, reads from the teleprompter, seeding his speeches with ideas from the populist right. Haley’s mission? Keep Trump on message, no small feat.
Then, of course, there’s Natalie Harp, also known as the President’s “human printer.” Always at his side, she is the conduit through which much of the outside world reaches him. She prints and hand-delivers articles, memos, as well as talking points.
Basically, anything Trump wants in hard copy. Her dedication is rooted in personal gratitude, but she credits Trump with saving her life after he decided to sign a law that let her access experimental cancer treatment.
National security and legislative game plans
For foreign policy, Trump leans on retired General Keith Kellogg for his very special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg has been quite a fixture since 2015, often seen in the background at Mar-a-Lago.
His counsel is extremely relevant when it comes to navigating the war in Ukraine, but also managing relationships with NATO allies and adversaries alike. James Braid, the newest director of legislative affairs, will serve as Trump’s top link to Capitol Hill.
A very close ally of JD Vance, but also a veteran of OMB, Braid knows very well what it’s like in the congressional trenches. His number one challenge is steering a controversial agenda through what could turn out to be a razor-thin Senate majority.
In the meantime, Sergio Gor, director of the Presidential Personnel Office, is currently tasked with staffing the following administration. While his job is not very flashy, it’s still critical: placing Trump loyalists in thousands of government roles. Gor is a MAGA mainstay, since he is part political operator, part social impresario, even DJing during presidential parties in Palm Beach.
If you found this article useful, we also recommend checking: 11 Most Corrupt Cities in USA
