Earlier this month, it was reported by the New York Times that Donald Trump was considering Brooke Rollins, his former Domestic Policy Council director and current president of the America First Policy Institute, to serve as chief of staff in a potential return to the White House. Within a day, news emerged that the AFPI, known as the “White House in waiting,” had been hacked by the Chinese. This was not a surprise to Trump’s inner circle, as the institute had been breached a year prior and again recently. Speculation arose that someone opposed to Rollins leaked the news to undermine her candidacy for the chief of staff position.
This incident highlights the intense competition behind the scenes for a key White House role even before Trump secures victory in the election. The chief of staff position is crucial and challenging for Trump, who had four chiefs in his first term. Trump himself has been superstitious about making plans before winning and has been reluctant to discuss the matter extensively. However, discussions and speculations are ongoing among those close to the former president.
Among the three most mentioned candidates for the chief of staff role – Rollins, Susie Wiles, and Kevin McCarthy – Wiles is considered the frontrunner by many insiders due to her role as de facto campaign manager and her effective management of Trump’s campaign. Despite concerns about her lack of recent government experience, Wiles is praised for her professionalism and trustworthiness with Trump. However, it remains uncertain if Wiles actually desires the position given its demanding nature.
Rollins, on the other hand, is viewed as a strong policy expert who could help advance Trump’s legislative agenda. However, her critics question her political acumen and believe she may not be suited for the chief of staff role. McCarthy, a former speaker, is seen as someone who has both political and policy skills, making him a strong contender for the position.
Overall, the competition for the chief of staff role in a potential second Trump administration is intense, with each candidate having their strengths and weaknesses. Trump’s decision on who to appoint remains uncertain, with each candidate facing scrutiny and speculation from various quarters. Dos colaboradores cercanos a Trump señalaron sin ser preguntados que el consejero de confianza de McCarthy, Jeff Miller, ha estado haciendo lobby para Howard Lutnick, el CEO de Cantor Fitzgerald que también lidera la transición de Trump, lo que plantea dudas 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 por 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 intervino mucho cuando los leales a MAGA se movieron en contra de McCarthy en la Cámara. Algunos dicen que lo veía como un negociador débil durante sus meses como presidente de la Cámara, y sigue molesto de que el californiano no cumpliera su promesa de “borrar” sus dos juicios políticos.
Sin embargo, los dos siguen siendo cercanos y hablan con frecuencia. Trump aprecia que McCarthy fuera uno de sus primeros aliados en el Congreso. Pero la opinión entre los más cercanos al expresidente es que se sorprenderían si le diera a McCarthy el puesto.
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El artículo Inside the battle to run the Trump White House apareció primero en World Online.