Fights from the Mar-a-Lago patio: How Trump’s personnel policy has already turned into a war

CNN
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Almost immediately after it became clear that Donald Trump was on track to win re-election Tuesday night, the phones began ringing in the president-elect’s orbit, and the conversation around several dinner tables in the Mar-a-Lago ballroom turned to who would staff the Trump’s second term.

Those muted discussions have now turned into an all-out battle taking place right on the patio of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Nearly every table was full Wednesday night amid maneuvering over who sat where and how close their table was to where Trump usually sits, at a table behind a velvet rope, two people told CNN.

Spectators spotted Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Tom Barrack and interim Trump co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon hanging around the club earlier Wednesday. Trump spent part of the day running through names that Lutnick had previously floated in the months leading up to the election, although some questioned whether Trump would rely solely on his recommendations.

Those vying for top jobs are already working the phones, trying to form alliances with others also hoping to secure a spot in the Trump administration. Some have even booked flights to Florida to meet with Trump in the coming days, when many decisions are expected to be made.

Trump has already crossed several options off his list, narrowing his choices, according to several people familiar with the chaotic but aggressive process.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York, who chairs the House GOP Conference, is being considered as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

And one of the biggest battles that arose – over the chief of staff – has since been resolved.

Trump on Thursday named his campaign manager Susie Wiles for the role, promoting her as the first woman to get it. Wiles was widely credited with running what was considered Trump’s most disciplined re-election campaign.

But the rivalry used to come down to two names: Wiles and Brooke Rollins, who served in Trump’s first term and ran the America First Policy Institute. Rollins ultimately gave up competing for the role after it became clear that pursuing it would mean a major power struggle with Wiles. Rollins is expected to continue to play a role in the Trump administration.

Trump has been asked to move into the chief of staff position more quickly than he did in 2016 during a chaotic transition in which he waited until next Sunday to name Reince Priebus to the job. Having a chief of staff would create a power center that people could turn to instead of calling Trump directly.

However, one person noted that Trump has been recruiting people he wants in key positions in recent days.

From time to time over the past few months, Trump has floated names as possible administration nominees, but he has gone no further. Sources close to the former president said that because of his superstition, Trump often refused to engage in longer conversations about who would be appointed to the administration before the election.

As he strengthens his staff, Trump is seeking to reward those who have supported him over the past two years, and in recent private conversations he has made clear that he will seek to accommodate those who have done so – even if their views do not coincide. be sure to agree with yours.

CNN’s Steve Contorno, Kaanita Iyer, Kristen Holmes, Jeremy Herb, Kayla Tausche and Evan Perez contributed to this report.