POLITICO
Donald Trump is back. And he’s brought a cadre of familiar, and not so familiar, faces with him.
The Trump 2.0 brain trust isn’t wholly dissimilar from Trump 1.0, including the longtime loyalists who stood beside the president through his Florida exile and his Manhattan courtroom days as well as an array of friends and donors who have long traveled the Mar-a-Lago circuit.
But it also features an array of newcomers who proved their mettle, and loyalty, on the 2024 trail by using their platform, or their dollars, to support the MAGA cause — and reflect the broad coalition the president now helms.
These are the people Trump dials up at all hours of the day both to gab and get their counsel, or are in close physical proximity to him. They’re the people who will have his ear as he enters his second four-year term as president with a robust policy agenda that includes mass deportations, expansive tariffs — and maybe trying to buy Greenland.
Trump is, as always, no ordinary politician. His orbit reflects that, including the wealthiest man in the world, the head of a mixed martial arts promotional company and a so-called “human printer” who credits the president with saving her life.
But, one’s place in Trump world can also be ephemeral. Those who have his ear today could as easily be out tomorrow. And those seemingly cast into exile have a way of finding their way back in.
With that in mind, here’s our nonexhaustive breakdown of the people the president is leaning on for counsel as of Inauguration Day, based on original reporting and interviews with people who know and have worked with Trump.
On the inside
Who you know…
Susie Wiles
Chief of staff and queen of Trump world
Why she matters
Trump trusts her completely and, importantly, she has widespread respect among the various MAGA-world factions. She ran by far the most professional of his three campaigns for the White House. Wiles tries to control the chaos around Trump, but never tries to control him — a point that has preserved her space in his orbit.
What she wants
Wiles has been empowered as gatekeeper and wants to execute on that in an environment that will present many more challenges than the campaign. She eschews the spotlight but judiciously wields the sword. She also wants to survive, a goal that eluded her predecessors.
Stephen Miller
Deputy chief of staff for policy and architect of Trump’s immigration policies
Why he matters
Miller, who was instrumental in shaping Trump’s “America First” agenda, is even more empowered now. He is the brains behind all things immigration — from sealing the border to mass deportations. Miller, who represents the ideological core of Trumpism, has a massive portfolio beyond immigration. He’s also one of the few people among the core staff in Trump’s second term who has done this before and knows how the White House works.
What he wants
Miller, a true believer, wants to push the president’s nationalist, populist agenda as far as he can.
Steve Witkoff
Special envoy to the Middle East. Billionaire real estate developer, donor and longtime Trump friend.
Why he matters
He is Trump’s golf buddy — and their drive down the fairway goes back to the 1980s. Trump is open to his counsel and, given how long a round of golf can go, he gets plenty of time to bend Trump’s ear. His tight bond with Trump empowers him in his official role and beyond. And despite the recent multiphase cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the task ahead remains daunting.
Karoline Leavitt
The new, and at 27 is the youngest ever, White House press secretary
Why she matters
Leavitt, who worked in the last Trump White House as an assistant press secretary, has in the last two years proved herself to be one of the president’s toughest and most nimble communicators, making the rounds on cable to tout and defend his agenda as national press secretary. It’s a skill that’ll come in handy as she faces tough questions from reporters in the briefing room. But she’s known for her amiability, too — another skill that’ll come in handy with this job.
What she wants
To avoid the fate of Sean Spicer, who did not last long and lost credibility with the public after he defended Trump’s falsehoods.
Who you should know…
James Blair
Deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs. He was political director on the campaign and at the Republican National Committee.
Why he matters
He’s another Florida man who helped Wiles win the state for Trump in 2020. He’s one of the people she heavily relies on. He’ll be coordinating all the people working to execute Trump’s agenda and will be deeply in the know about what’s driving the day in the Oval. During the campaign, he was almost always in the room and, for now, that’s likely to remain the case.
What he wants
He’s a true believer. His ideology and vibe matches MAGA.
Taylor Budowich
Deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. He ran Trump’s 2024 super PAC.
Why he matters
He impressed as Donald Trump Jr.’s gatekeeper in 2020, and Wiles took him under her wing. He’s now one of Wiles’ guys and Trump likes him. Plus, anyone who has Trump Jr.’s trust will have serious juice. He’s taking over one of the most coveted offices in the West Wing, usually reserved for the press secretary, a sign that he’s willing to use his muscle.
What he wants
Proximity and survival.
Vince Haley
Director of the Domestic Policy Council, where he will head up the president’s domestic policy agenda.
Why he matters
You’ll never see him but you’ll hear his words read off the prompter, his policies in executive orders and his political philosophy injected throughout the administration. Few people are more behind the scenes than Wiles but Haley, who worked for 12 years for former Speaker Newt Gingrich, is one of them. He is trusted, respected and heard.
What he wants
For Trump to stay on the prompter. Good luck with that!
Natalie Harp
Trump’s aide and “human printer”
Why she matters
The former far-right cable news anchor is now gatekeeper Numero Uno. She’s always with Trump. She gained the “human printer” moniker because she literally carries around a printer in a backpack so she’s able to print hardcopies — Trump’s preferred medium — of reading material. If you want to get to Trump or get information to Trump, you go through Harp. She has long been the conduit for the flow of news, sometimes to the chagrin of others.
What she wants
To loyally serve Trump, who she credits with saving her life. A 2018 law Trump enacted allowed her to access an experimental treatment for bone cancer.
Keith Kellogg
Special envoy for Ukraine and Russia and a decorated retired three-star general
Why he matters
Kellogg will be the central figure to help Trump handle the war in Ukraine. But that’s not the only reason he’s important. He’s been with Trump since 2015, from the moment he came down the golden escalator. He went to Pence world at the direction of Trump. He has been a regular fixture at Mar-a-Lago, even in the off-years. Trump may have his teams on military and foreign policy, but he’ll likely be calling up the general for his take on it all.
James Braid
Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, the top liaison between the White House and Capitol Hill
Why he matters
Braid is a longtime Hill staffer and close JD Vance ally, serving as his top policy staffer in the Senate. He worked in legislative affairs at the Office of Management and Budget during the first administration. And he has a major task ahead of him — navigating reconciliation.
Sergio Gor
Director of the Presidential Personnel Office, tasked with the monumental job of installing thousands of political appointees across the administration.
Why he matters
His job isn’t sexy, but he will have a crucial impact on Trump’s plans to install loyalists in key positions. Gor is perhaps one of the most colorful, amusing and well-liked characters in Trump’s orbit. He co-founded a publishing company with Trump Jr. that has produced several of the elder Trump’s books — and has DJ’ed MAGA parties across Palm Beach for the last four years.
On the outside
Who you know…
Donald Trump Jr.
Trump’s eldest son
Why he matters
He’s the most involved of Trump’s five children. Trump Jr. appears to love — and want to take on — his father’s MAGA cause. He’s not taking an official role but will be talking to his father regularly and sharing his input on just about everything. If he wants someone out, they’ll probably be out. If he wants someone in, they’ll probably be in. (Vance, Trump’s heir-apparent, can for instance thank Trump Jr. for helping make him vice president.)
What he wants
His father’s confidence.
Tucker Carlson
A former Fox News host and conservative media personality
Why he matters
He’s besties with Trump Jr., and helped him push for Vance for veep. Both Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard likely wouldn’t be nominees (for Health and Human Services secretary and National Intelligence Director, respectively) without him. Despite his 2023 dismissal from Fox, Carlson retains a huge following. He’s got all the characteristics that Trump is drawn to.
What he wants
Relevance. Proximity to power.
Jason Miller
A longtime Trump adviser and CEO of the conservative social media platform Gettr
Why he matters
Trump will always take his calls. He’s been at Trump’s side since the first campaign, and has had staying power through personal scandal and the constant knife fights of the first administration.
Chris LaCivita
Trump’s 2024 co-campaign manager and senior adviser and a longtime GOP strategist and power player
Why he matters
LaCivita, known for running ruthless campaigns, was Wiles’ co-campaign manager, blocker and tackler. Wiles ran from the spotlight; he ran to it. When there’s dirty work to do, LaCivita is usually the one to volunteer and get it done.
Elon Musk
Tech mastermind, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner and Executive Chair of X — and the wealthiest man in the world
Why he matters
Since the election, Musk has become Trump’s ever-present shadow, renting a cottage at Mar-a-Lago and dropping in on meetings and dinners. And he’s more than just another guy close to the president: It’s as if Rupert Murdoch and Sheldon Adelson became one. He runs a giant media platform plus funneled megamillions to help Trump win. And he won’t go away. Even his enemies in Trump world acknowledge that. (And Trump has too.)
What he wants
Musk has a good reason for cozying up to the president. He has major contracts with the U.S. government through Tesla and SpaceX, and he’s also butted heads numerous times with federal regulators. A good relationship with the president really can’t hurt there. And it’s a strategy he appears to be replicating in other countries, recently inserting himself into both British and German politics.
Dana White
CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promotion company, and a longtime Trump supporter
Why he matters
Yes, the CEO of UFC is a crucial figure in Trump world. For Trump, it makes sense. He loves UFC, and he loves White. Trump talks to him, and about him, all the time. He’s close with his sons. And now White is on the board of Meta as the social media company looks to cozy up to the new administration. This only adds to his influence, as informal and unofficial as it may be. It’s a good reminder that you don’t need a conventional title or even a White House blue badge to be “in.”
Miriam Adelson
Israeli-American billionaire donor, longtime Trump supporter and widow of GOP casino magnate Sheldon Adelson
Why she matters
Trump is a money man and when you give the kind of dollars Adelson has, you get a serious say on pretty much whatever you want. (She’s worth roughly $35 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.) Adelson is the kind of figure who will be difficult to keep away from Trump, even if her input clashes with White House staff. Deep pockets equal deep influence in Trump world.
What she wants
Her way on the issues she cares about, especially Israel.
Who you should know…
Alex Latcham
Executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, the Republican super PAC
Why he matters
This longtime Trump aide will play a key role in gearing up for the midterm elections in this new role. He served as deputy political director during the campaign and was initially tapped for deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Liaison before snagging the SLF role. If he fails, Republicans could lose their slim Senate majority, jeopardizing Trump’s agenda in his last two years in office.
What he wants
To keep Republicans in control of the Senate.
Alex Bruesewitz
CEO of X Strategies, a conservative digital marketing firm
Why he matters
Bruesewitz is the ultimate MAGA influencer, going from Gen Z “America First” bulldog on social media to one of Trump’s advisers. He was key to the campaign’s push for the bro vote, including its outreach to podcasts with predominantly male listeners.
Mike Davis
A key MAGA attorney, self-proclaimed “viceroy” and founder of the Article III Project, which is focused on bringing, in its words, “brass knuckles to fight leftist lawfare” — i.e. the revenge tour.
Why he matters
Davis is known for his combative presence on social media and as Trump’s chief legal defender on cable news and right-wing media. He also operates as a legal think tank committed to defending Trump in the courtroom and on the airwaves. (Trump has called him “tough as hell.”) But he also has establishment street cred: He was the chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley during the Trump administration and, as an outside adviser, shepherded Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh through their Supreme Court confirmation fights. He will be one to watch if and when Trump gets another SCOTUS pick.
What he wants
MAGA judges.
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