President-elect Donald Trump is sending a clear message with his lightning round of political appointments: He knows who his friends are.
From his recent appointment of Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy leading a new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump is rewarding those who had his back when it wasn’t popular to do.
But after a resounding political comeback, and with Republicans poised to have a trifecta in Washington, D.C., there’s no shortage of old friends reemerging in the nation’s capital.
Here are some takeaways from Trump’s recent moves.
First stability, then shockwaves
When Trump picked Susie Wiles to be his chief of staff, it signaled two big things: He appreciated loyalty, and he chose someone who has earned the respect of a lot of Republicans and even some Democrats. The successful architect of his 2024 campaign delivered his biggest political victory, and she has worked for other respected Republicans, such as Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and Jon Huntsman Jr. She started working for Trump at one of the most strenuous times in his life, as he faced multiple lawsuits and a second presidential election against President Joe Biden, who had defeated him in 2020. While some Republicans distanced themselves or chose not to back him until the primary was finished, Wiles was a constant at his side.
But shortly after Trump named Wiles, the shock waves started when he made some unexpected Cabinet picks with more loyalists: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary, Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary and Gaetz as attorney general. Of several recent appointments Trump has made, those have drawn the most surprise and strongest reactions — including from senators who will have to confirm those appointments.
“He is really squeezing the new Senate majority, immediately testing whether they will just go along with whatever he wants,” said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
Elon Musk: From campaign surrogate to top adviser
As Trump campaigned across the country, trying to appeal to working-class voters, he often had a special guest with him: the richest man in the world. Musk, the billionaire businessman who is often called a genius, was with Trump on the campaign trail and at Trump’s Florida estate Mar-a-Lago after the election. Recently, Trump tapped Musk and entrepreneur Ramaswamy to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.
But Musk, after showing Trump some loyalty, has seemed to earn his trust, and he’s been showing up in some unexpected places. He reportedly joined Trump on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and he accompanied Trump Wednesday on a meeting with House Republicans.
‘A nice world’ at the White House
Trump and Biden put years of mudslinging behind them on Wednesday when the incumbent president welcomed the president-elect to the White House. It’s a tradition that shows the country and the world the U.S. will have a peaceful transfer of power in January, though it was skipped four years ago when Trump refused to concede his loss to Biden.
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“Politics is tough,” Trump said. “And in many cases, it’s not a nice world, but it is a nice world today.”
Throughout the campaign, even after the incumbent president ended his bid and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, Biden and Trump were political enemies. They called each other names, and questioned each other’s mental fitness and moral character. But on Wednesday, it was all smiles and handshakes.
“Congratulations and looking forward to having a, like we said, smooth transition,” Biden said.
“It will be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Joe,” Trump said.
The former and future First Lady Melania Trump broke tradition Wednesday when she declined an invitation from First Lady Jill Biden.
Trump and Senate leadership race
For the first time in 18 years, Senate Republicans picked a new leader: South Dakota Sen. John Thune.
Some analysts called it Trump’s first loss because Thune wasn’t the pick of Trump’s inner circle. From Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump to Musk and other supporters, Florida Sen. Rick Scott was viewed as the MAGA candidate in a race for the next Senate Republican leader.
Trump didn’t get involved in the contest, which was decided among Republicans by secret ballot.
Upon winning the role, which will be more important as the Senate changes to a Republican majority, Thune said he was “extremely honored” and that Senate Republicans are “united behind President Trump’s agenda.”
GOP wins full control of Congress
Trump now has his best chance to fulfill a promise he made to Americans eight years ago.
With CNN projecting Republicans will win the House and fully capture both chambers of Congress, Trump has his best shot of passing his agenda to “Make America Great Again,” as his campaign slogan says.
Not everyone agrees with his plans on taxes, immigration and foreign policy, but a majority of the country did. He’s the first Republican to win the Electoral College and popular vote in decades.
The biggest question is: What will he do with all of this new power?
We’ll find out after his inauguration on Jan. 20.
Have a news tip? Contact politics editor Candy Woodall at cwoodall@baltsun.com.
