ISLAMABAD: Donald J Trump is back in power in a surprising political comeback as the 47th president of the United States. He is known to be somewhat unpredictable and a look at his close circle
According to Politico, the new Trump team include a number of longtime loyalists as well as newcomers.
Here is a close look at 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. According to Politico, they are the people who will have his ear as he enters his second four-year term as president with a robust policy agenda, — they formally or informally form Trump’s policy team.
Susie Wiles
She is the chief of staff. 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.
Stephen Miller
He is the deputy chief of staff for policy and architect of Trump’s immigration policies. 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.
Steve Witkoff
He is the Special envoy to the Middle East. 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.
Karoline Leavitt
She is the new, and at 27 the youngest ever, White House press secretary.
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.
Keith Kellogg
He is special envoy for Ukraine and Russia and a decorated retired three-star general.
Kellogg will be the central figure to help Trump handle the war in Ukraine.
Elon Musk
He is tech mastermind, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and owner and Executive Chair of X — and the wealthiest man in the world.
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 won’t go away.
Miriam Adelson
She is Israeli-American billionaire donor, longtime Trump supporter and widow of GOP casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. 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.
Tucker Carlson
He is a former Fox News host and conservative media personality. According to Politico, he is 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.