Trump focuses on loyalty and immigration for second administration: What we know

The few recently announced members of his administration reflect that Trump values loyalty and a crackdown on illegal immigration as he embarks on an ambitious agenda with far more GOP allies in Congress and public support than in 2016.

KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION

He promoted longtime co-campaign manager Susie Wiles to chief of staff, a decision that many Republicans view as bringing order to the White House, in contrast to a chaotic first-term operation.

On Monday, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) accepted the president-elect’s offer to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Stefanik was instrumental in helping force the resignations of several university presidents in the wake of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, which Trump championed.

“I actually thought she’d get something bigger, to be honest, but, you know, she’s probably happy,” longtime Republican strategist Mike Murphy told the Washington Examiner.

“I think you’re going to see a lot of what I’ll call the MAGA regulars, because there’s kind of a fork in Trump’s road between MAGA people who have had grown-up careers in politics and some experience — at least before, in her case, she started in Romney world — and the real outside wackadoodle types,” Murphy added. “And it looks like they’re pruning the hedges with the more capable people, which I guess is a promising sign.”

In contrast, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, who served in Trump’s first administration, was unceremoniously excluded from any future Cabinet positions.

Haley ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primary, and although she endorsed her former boss after dropping out, she did not join him on the campaign trail.

“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,” Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend. “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.”

Haley responded by claiming that she was proud to work under Trump. “I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years,” she wrote on X.

Trump is also reportedly considering political appointments based on their television interviews while advisers have assembled digital presentations with headshots of possible candidates to present to the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

While the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a key plan for a second Trump administration, will be unwelcome at the White House, the group’s president, Kevin Roberts, has reportedly repaired his relationship with Trump.

Why Trump is ramping up his immigration appointees

On Sunday night, Trump announced that Tom Homan would join the administration as the “border czar.”

“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders.”

Homan is a former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director and his announcement showcases Trump’s seriousness in enacting a mass deportation program once sworn in. The appointment as “border czar” also bypasses Senate confirmation, further enabling Homan to enforce deportations.

“I think the calling is clear,” Homan told Fox & Friends on Monday. “I’ve got to go back and help.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing, and this is the second time I’ve come out of retirement for this president because it matters,” Homan added.

Trump has also tapped Stephen Miller, a top immigration adviser, as his White House deputy chief of staff for policy, another sign that cracking down on immigrants who enter the U.S. illegally will be a top priority for Trump.

Miller was the key architect of the controversial family separation policy in 2018 against immigrants and pushed for Trump’s travel ban on nations from predominantly Muslim nations.

Trump slightly weighs in on Senate race

After easily retaking the Senate, Republican lawmakers in the upper chamber are vying to replace retiring Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell. But Trump has made it clear that the top quality he is looking for is someone who can get his Cabinet nominees confirmed.

“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. “Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”

Trump allies Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk have pushed for Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) to succeed McConnell but Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) have also thrown in their bids and likely have more rapport among GOP senators than Scott.

Republican senators are also in talks with the Trump campaign about holding hearings to confirm his nominees once the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025.

HOW TRUMP COULD IMPACT THE PENTAGON

What happens between Trump and Biden?

President Joe Biden will host Trump in the Oval Office at 11 a.m. Wednesday, when the two leaders will come face-to-face after a brief encounter during a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York.

It also comes as Trump has refused the General Services Administration’s transition resources which includes office space, equipment, administrative support, and other services as required under the Presidential Transition Act.

The president-elect has eschewed signing two separate memoranda of understanding with the GSA and has not signed a required ethics plan.

But some conservatives claim Trump should instead fund the transition efforts to avoid disclosure policies required by the GSA. The costs would likely fall between $14 million and $16 million and could be funded by wealthy donors such as Musk.

WHAT MAGA AND THE GOP WILL LOOK LIKE IN A POST-TRUMP ERA

The Trump campaign has been tight-lipped on whether it will work with the GSA.

“The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act,” Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump-Vance transition team, told the Washington Examiner. “We will update you once a decision is made.”