By CHRIS MEGERIAN and JILL COLVIN
WASHINGTON (AP) — For a person who loves the highlight, Donald Trump has been conspicuously out of view since his triumph in final week’s presidential election.
There have been no rallies, no press conferences, no speeches. As a substitute, Trump has spent most of his first week as president-elect behind closed doorways at Mar-a-Lago, his personal membership in Florida, the place he’s working the telephones, reconnecting with overseas leaders and constructing his new administration.
Trump is hardly in seclusion. He’s surrounded by advisers, buddies and paying members of his membership, who weigh in with recommendation as he selects folks for prime authorities jobs. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, whose corporations have billions of {dollars} of federal contracts, has been a continuing presence. Some see Musk because the second-most influential determine in Trump’s speedy orbit after his marketing campaign chief-turned-incoming chief of employees, Susie Wiles.
On Tuesday night, Trump introduced that Musk would assist lead a “Department of Government Efficiency” — primarily an unbiased advisory panel — the place he might advocate methods to “drive out the massive waste and fraud.”
“This will send shockwaves through the system,” stated a press release from Musk, who will work with Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president himself.
Trump is anticipated to return to public view on Wednesday, when he goes to the White Home to satisfy with President Joe Biden and visits Capitol Hill to seek the advice of with Home Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican legislators. Total, Trump is laying the groundwork for his second presidency at a a lot sooner clip than his first.
Trump can also be anticipated to satisfy with Republicans on Capitol Hill as they put together for his day one priorities in a probably unified authorities with a sweep of GOP energy in Washington.
That doesn’t imply the personal course of lacks the cutthroat environment that Trump has lengthy fostered inside his orbit. A former White Home official nonetheless near Trump in contrast the scenario at Mar-a-Lago to the Sport of Thrones drama sequence, and one other former Trump official additionally described chaotic jockeying for jobs. Each spoke on situation of anonymity to debate inner dynamics.
Eight years in the past, when Trump pulled off a surprising victory over Hillary Clinton, he wasn’t out of sight for lengthy. He visited President Barack Obama on the White Home two days after the election, then met with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill.
“We’re going to move very strongly on immigration,” he stated on the time. “We will move very strongly on health care. And we’re looking at jobs. Big league jobs.”
Again in New York, again then, Trump Tower was remodeled into the backdrop for a brand new political actuality present. The media camped out within the foyer of Trump’s namesake skyscraper to see who was coming and going. Generally Trump would journey the elevator down to supply an replace or showcase a visitor.
In a single notable second that December, the rapper then referred to as Kanye West emerged with Trump, who stated the 2 had “been friends for a long time.” Requested what they’d mentioned, Trump replied: “Life. We discussed life.” Trump later got here below intense criticism in 2022 for eating with Ye and a Holocaust-denying white nationalist.
Eight years in the past, Trump additionally held transition conferences in New Jersey at his Bedminster golf course, the place the media assembled many days for a procession of candidates earlier than the assembled cameras.
Some, like future Protection Secretary Jim Mattis, ended up with job gives. Others, like Mitt Romney, didn’t. After the Romney assembly, the 2 walked out collectively and shook palms subsequent to an American flag. Trump flashed a fast thumbs-up and stated it “went great.”
The present association is much totally different. There’s no public entry to Mar-a-Lago, which seems to be below even tighter safety than it was within the speedy aftermath of two assassination makes an attempt focusing on Trump.
The roundabout in entrance of the property’s entrance is absolutely barricaded, and automobiles from the Seaside County sheriff’s workplace and Secret Service have been noticed standing guard, together with unmarked police automobiles, black vans and a golf cart on a latest afternoon.
As a substitute, Trump has introduced his picks in statements and posts on his Fact Social website, whereas his comings and goings have been captured on social media by membership members and their friends, who, as at all times, have near-unfettered entry.
In a single video, he’s seen dancing to “YMCA” on the membership’s packed patio. In one other, he and his spouse, Melania, are cheered as they arrive for dinner. They have been additionally noticed sitting collectively at a desk with Musk.
Trump is thought to have left Mar-a-Lago solely as soon as because the election, to go to one other certainly one of his properties. On Sunday, he returned to his close by golf course — the identical course the place an eagle-eyed Secret Service agent noticed the barrel of a gun pointing by the property’s fence, thwarting a possible taking pictures — to play together with his teenage granddaughter, Kai.
“Sundays with Grandpa,” she posted on Instagram. Different photographs from that day present Trump in a golf cart, carrying a white golf shirt, and later sitting in a burgundy leather-based chair within the membership’s restaurant subsequent to Kai whereas somebody leans in for a dialog.
Musk was additionally noticed on the course, the place he was launched to members. Kai posted a photograph of her posing with Musk and his younger son, saying that Trump was “achieving uncle status.”
Certainly, Musk has generally seemed to be a member of the household. On Election night time, he was noticed giving his son a piggyback journey by a Mar-a-Lago ballroom and joined a household picture of the president-elect together with his youngsters and grandchildren.
Since then, he’s tried to place his imprint on each topic dealing with the brand new administration, in accordance with folks conversant in his efforts, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the dynamic.
His makes an attempt at affect prolong to points past his experience, like border safety. As well as, Musk has steered that he might discover greater than $2 trillion in financial savings from the federal finances — practically a 3rd of complete annual spending.
Trump additionally added Musk to a post-election name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who hopes america will proceed the movement of navy help to fend off Russia’s invasion. Trump and Musk have each expressed skepticism about supporting Ukraine, and Trump typically speaks admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has vowed to finish the struggle earlier than Inauguration Day.
Positions within the coming Trump administration are being provided way more rapidly now than they have been the primary time round. In 2016, Trump introduced his senior management crew, together with chief of employees, the Sunday after the election. However he waited 10 days for his first Cupboard appointment.
The competitors for jobs this 12 months has been intense. Whereas Trump’s 2016 election was a shock, this time allies have spent 4 years pulling collectively personnel lists and coverage proposals. Candidates are being represented by PR businesses and lobbyists. One potential Cupboard decide employed consultants to attempt to bolster his picture.
Whereas Trump had stated he already had folks in thoughts for numerous roles, Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of Trump’s transition crew answerable for personnel, beforehand advised The Related Press that he hadn’t mentioned any suggestions with Trump earlier than his win as a result of the president-elect is notoriously superstitious.
“What I do is I go and find the greatest candidates for the role. So each role will have, let’s say, eight amazing candidates — fully vetted, fully capable of Senate confirmation, OK?” he stated. “Then he’ll start interviewing and he’ll start considering. That’s up to him, right? He’s the chooser.”
Colvin reported from New York. Related Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Stephany Matat in Palm Seaside, Florida contributed to this report.
Initially Printed: November 12, 2024 at 1:28 PM EST
