Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Thursday weighed in on President-elect Trump's transition team and Cabinet nominees, stressing the need for “loyal” members to ensure a “successful” tenure.
“Loyalty isn't a blind thing like, 'Oh, I'll do anything for Donald Trump.' It's about whether your interests are aligned with the president and his policies. Your first Is your loyalty to Donald Trump or is it a divided loyalty somewhere?'' Mulvaney told “The Hill” host Blake Berman on NewsNation.
“By the way, Barack Obama hasn't chosen his supporters for his cabinet, which shouldn't come as a shock to anyone,” he added. “You must have a loyal cabinet because the cabinet is your most trusted advisor.”
After Mr. Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 White House election over Vice President Harris, Mr. Trump and his allies began to focus on who would fill key executive roles. In August, the former president announced a leadership team led by former Small Business Administration Secretary Linda McMahon and businessman Howard Lutnick. Vice President Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) serves as chairman emeritus, along with his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
President Trump has already named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff. The widely respected Florida operative has been at the center of the president-elect's campaign for the past two years, making her the first woman to serve in that role.
In a three-hour interview with podcaster Joe Rogan last month, President Trump said the “biggest mistake” of his presidency was choosing “evil, dishonest people” to join his administration. His comments came after Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly, another former White House chief of staff, labeled him a “fascist” and said he was among former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's generals. This was done after he claimed to have praised loyalty.
The president-elect has had four chiefs of staff during his first term: Reince Priebus, Kelly, Mulvaney and former Rep. Mark Meadows (RN.C.). As Mulvaney pointed out, former President Obama had just as many. President Biden has only had it twice.
Mulvaney called the position “fun” but “not easy.” He also praised Wiles' appointment and predicted she would excel in the role.
“I've only heard really good things about Susie. I don't know her myself. “I know a lot of people who are on the campaign trail, a lot of people who are in transition. And without exception, they think she's a great fit for this election,'' Mulvaney told Berman.
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