Trump White House seeks to limit staff who have direct access to the president

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Jan. 7, 2025, 11:11 AM EST


PALM BEACH, Fla. — The number of individuals with direct access to the president will be more limited when Donald Trump takes office in two weeks, as incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles seeks to streamline the new West Wing operation.

In an effort to tighten the lines of communication with Trump, the transition team is cutting back on the number of top White House staff members given the designation of “assistant to the president,” which provides a staffer the privilege of walking into the Oval Office and bringing nonstaff guests in to meet with the president.

“There will be a limited number of assistants to the president,” said a person familiar with the transition. Trump’s newly named legislative affairs director and political affairs director are among those not given the title; those positions typically have that designation.

Instead, the senior staff of the incoming White House is seeking to direct the flow of information to Trump, primarily through its deputy chiefs of staff, including his longtime trusted aides Stephen Miller, Taylor Budowich and Dan Scavino.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-white-house-limit-staff-direct-access-president-rcna186552

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. DunceOld needs a reduced information feed calibrated for what he can handle. . . . nt

[louis-t]

2. Doesn't matter, he won't be there much anyway.

He will spend most time at Maradumbo seeking applause and plotting revenge.

[FakeNoose]

15. It's way easier to collect his bribes & emoluments there too

No liberals allowed, and reporters are carefully checked before they can get a foot in the door.

[Silent Type]

3. Thousands of white wing Nazis will be lined up at oval-office door.

[rsdsharp]

4. John Kelly tried that; it didn't work. Trump still thinks he's running a mom and pop real estate business.

[tanyev]

11. Also, Trump will let anyone in who excels at flattery and fawning.

[LudwigPastorius]

5. There's no better way to formulate policy and make national security decisions than...

keeping yourself in a tiny bubble of flattery and unctuous deference.

[gab13by13]

6. Could this be a plan to try to get Musk away from Trump?

[dutch777]

7. Best of luck with that Susie! Controlling Trump not the aides will be the challenge. I predict a FAIL.

[riversedge]

18. I wonder if Susie will take away Trumpy's phone???

[Unladen Swallow]

8. Probably safer this way

...for him

[Buddyzbuddy]

9. They also want to control the information coming out of the Whitehouse

Like with Reagan, they will hide the dementia and issue orders and statements under the guise of it's from diaper Dan. Also, no more ketchup stories. People that were never elected will be running the country just like it was planned, all along.

[Shipwack]

12. First thing I thought of.

It’s bad enough that he babbles nonsense at rallies and press conferences. They’ll have to hide how he has no grasp of anyone or anything.

Speaking of pressers, I’m willing to bet they’re planning on limiting those, too. Maybe they stage fake ones for him to address?

[Buddyzbuddy]

16. They've already said they would have fewer pressers

The hydra has many heads we'll have to be concerned with. We already know he's easily manipulated.

[Fla Dem]

10. They may not want lesser level staff to see how feeble he is.

[Marthe48]

13. He's probably unable to be lucid 24/7

and instead of saying that they want to keep him from the public eye, they want to keep the public eye away from him

Because they'd see a foul smelling old man in a diaper, drooling and trying to rape anyone he can reach without standing up.

[milestogo]

14. Is there a special position for cleaning ketchup off the walls?

[Deminpenn]

17. Good luck with that, Susie

Are you going to be there in the middle of the night when he's on his phone calling everyone and anyone?