The presidential election results were still rolling in last week when a political newsletter speculated about members of the next Trump administration.
One name stood out to several former senior Trump staffers: Ben Howard, who was rumored to be in line for a top legislative affairs job.
Phones burned up as aides reminded the Trump team that Mr. Howard was involved in elevating Cassidy Hutchinson, the White House staffer who became the star witness in Democrats’ high-profile investigation into the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
“She was a White House intern. He picked her up and put her in the middle of the game,” one former senior White House aide told The Washington Times. “If you’re thinking about this guy for legislative affairs, just remember he created one of your problems.”
While Washington focuses on the unorthodox picks President-elect Donald Trump has announced for his Cabinet, a fascinating drama is playing out behind the scenes as his team debates the outcasts of Trump 2.0.
Those working alongside the transition team say everyone has a blacklist of people who blundered their time in Mr. Trump’s first administration or have maligned the MAGA movement.
“Everybody’s walking around with a list of guys they can’t stand,” the White House aide said. “It’s not just a matter of getting the right people; it’s a matter of not getting the wrong people.”
“That’s where all the action is. That’s the real Game of Thrones,” said another former senior Trump administration official.
Those who were too critical of Mr. Trump’s behavior surrounding the 2020 election are left out of consideration, as are those deemed too close to former Vice President Mike Pence or Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longtime Republican leader in the Senate.
Agency leaders in the first Trump administration figured they were blacklisted for participating in The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.
“I’m still blacklisted,” one former agency chief said.
The White House aide who spoke with The Times said Mr. Trump has been encouraged to punish anyone associated with Ms. Hutchinson.
That includes Mr. Howard, who did not respond to an inquiry from The Times for this report.
The aide said the “Cassidy cancer” should include Mark Meadows, who was chief of staff for Mr. Trump and gave Ms. Hutchinson access to information that was instrumental in her damaging and now disputed testimony against Mr. Trump.
Some of the blacklist activity is about settling scores, but there’s a sense that poor personnel choices hindered Mr. Trump’s first term. His surprise election in 2016 left Republicans scrambling to staff a White House and make thousands of political appointments across the executive branch.
This time, they have had years to better prepare and understand the risks of mistakes.
Political pros said many fights are playing out behind the scenes.
People with ties to The Heritage Foundation, the granddaddy of conservative think tanks and author of Project 2025, are vying for supremacy with those from the America First Policy Institute, an upstart operation begun by veterans of Trump 1.0.
Donations to Mr. Trump’s campaign are a factor. Those who gave to him when the Republican nomination was in doubt will have a leg up on those who contributed to an opponent, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Trump staffers said people keep track of who gave and who didn’t, and they are quick to point it out.
Trump team staffers said ties to Mr. McConnell’s outgoing Senate leadership are also black marks and those with ties to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, a senator from Ohio, have a leg up.
It’s unclear who will receive the blacklists. The Trump world expects a transition figure to review the names and be flooded with suggestions.
Mr. Trump’s picks so far, chiefly for high-profile jobs, have gone to fiercely loyal lawmakers and staffers.
At the White House, Mr. Trump has brought back longtime aides and fans and named four of them deputy chiefs of staff. Among them is Stephen Miller, an architect of immigration policy who is returning as a deputy chief of staff for policy.
In most Cabinet-level announcements, Mr. Trump has sought out moderately distinguished officials whose chief qualification appears to be loyalty to his political movement.
Mr. Trump has announced that he will not ask former Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to return.
The Pompeo announcement was a surprise, but sources said several Trump confidants argued that he was an obstacle to the incoming president’s goals.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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