"There was a sense and a lot of commentary at the time that Trump was so much more disciplined than last time, Karl said. That [Chief of Staff] Susie Wiles really had the trains running on time, that he's making his announcements of who he intends to nominate so much quicker. In reality, the process was just unbelievable. It was like Grand Central for political influence at Mar-a-Lago."
"The two candidates thought he was there to interview Trump, that he wouldn't be there for a job, Karl said. Then he ends up being announced the next day as the Defense Secretary nominee. Others, like FBI director Kash Patel, were waiting in the lobby so that when Trump walks in and out, he can do the elevator pitch as he's walking across."
Mar-a-Lago served as a chaotic center for the post-2024 transition, with loyalists, job-seekers, and power players converging to seek positions. The process appeared less disciplined than public commentary suggested, despite perceptions of a smoother operation. Candidates for top posts sat in close proximity, exchanged chances to impress, and experienced rapid, unexpected announcements. Figures like Pete Hegseth moved from casual presence to formal nomination within days. Others, including Kash Patel, waited in lobbies to deliver quick pitches as the president passed. Outside the compound, allies staged influence operations from nearby locations, including a yacht used as an unofficial MAGA transition hub.
Read at www.mediaite.com
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