Former President Donald Trump's campaign issued a statement Friday ostensibly denying reports from Axios about his alleged “short list” of future administration appointments.
Unveiled Thursday, the Axios report claimed that several men and women are on the shortlist for positions in the future Trump administration, including Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, Kash Patel, Ric Grenell, JD Vance, and more.
“Former President Trump, if elected, would build a Cabinet and White House staff based primarily on two imperatives: pre-vetted loyalty to him and a commitment to stretching the limits of law and government, sources who often speak with the leading GOP presidential candidate. [said]”, says the report.
“Why it matters: Trump would fill the most powerful government jobs with men like Stephen Miller, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Kash Patel, with the possible return of Steve Bannon. If Trump wins in 2024, he will draw on loyalists who share their zeal for punishing critics, purging non-believers and taking controversial legal and military action, sources tell us,” the report continues.
Trump's first cabinet of loyalty. EXCLUSIVE Details: 1. Melania vol @tuckercarlson by VP 2. Stephen Miller 4 Attorney General. 3. Tucker pushing Steve Bannon as chief of staff. 4. JD Vance Aims for Big Gig, on Short List of Vice Presidents… https://t.co/5sPvaeY2tM
— Jim VandeHei (@JimVandeHei) December 7, 2023
But in a statement issued Friday through Trump's official campaign website, senior campaign advisers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita called the report bull.
“Several weeks ago, Trump campaign leadership released a memo regarding media speculation about presidential transition efforts and a second Trump presidency. While we are very clear, some 'allies' have not understood the track, and the media, in their anti-Trump zeal, have been very willing to continue to use anonymous sources and speculation about a second Trump administration in an effort to prevent a second Trump administration,” says the communicated
“Let's be very specific here: Unless a message comes directly from President Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team, no aspect of the incoming presidential staff or policy announcements should be considered official. Let's be even more specific and forceful: People who publicly discuss possible administration jobs for themselves or their friends are, in fact, hurting President Trump … and themselves. These are an unwelcome distraction,” he continues the statement
Note the mention of “allies”. The Trump campaign also appears to be upset with Trump supporters who are proud of Axios' reporting as a good thing.
Vice President Tucker Carlson, AG Stephen Miller, Chief of Staff Steve Brannon…,
A second Trump administration will be STACKED https://t.co/jqNeHNzi0Z
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) December 7, 2023
The statement concludes with Wiles and LaCivita stressing that personnel decisions will not be based on mainstream media speculation.
“Second-term policy priorities and personnel decisions will certainly not be driven by anonymous or thinly sourced speculation in news media stories,” the two wrote.
“President Trump is solely focused on winning the Republican nomination for President and then defeating Crooked Joe Biden in the general election. He is not interested in, nor condones, the self-serving efforts of 'desk hunters.'” There will be a time appropriate to focus on these issues after he wins next November, and will follow President Trump's lead,” they added.
In addition to speculating about who is on the short list for Trump administration positions, the Axios report also contains a couple of other alleged tidbits.
For example, it claims that former first lady Melania Trump has recommended that her husband choose Tucker Carlson as his running mate.
“She believes Carlson would make a powerful extension of her husband's stage presence, a source close to Trump told us. The former first lady has made few appearances on the campaign trail this time around, but a Trump-Carlson ticket could cheer – her to follow the path,” says the report.
Speaking of Carlson, the Axios report further states that he has been pushing the idea that Trump should recruit Steve Bannon to be his chief of staff again.
“Carlson [says] that Bannon would diligently implement the promises after Trump lost interest. “Steve believes: If you said we're building a wall, we're building a wall,'' Carlson said,” according to the report.
And finally, the report makes a bunch of doomsday predictions about another Trump administration.
“They want to attack and imprison critics, including government officials and journalists; deport undocumented immigrants or put them in detention camps, and unleash the military to attack drug cartels in Mexico, or possibly crack down on criminals or protesters at home. They want to scrap rules that limit their ability to purge government workers deemed disloyal,” it said.
In response to the report, many critics couldn't help but shake their heads and laugh at the media's continued fear mongering:
Axios is pure DNC/CCP propaganda.
—Mr. America (@ConservativesSo) December 7, 2023
Why didn't this happen the first time, then?
— Coomskin cap (@coomskincap) December 7, 2023
You are telling me there is potential to shut down the likes of Biden, Hilary, etc. Sign me up for another winning pick!
— Shawn Falcon (@ShawnFalcon_) December 8, 2023
cursed Controversial military action? How to support the genocide of tens of thousands of Palestinians, physically block their neighbors from helping with US military ships? Like a NATO proxy war for a coup and fascist western Ukrainian government? Like the ground troops in Haiti?
— Will (@Wil_Im_Not) December 7, 2023
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