The crew of President-elect Donald Trump believed that it was Treasury Day at Mar-a-Lago.
There was at least some anticipation that morning that the next big announcement would be a Treasury Secretary selection, as top aides scrambled around and carried on with the task of assembling an administration from Trump’s West Palm Beach home last Thursday.
Then everything was different.
Former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz said on social media that he will be removing his name from consideration for the position of Attorney General. On Day 1, Trump’s DOJ needs to be established and operational.
Gaetz resigned after it became apparent that his confirmation as the country’s top law enforcement official would be all but impossible due to sexual misconduct charges and a related House Ethics Committee probe. He’s not going back to Congress.
Trump’s team didn’t hesitate and swiftly selected a new attorney general who had two characteristics with Gaetz and a growing number of early administration employees and appointees: a strong Florida background and a devotion to Trump.
Trump declared he had selected former two-term Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a fervent Trump supporter who assisted him in spreading unfounded allegations the 2020 election was rigged, just six hours after Gaetz withdrew his name.
The appointment of two Floridians separately to the crucial position of attorney general is an example of how Trump’s second term in the White House will be significantly impacted by political appointees and staff from his adopted home state, as well as the elevation of some of the most well-known lobbyists in the state. It is a clear indication of the how Florida’s place in the national political arena has changed in the last few election cycles.
Florida, which was once the biggest swing state in the country, is now home to many Trump supporters and a Republican stronghold. Compared to his three-point victory in 2020, Trump won this state by more than ten percentage points.
According to Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power, Trump made Mar-a-Lago a focal point of his post-White House political activity, turning Florida into a government in exile for his world. When you combine that with Florida’s conservative achievements and the state’s strong Republican congressional delegation, it’s little wonder that the state has emerged as the epicenter.
Bondi’s choice was obvious to Trump.
According to a Trump ally with knowledge of the procedure, it made sense as soon as Gaetz withdrew. I believe they were always going to find a position for her in the government because Trump has liked her since 2016. That door was just opened by this.
The guy stated that it made so much sense, which is why it happened so fast.
Bondi’s quick appointment also revealed Trump’s attitude toward the attorney general position, particularly as he gets ready to implement a slew of Day 1 executive measures, many of which are anticipated to encounter legal opposition.
According to a Trump official, you need an attorney general on day one in order to carry out your agenda.This is the case here, but it may not be the case for other Cabinet departments.
In addition to Gaetz and Bondi, Trump has appointed at least five Floridians to high-profile positions, including former Florida Representative Dave Weldon as head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida Representative Mike Walz as national security adviser, and Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state.
None of this surprises me since Florida has a large talent pool,” said Nick Iarossi, a lobbyist from Florida who helped raise money for Trump’s campaign and was named managing director of the Washington-based lobbying firm BGR Group following Trump’s victory. It surprises me a little that other states aren’t resisting more, but they simply aren’t.
Regarding the state that Trump won handily, Iarossi continued, “That kind of makes sense to a degree.” Trump is looking for people who share his beliefs and are loyal to him, not just states that have aided him politically. He is attempting to do tasks.
Florida is also home to a number of Trump’s key White House staffers. James Blair, a veteran Wiles deputy who was appointed to be the president’s assistant and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs, and Susie Wiles, a seasoned Florida operative who spearheaded Trump’s first two campaigns in that state, will be his chief of staff.
It’s the continuation of Wiles’ Florida-flavored presidential campaign, which included Blair as its political director, Tony Fabrizio, a Florida-based pollster, as a top pollster, and senior level advisory positions from veteran Florida GOP operatives Brian Hughes, Danielle Alvarez, and Alex Garcia.
Wiles is, for the most part, the unifying factor among them all. As the co-chair of Trump’s Florida campaign in his first two campaigns and the co-chair of his national campaign in 2024, she has long been regarded as one of his most important advisors.
Beyond the fact that Trump resides in Florida and has personally become active in its politics, she was largely responsible for the state’s impact since she recruited dependable subordinates and former allies to help with the campaign and, more recently, the early days of the administration.
According to Florida-based lobbyist and Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard, Susie undoubtedly adds a Florida perspective to the table. Although she is a national athlete, it is obvious that she has strong ties to and roots in Florida. She is largely to blame for the large number of Floridians you see attending the administration.
Both Wiles and Bondi were lobbyists for Ballard’s firm, Ballard Partners, before she joined the firm after her tenure as Florida attorney general was restricted.
Additionally, following Trump’s election victory, the Miami-based lobbying company Continental opened its first office in Washington under the leadership of Carols Trujillo, who was ambassador to the Organization of American States during Trump’s first administration. Katie Wiles, the daughter of the president’s new chief of staff, will be in charge of that position.
“It’s not just those guys,” a seasoned lobbyist from Florida told NBC News. As more and more prominent Florida figures join the Trump movement, it will benefit Florida lobbyists, including some who might not have a typical DC presence.
The individual said, “It’s the way of the world.”
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