One noticeable omission from President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet and top staff for his second term is his children.
During his first term, Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, were everywhere, occupying offices in the West Wing and frequently given credit for (or blame for) his choices.
Ivanka Trump and Kushner retreated to the sidelines in Florida for the 2024 campaign, while Trump’s sons took on more significant positions in the political process.
Donald Trump Jr. has established himself during the transition and strongly urged his father to select Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his vice presidential running mate, with the help of his younger brother Eric. Additionally, Barron, Trump’s youngest son, contributed to the development of the campaign’s podcast-heavy approach, which helped attract young, male voters.
At the White House, none of the boys will accompany their father. Trump Jr. is preoccupied with extracurricular activities, such as his own podcast. The Trump Organization’s corporate holdings are still run by Eric Trump. Barron Trump is a college student who is eighteen years old.
Meanwhile, those familiar with Kushner’s role told NBC News that he makes recommendations behind the scenes and gets calls from new hires on Trump’s staff seeking assistance. However, it is not anticipated that he or Ivanka Trump will assume any official position in the White House.
According to a former senior Trump White House official who was given anonymity to discuss internal and family dynamics, the pair believes that their family life was negatively impacted by their time-consuming work in Washington the last time. According to this source, Trump’s daughter and son-in-law are less eager to join him inside as he enters the new term surrounded by more people he trusts.
This list of Trump’s family members’ responsibilities in his second term is based on discussions with ten individuals who are familiar with the relationships.
More distant in-laws are now the only family members expected to join the second Trump administration. Last weekend, Trump declared his intention to designate Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of his youngest daughter, Tiffany Trump, as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle East matters, and to nominate Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, as ambassador to France.
In an email, Trump spokesman Karoline Leavitt stated that the American people adore President Trump’s family. Because they support the President-Elect’s goal of restoring America’s greatness, they have bravely stood behind him through prosecutions, witch hunts, and previously unheard-of difficulties. The President’s family will always have a significant influence on his administration, whether publicly or informally.
Trump has hinted that he does not want his family members to hold important posts in the second administration because of the criticism they received during and after his first.
In an interview with Fox News in June 2023, he stated, “My family has been through hell.”
According to those close to Trump and his family, there are a number of additional reasons why family members are not holding high positions. Trump has the entire support of the Republican Party, which eight years ago was full with doubters who may cause trouble for him. Additionally, the family now has more faith in the political advisors and governmental partners that surround Trump.
According to a Trump ally, the whole Republican Party is on their side, unlike the first time. Therefore, his group of devoted advisors and gatekeepers does not have to include his family.
An somebody close to the Trump family agreed.
According to this person, the family’s intense involvement the last time was partly due to mistrust of the campaign staff and political leaders. I believe that the most significant change is that the family now feels secure and at ease under leadership.
According to this source, Trump’s kids and his wife, Melania, have a lot of faith in Susie Wiles, the new White House chief of staff, who helped run the campaign.
According to the former top Trump White House staffer, Susie managed the finest of his three campaigns and will oversee the best White House he has ever had. There were four chiefs of staff for him. Susie is positioned to be the most exceptional of them all.
Trump’s children, however, will continue to be near and powerful in his sphere of influence.
Vance, who is a strong prospect to succeed term-limited Trump in four years, has a tight relationship with Donald Trump Jr., who maintained a rigorous campaign schedule this year for both his father and down-ballot politicians favored by his father.
Trump will be in office for four more years, followed by JD Vance for eight. During a campaign event for Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, in October, Trump Jr.
The company’s head of executive operations and communications, Kimberly Benza, announced in an email that Eric Trump will remain executive vice president of the Trump Organization and oversee all aspects of the hotel, golf, commercial, residential, retail, and other associated businesses.
Meanwhile, Lara Trump, his wife, is a co-chair of the Republican National Committee. She will also succeed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who Trump plans to appoint as secretary of state, if the Trump administration gets its way.
Her appointment as Rubio’s successor has been publicly pushed by Trump family members and important allies, such as billionaire Elon Musk, to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. This appointment might make her the family member with the most practical political clout in the early months of Trump’s second term.
In an interview with Fox News last month, Trump Jr. stated, “I believe she understands our base; she understands the movement.” You may observe what’s happening in Florida. It’s a pure red state, after all. The counties that we lost by 30 and 40 points in 2016 have now turned in favor of Trump.
Lara Trump is being considered, but other DeSantis loyalists are also on the short list, according to DeSantis advisers who spoke to NBC News last month. The governor may run for president again in 2028 after his relationship with Trump soured when he challenged him for the GOP presidential nomination this year. He might become much more estranged from the Trump support if he were to run against Lara Trump for the seat.
According to a Trump associate who is acquainted with the family’s reasoning, “I don’t think there is any question DeSantis knows what the position is.” He can approach this in one of two ways, and it will make a big impression.
A changing of the guard
The influence that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump wielded throughout the first Trump administration is difficult to overestimate.
Having escaped the palace intrigue and internal strife that caused Trump’s top aides to change frequently, the couple was first among equals. Kushner and Ivanka Trump remained until the very end, despite the departure of four chiefs of staff. Ivanka Trump’s office was on the third floor of the West Wing, whereas Kushner’s office was a short distance from the Oval Office.
During Trump’s first administration, Kushner’s policy portfolio was wide-ranging, covering everything from the Middle East to the administration’s pandemic relief initiatives. He assisted his father-in-law in mediating the Abraham Accords, which marked a turning point in Middle East relations by normalizing Israel’s ties with several Arab nations.
According to the former senior White House official, the president-elect now phones Kushner on a regular basis to ask his opinion on a few possible recruits. Additionally, Kushner has spoken with Steven Witkoff, whom Trump appointed as his special envoy to the Middle East, to assist him familiarize himself with a region of the world plagued by conflict, the source stated.
The former official stated that his goal is to be the advisor and friend to Trump’s new team that he wished he had when he first entered the Trump White House in 2017.
According to four people familiar with the discussions, Kushner has voiced his opinion on a number of nominations and positions during the transition, most notably endorsing private equity executive Marc Rowan for the position of Treasury Secretary. (Trump instead selected Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive.)
Ivanka Trump said in a statement when her father started his most recent White House campaign that she was putting her family first and had no intention of getting back into politics. According to the former official, the couple wants to provide their children, who are between the ages of 8 and 13, with a typical existence.
According to a source, Kushner will continue to manage his company and raise his family. Although he had such a difficult experience the last time [that] I don’t think he’s interested, I do believe he will assist with things like the Middle East if asked.
The individual continued, “It’s not bad blood.” He s just going to be doing other things.
The son rises
As Ivanka Trump and Kushner faded from the spotlight in recent years, Donald Trump Jr. took a more central role in his father s political affairs. He and his partner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, have become staples on the GOP campaign trail and fundraising circuit, aggressively promoting candidates close to Trump or tightly in tune with his Make America Great Again movement.
When Trump seemed to be leaning toward North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for the No. 2 spot on the 2024 ticket, Trump Jr. and Eric Trump steered him back toward Vance,NBC News reported in July. And after Karl Rove a GOP strategist and talking head reviled in Trump world made the case for Burgum on Fox News, Trump Jr. printed out the Breitbart News article that highlighted Rove s praise and promptly showed it to his father.
The reality is I chose [Vance] in part because I understood his demeanor and, you know, character, Trump Jr.told reportersafter Vance s vice presidential debate against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Trump Jr. also has been involved in the transition, speaking for or against particular candidates. Hisnegative feedbackon former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may have helped scuttle Pompeo s chances of serving in the next Trump administration.
But Trump Jr. has several private ventures occupying his time, including a podcast he has used to advance his political views. He also recentlyannounced plans to join a venture capital firmthat hasinvested in Trump ally Tucker Carlson s new media ventureandjoined the advisory board for Unusual Machines, a Florida-based drone company.
A source close to Trump Jr. said he has no designs on an official or unofficial position in Trump s White House. After Trump s inauguration next month, his eldest son plans to focus on those business pursuits and his family.
You can expect Don to keep vocally supporting his dad and his agenda from the outside, the source added. But don t expect him to be some kind of gatekeeper to the White House come Jan. 20.
Trump Jr. is also expected to continue to stay close with Vance.
Don Jr. is going to do the private equity thing and continue crushing life, a longtime Trump adviser said. I m sure he will keep a large social media presence and also largely suck up to Vance and continue to be seen as one of his closest guys.
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