A previous colleague from President Trump’s team, Alyssa Farah Griffin, was known to have had a memorable encounter with a soon-to-be Attorney General Matt Gaetz. Griffin mentions an incident where she ran into Gaetz about to enter Trump’s office, armed with a dossier of speculative narratives regarding MSNBC broadcaster Joe Scarborough. Gaetz had just ascended to the position from the very congressional seat in Florida’s first district, once held by Scarborough himself.
Scarborough, besides his TV persona on Morning Joe, was formerly a representative for the same district. Back in 2001, when he was in congressional service, a sad event unfolded – one of his staffers, Lori Klausutis, was discovered deceased in the office in Fort Walton Beach. Medical explanations pointed to an undiagnosed irregular heart rhythm that made her faint leading to a fatal fall, as per the Associated Press’s fact-check.
Following their meeting, Griffin alleges that President Trump shared some controversial thoughts on Twitter. It’s worth noting that these posts stirred some discomfort causing Klausutis’ husband to request their removal from the social media platform.
Griffin offered this anecdote when she testified before the House Select Committee on January 6, 2022. This was more illustrative than anything else, according to her intentions, pointing out that President Trump’s opinions and decisions were often significantly shaped by the narratives presented to him by his advisors.
The transition phase in the Trump administration saw some strategic dynamics in play. There were rumors suggesting that a list of military officers, potentially including members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was being compiled with consideration for their removal from the Pentagon’s ranks.
Trump, though still in the preliminary stages of planning, had expressed his insistence on staffing his ranks with like-minded individuals. He had been vocal about his disapproval of those military officers associated with the Afghanistan withdrawal of 2021, terming them ‘woke generals’. It is these officers Trump was speculated to be most interested in replacing.
It was suggested that President Trump would be particularly keen to replace officers who had notably allied themselves with Mark Milley, his former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump, known to value loyalty above all else, was unlikely to overlook a perceived betrayal.
In the newly formed Trump government, rumors swirled about potential names for important posts. Notably, one such rumor concerned Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase. Although speculation linked him as a likely choice for Secretary of the Treasury, Dimon did not endorse Trump and had dismissed any suggestion of joining the administration.
Putting rest to these discussions, the Trump team confirmed that Dimon intended to stay with JPMorgan Chase, where he had held the reins for almost two decades. With Dimon no longer in the frame, other influential figures were tipped for the role of Treasury Secretary, notably billionaire banker Howard Lutnick and investor Scott Bessent.
In another interesting development, the highly influential Sen. Ted Cruz did not attach any undue significance to the possibility of Rep. Matt Gaetz being confirmed as Attorney General. Cruz, despite inquiries from the media, insisted on judging Gaetz on his merits.
Amongst these dynamics, a compelling and quite unexpected decision came from Nikki Haley, once Governor of South Carolina with a history as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. Despite a long-standing friendship with Trump, Haley declined an offer for a truce extended by a mutual friend of the two.
Given the political landscape, Haley’s move can only crudely be characterized as a diverse shift in approach. She had had a fallout with Trump during a Republican primary earlier in the year, which led to a visible souring of their relationship.
Looking ahead from these heated political exchanges that happened over ski racing and policy battles, Haley does not appear to seek amends with the new administration. As the Trump government takes shape, it is clear that gauging its path will be a complex exercise.
Despite all the back and forth, a noteworthy point to consider goes back to the principle that the Trump presidency has operated on, which Alyssa Farah Griffin highlighted during her testimony: the role of advisors in shaping the perspectives of the president. While the political climate may continue to evolve, this principle remains of significant relevance.