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November 28, 2024 - 5:15pm
Donald Trump is bringing a Florida crew back to Washington with him. Arguably the two most important jobs in his administration will be held by women with strong links to the Sunshine State. Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, his nominee for attorney general, both lobbied extensively at the same Florida firm in recent years.
Trump’s likely-to-be-confirmed secretary of state is Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida since 2011. Michael Waltz, a Congressman from the state’s eastern coast, will serve as national security advisor. That’s already four key positions occupied by people with deep ties to Florida, before you add lower-profile nominees such as John Phelan for secretary of the Navy and Dave Weldon for the Centers for Disease Control (technically based in Atlanta).
Wiles and Bondi both worked at Ballard Partners, the lobbying shop of “prominent Florida Republican fund-raiser Brian Ballard”, as the New York Times put it. “Susie brings with her a Florida approach, without question,” Ballard told NBC News. “She is a national player, but clearly has major Florida roots and connections. The many people from Florida you see going to the administration are in no small part because of her.” Wiles helped Ballard open a DC office and establish a lobbying presence in the Beltway. Mercury, a lobbying giant, later named Wiles the co-chair of offices in DC and Tallahassee.
If all of this sounds a little swampy, it’s because Florida’s political ecosystem is as swampy as its literal one. Trump, having transformed the state from purple to red, now spends most of his time at Mar-a-Lago. During the pandemic, as MAGA-inclined people moved to Florida for conservative politics, the state became a refuge for the likeminded.
This may, to some extent, force people around Trump to confront a tough choice: is it worth leaving Florida for Washington to get in on the presidential action? This is an easier decision for the high-profile jobs, but for mid-level staffers it may be more difficult. The state is also home to a robust group of MAGA influencers and podcasters, some of whom are itching to actually get seats in the White House briefing room. If you already have access to Trump, why relocate to a stuffy company town and rub elbows with ink-stained wretches?
Whether they actually move, Trump’s well-connected Florida friends are sure to be spending more time in the capital. This is hardly without precedent: George W. Bush brought Texas to DC, while Barack Obama brought Chicago. The very recent history of Florida, though, incubated a particular vibe. The state became a high-energy safe space for MAGA Republicans in and outside politics to fraternise and enjoy the company of others without fear of social cancellation or Covid mask mandates. That means operatives and influencers will come to Washington fresh off several years of plotting and scheming and partying in the same circles.
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SubscribeWhew. Just imagine if a bunch of California Dems packed up and moved to Washington. Dodged a bullet there. Florida is one of the most sucessful states in the U.S. Bring it on.
Wins my vote for best phrase on Unherd in 2024.
There is a great podcast called ink stained wretches.
Thanks Jim, wasn’t aware of that, will check it out.
They critique other media and what’s happening in the world of media. If that’s your thing, it’s the best show out there. If you’re not a mediaphile, it’s probably not worth it.
Let’s hope so!