As the administration hits its 2 ½ year anniversary, a traditional point to shift to the reelection, top aides feel that President Trump has made good on his 2016 promise to turn back former President Barack Obama’s agenda and replace it with theirs.
What’s more, as they ready for the campaign and a potential second term, a sizable group of insiders who worked the 2016 campaign and then joined the White House, have remained to provide continuity in the sometimes chaotic White House.
Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law with the outsized portfolio of handling the reelection, immigration, and Middle East peace, said that the president’s successes have been far and wide, but more work remains.
“I think that we’ve turned the battleship. I don’t think we’ve gotten it all the way, but I think that we’re making serious progress,” he told Secrets. “I really do believe that the work that the president is doing is incredible,” he added.
2.5 years pic.twitter.com/y1djDoOWYv
— Avi Berkowitz (@AviBerkow) July 19, 2019
While the media and White House critics portray a directionless White House with few achievements, the actual list is long and one the president and Vice President Mike Pence plan to refer more and more to in the 2020 campaign.
The insiders said it will focus on the economy, immigration, healthcare, and providing a hand up to those in the inner cities.
And for this campaign, Trump’s group of “old hands” are expected to tap their experiences gained from the 2016 victory and 2.5 years in the White House, as of July 20, to run a smoother operation.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Kushner. “For me, I never thought that I would be doing any of this and the last couple of years have been full of interesting, extraordinary, mind expanding, and motivating experiences. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity that I’ve had to work for this country and to work for this president,” he said.
There are at least 13 top aides in the White House who came from the 2016 campaign and who have had a key hand in shaping the Trump agenda and legacy.
In addition to Kushner, there is his wife and president’s daughter Ivanka who has focused on jobs and a global campaign for women. Key longtime communicators and policy pros include Kellyanne Conway, spokeswoman Stefanie Grisham, Avi Berkowitz, who works with Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and Jessica Ditto, deputy director of communications, also close to Ivanka.
There’s top policy aide Stephen Miller, Robert Gabriel, senior policy adviser, Molly Michael, the president’s executive assistant, special assistant Cassidy Dumbauld, advance chief Max Miller, and the chief of social media and regular Trump companion Dan Scavino Jr.
And the political shop has Trump veterans led by Brian Jack, the director of political affairs.
It was a team that virtually everybody underestimated, but now drives the nation’s agenda.
“I joined the campaign a few days before Super Tuesday II, at a time when the president’s campaign staff was very small,” said Jack.
“One of the best parts of this experience is watching folks who were new to (or alienated from) traditional politics, yet drawn to President Trump’s movement, earn jobs across his administration and successfully implement President Trump’s record-setting agenda for all Americans,” he added.
“Those of us who were on the campaign have a unique perspective on the movement that brought us to the White House. We know what it’s like to be woefully underestimated and recognize the D.C. skeptics and media opposition for what they are,” said Ditto.
“The energy and enthusiasm remains rock solid because President Trump is changing Washington and his policies are lifting up all Americans. I consider it the greatest honor to continue to serve in this White House and work with really talented people who love this country and our president,” she added.
Entering 2020, those 11 represent a lot of experience and firepower, said GOP consultant Ron Bonjean, a veteran of the Bush administration and House and Senate leadership teams.
“While the media always focuses on turnover, it should be noted that there remains a rare contingent of senior staff that carry the institutional memory from the campaign up until this point serving in the White House,” said Bonjean.
“Having battle-hardened experience on the campaign trail and in the West Wing provides a huge benefit to the president because they already understand the playbook and can help new staff to get up to speed quickly,” he added.
