Donald Trump named his transition team Friday and appointed former Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, chairman and chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, as co-chairs. The former president’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), and Trump sons Eric and Don Jr. will serve as honorary co-chairs.
Although the move could be viewed as a symbol of Trump’s confidence in his chances in the presidential race, naming a transition team is also required by federal law. The GOP nominee’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, is expected to appoint hers soon.
The former president said they’ll be getting to work right away:
In a written statement, Trump senior wrote that “I have absolute confidence the Trump-Vance Administration will be ready to govern effectively on Day One.”
Trump said his transition team will work to put into practice an agenda that includes tax cuts, mass deportations of migrants, expansion of the U.S. energy industry, and making non-political government employees more beholden to the White House.
Writer Paul Ingrassia posted his approval of the announcement:
President Trump told me yesterday at Bedminster “I think we’re doing pretty good!”
The campaign is in full force, the transition team announced today is absolutely phenomenal, and America is ready for a second Trump administration!
Onward to victory! pic.twitter.com/9aty3hbBGk
— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) August 16, 2024
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The team will start looking at possible personnel for a Trump White House and will start laying the groundwork to achieve his goals if and when he takes office.
The two chairs of the Trump transition… will oversee efforts to identify and vet potential political appointees and draft executive orders and other plans to implement Mr. Trump’s policy proposals, including a sweeping crackdown on immigration and raising tariffs on imported goods.
The New York Times was probably hoping that he would choose people associated with Project 2025, which liberals have desperately attempted to tie Trump to, but they were disappointed:
It was also striking that neither Ms. McMahon nor Mr. Lutnick has been associated with Project 2025, an effort by a consortium of conservative organizations to develop personnel and policy transition planning for the next Republican president. While Mr. Trump has close ties to leaders of that effort, he has recently tried to distance himself from it as Democrats have seized on some of its more radical proposals.
Interestingly, the team will not be operating on the government’s dime:
A Trump team official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the transition, said the effort would not use the office space and computers that the federal government makes available for transitions, but instead would operate entirely using private funds through a tax-exempt group the campaign has established. The official would not answer questions as to why, but Mr. Trump has consistently expressed distrust of the Biden administration and its posture toward him.
A smart move, considering the Biden administration has routinely proven that they’re willing to weaponize the Department of Justice against their political opponents.
We’ll soon see who Kamala Harris appoints to her team, but her campaign seems to turn further left with each passing day, so expect it to be full of extreme progressives.
Congratulations to my friend and colleague @Linda_McMahon on being selected to Co-Chair President Trump’s transition team! She is a truly wonderful person and will make America proud 🇺🇸
Throwback (for fun)! pic.twitter.com/iY7WYn95hM
— Luke J. Lindberg (@TheUSA) August 16, 2024
