Former President Donald Trump's incoming administration is beginning to take shape, with a lot of people being pulled from Congress and there being some pressure on the Trump side to rush some through without Senate consent. Not all of them have been lifelong loyalists, but all have sworn fealty to him at the most recent reckoning.
But just because Trump loves you now, CNN's Jamie Gangel told anchor Jake Tapper on Tuesday, doesn't mean you're in the clear. In fact, most of the members of Trump's old administration have fallen out of favor or at least into obscurity.
Tapper noted that Charlie Kirk, the director of the far-right student group Turning Point USA who ran some of Trump's voter canvassing operation in 2024, "also weighed in, posting on Twitter, 'Folks, word of wisdom. If Trump has not confirmed it on Truth, don't jump to conclusions and don't believe everything you see.' Mr. Kirk is right about that. Because, I mean, until it is announced and done, especially in Trump World, it is not announced and done."
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"Let's talk about what it takes to get the job," said Gangel. "It helps if you are loyal. It helps if you have an ally, preferably someone in the family or someone named Elon Musk. It also helps — if you ever said anything bad about him, that maybe he's willing to look the other way. Not always, but sometimes."
"But I just want to say be careful what you wish for," Gangel added. "Because we have seen a Trump administration. And you better have thick skin, because what do, let's see, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, let's play the game. What do they all have in common?"
"Trump has fired them and insulted them," said Tapper, adding. "That is a really small list of the people he's fired and insulted."
"But those are three big names," Gangel said. "So, you know, from day one you are on double secret probation."
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