CNN
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The workplaces within the West Wing have at all times been prime actual property for essentially the most influential individuals within the White Home. That proximity to energy is maybe much more important in President Donald Trump’s second time period, as chief of staff Susie Wiles has dedicated to operating the White Home — and limiting who has direct entry to Trump — in a much more disciplined method than was the case throughout his first time period.
That’s additionally why those that have what White Home officers seek advice from as “walk-in” privileges — that means they will enter the Oval Workplace to see the president with out an appointment — are a good rarer commodity in Trump’s second administration.
Nonetheless, practically all officers with workplaces on the primary flooring of the White Home, and plenty of on the second flooring, have that prized entry, a number of Trump administration officers and folks near the president advised CNN, although most nonetheless schedule an appointment earlier than getting into the Oval. Some aides with workplaces within the Eisenhower Government Workplace Constructing, together with Elon Musk and Trump’s director of the Presidential Personnel Workplace, Sergio Gor, have that privilege too.
Not like throughout his first time period, Trump has surrounded himself along with his closest, most loyal advisers. The bulk of people that work out of the West Wing have labored for him earlier than, whether or not on his 2024 marketing campaign, throughout his first administration or each. And in contrast to in 2017, when Trump employed high aides from extra conventional GOP circles, his group is now largely ideologically aligned with the president and much much less prone to push again on his key coverage selections.
Dan Scavino, a deputy chief of workers and considered one of Trump’s longest-serving advisers, has the workplace closest to the Oval, simply subsequent to the president’s non-public eating room. Beside him sits James Blair, Trump’s deputy chief of workers for legislative affairs who served because the president’s 2024 political director. Blair now occupies the workplace previously held in 2017 by Steve Bannon, who served as Trump’s chief strategist following his first election victory.
Wiles, whom Trump has not too long ago known as “essentially the most highly effective girl on the planet,” has taken the workplace sometimes utilized by the chiefs of workers who got here earlier than her, all of whom have been males.
Down the corridor from Wiles is Vice President JD Vance’s workplace, the place his chief of workers, Jacob Reses, additionally sits. And beside him is nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz’s workplace, the third largest after Wiles’ and Vance’s. Waltz’s deputy chief of workers, Alex Wong, and senior adviser Micah Ketchel sit in his suite, whereas his chief of workers, Brian McCormack, and communications director Brian Hughes have their very own, windowless workplaces on the ground beneath Waltz, in shut proximity to the Scenario Room.
Deputy chief of workers for operations Beau Harrison and assistant to the president Robert Gabriel have prime seating within the coronary heart of the West Wing, nestled beside the Roosevelt Room and the foyer. Nonetheless, neither Gabriel nor Harrison has walk-in privileges for the Oval Workplace, a senior White Home official advised CNN. Nor do Hughes, Ketchel or Wong, the adviser mentioned.
Seated within the nook closest to the Cupboard Room is the president’s communications group. White Home deputy chief of workers for communications and Cupboard affairs Taylor Budowich has claimed the most important workplace, sometimes reserved for the White Home press secretary. (Trump’s first press secretary, Sean Spicer, and people who adopted him, all used that workplace.) Subsequent to Budowich are communications director Steven Cheung’s and press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s workplaces.
4 of the president’s aides, and the individuals who journey most steadily with him — each now and within the years between his administrations — reside within the house immediately off the Oval Workplace, identified internally because the outer Oval. That features particular assistant to the president Margo Martin, who steadily paperwork Trump’s occasions and conferences on social media; Natalie Harp, a former One America Information Community anchor who typically sorts Trump’s Fact Social posts whereas he dictates them to her; Walt Nauta, the presidential valet and army aide who was charged within the case involving Trump’s dealing with of labeled paperwork before it was dropped; and Chamberlain Harris, Trump’s receptionist.
Trump typically will lean away from the 150-year-old Resolute Desk to shout over to the 4 aides, much like his interactions along with his former private assistant Madeleine Westerhout throughout his first time period.
A number of the president’s most influential advisers are additionally seated on the second flooring, together with deputy chief of workers for coverage Stephen Miller, whose title far understates the facility he holds within the White Home. Miller selected to maintain the workplace he used throughout the first administration, individuals conversant in the choice advised CNN.
Additionally seated on the second flooring are White Home counsel David Warrington, who makes use of the workplace historically held by the president’s counsel, deputy chief of workers for strategic implementation Nick Luna, considered one of Trump’s “physique males” throughout his first time period, and Kevin Hassett, director of the Nationwide Financial Council.
Two of Trump’s high coverage aides from his 2024 marketing campaign, Vincent Haley and Ross Worthington, additionally sit on the second flooring. Haley serves as Trump’s head of the Home Coverage Counsel whereas Worthington has taken on the function of chief speechwriter — a place beforehand held by Miller.
Lots of the workplaces on the second flooring, nonetheless, stay empty because the president nears his 100 days in workplace.
Some of the important officers of the brand new administration, particular envoy Steve Witkoff — who has been a key participant in negotiations to finish the wars between Israel and Hamas in addition to between Russia and Ukraine — has an workplace within the basement, although he steadily meets with Trump within the Oval Workplace. Additionally on the decrease stage are Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, and workers secretary Will Scharf, who’s earned a visual function presenting the president with the chief actions that he typically indicators in entrance of the press. In an uncommon transfer, Paula White-Cain, senior adviser to the White Home’s Religion Workplace and Trump’s long-term non secular adviser, has her personal workplace within the basement as effectively.
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