Inside Look at Donald Trump's Transition at Mar-a-Lago
An examination of the influential figures who have gathered in Trump’s circle following the election.
TroibNews 
Over the weekend, Donald Trump was seen navigating his West Palm Beach club in a golf cart alongside Elon Musk, taking moments to introduce Musk to other club members. The president-elect brought Musk into the Mar-a-Lago gift shop to browse hats before they enjoyed a meal outdoors with Melania Trump. Club members applauded and leaned in for a better view of Trump alongside the world's richest man.
The activity at Mar-a-Lago didn't stop there; Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, was observed moving through the lobby with a stack of documents likely related to the significant governmental transition approaching in the coming months. He later shared lunch with Trump and his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai, at the golf club.
Incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles was also seen entering and leaving the club, where several rooms were cordoned off with curtains for VIP transition meetings. Throughout the weekend, honorary transition co-chairs Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard took photos with club members and others present during the meetings.
Unlike Trump's first transition, which saw VIPs being openly paraded through the Trump Tower lobby for meetings upstairs — notable moments include Mitt Romney's awkward dinner with Trump — this time is more private. The activities are captured on social media and recounted by reporters, but the actual transition work occurs behind the scenes, away from the image of Trump enjoying meals under the Mar-a-Lago's yellow-striped umbrellas with influential associates.
Another key distinction this time is Trump's approach to seeking advice. In 2016, he relied more on established Washington insiders to navigate his entry into government. Currently, he appears more inclined to consult individuals known for their influence in business, political commentary, or strong social media presences. Those involved in the meetings suggest the atmosphere resembles that of a startup.
Trump and his transition advisors, as indicated by a source familiar with the proceedings, are evaluating candidates from a room at Mar-a-Lago equipped with long tables and televisions, facilitating the review of candidate media clips and bios.
Those close to Trump report that he has a long history of consulting a diverse range of advisors, spanning from industry leaders to a Las Vegas waitress, whom Trump noted inspired his no-tax-on-tips proposal. As he strategizes for his next administration, the individuals he is meeting with at Palm Beach signal an openness to Republican outsiders eager to bring change to Washington.
“There's a lot of different factions. There's a lot of people calling Trump. There's a lot of people who thought one thing was set in stone and are finding out that's not the case, and the chessboard is going to be shuffled a lot in the coming weeks,” remarked a source knowledgeable about the transition.
Describing the transition event as a “positive type of startup culture,” a participant noted that Trump and his team are “pulling the best people into the room to give ideas, regardless of titles.” “There’s positive energy, creativity, openness to ideas,” the source added.
An observer from the club commented that the transition process seems significantly more organized and “discreet” compared to past efforts at Mar-a-Lago, referencing the public national security meeting between Trump and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held in front of dinner guests.
So far, Trump has disclosed positions for chief of staff, deputy chief of staff for policy, EPA administrator, border czar, and U.N. ambassador, with more high-profile appointments expected soon. Concurrently, some potential candidates are withdrawing as discussions progress, including Sen. Eric Schmitt, who expressed a desire to remain in the Senate.
Participants in recent transition meetings include Lutnick and Linda McMahon, along with influential individuals like Musk, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Gabbard, and Kennedy. A plethora of conservative influencers, including Charlie Kirk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have also been involved in the discussions, according to sources familiar with the meetings.
Furthermore, Trump’s personal friend Steve Witkoff, who is co-chairing the inaugural committee, has been providing input on Trump’s soon-to-be-formed cabinet, noted a person informed about the discussions. Trump is also known to reach out to friends and allies outside the transition team for their insights.
Musk's substantial influence can be attributed to his investment of $120 million in Trump's campaign and his active promotion of Trump and Trump-friendly figures on his social media platform, X. He has been engaging in discussions regarding Trump’s cabinet selections and has even participated in calls with world leaders.
Kennedy's endorsement of Trump earlier this summer proved advantageous in securing support among critical independent voter demographics, including health-conscious suburban mothers and young men typically detached from Republican politics. He is poised to take on a significant role in shaping Trump's health care initiatives.
Trump has also been seeking counsel from his son, Donald Jr., who has emerged as a primary informal adviser to the former president. Over the weekend, Trump Jr. played a crucial role in discouraging discussions of Mike Pompeo or Nikki Haley for any official positions, asserting that his father intends to populate the White House with loyalists.
After actively supporting Vance during the vice-presidential selection process, Trump Jr. has expressed satisfaction with the appointees recommended by Trump's transition team, continuing to weigh in on positions of interest, much like he did in 2016 when he advocated for Rep. Ryan Zinke's appointment as Interior secretary.
“Don Jr. was very effective in getting JD picked. But I think his big role on the transition is being someone who can stop people who are perceived as not loyal to his father and his father's agenda. You saw that with Pompeo,” stated a close associate of the Trump operation.
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, has seen his influence grow recently. He has been spotted at Mar-a-Lago since Friday and is now positioned to be a key GOP influencer within Trump's circle.
After Trump called Kirk on Wednesday post-election, Kirk publicly supported two of Trump’s staffing decisions before their announcements: Wiles for chief of staff and Stephen Miller for deputy chief of staff. Similar to Musk and Kennedy, Kirk has been advocating for a rightward shift in GOP control of the Senate, endorsing Sen. Rick Scott for the role over more traditional Republican candidates.
Kirk's favor emerges from a successful get-out-the-vote campaign his organization executed, which was among several relied upon by the Trump campaign in lieu of a comprehensive internal field program. His focus on connecting with Gen Z voters proved strategic, given Trump’s unexpected gains among younger voters this election cycle.
Kirk has maintained a long-standing friendship with Trump Jr., having served as his body man during the 2016 campaign, assisting him with tasks like fetching Diet Cokes and supporting his social media efforts.
Despite the prominent presence of MAGA figures at Mar-a-Lago who have publicized their activities online, Susie Wiles remains the most influential, revered as a power broker following her role in orchestrating Trump's political resurgence and 2024 campaign. Her early hiring decision reflects her ongoing influence in Trump's administration.
“She’ll hire a lot of the incoming White House staff and also has a big voice in cabinet members as well,” noted a source acquainted with the transition activities. “So it’s really not too different from the influence she had as campaign manager when she gave advice and made sure that the White House is staffed up with people who are ready from Day One.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
The activity at Mar-a-Lago didn't stop there; Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, was observed moving through the lobby with a stack of documents likely related to the significant governmental transition approaching in the coming months. He later shared lunch with Trump and his 17-year-old granddaughter, Kai, at the golf club.
Incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles was also seen entering and leaving the club, where several rooms were cordoned off with curtains for VIP transition meetings. Throughout the weekend, honorary transition co-chairs Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard took photos with club members and others present during the meetings.
Unlike Trump's first transition, which saw VIPs being openly paraded through the Trump Tower lobby for meetings upstairs — notable moments include Mitt Romney's awkward dinner with Trump — this time is more private. The activities are captured on social media and recounted by reporters, but the actual transition work occurs behind the scenes, away from the image of Trump enjoying meals under the Mar-a-Lago's yellow-striped umbrellas with influential associates.
Another key distinction this time is Trump's approach to seeking advice. In 2016, he relied more on established Washington insiders to navigate his entry into government. Currently, he appears more inclined to consult individuals known for their influence in business, political commentary, or strong social media presences. Those involved in the meetings suggest the atmosphere resembles that of a startup.
Trump and his transition advisors, as indicated by a source familiar with the proceedings, are evaluating candidates from a room at Mar-a-Lago equipped with long tables and televisions, facilitating the review of candidate media clips and bios.
Those close to Trump report that he has a long history of consulting a diverse range of advisors, spanning from industry leaders to a Las Vegas waitress, whom Trump noted inspired his no-tax-on-tips proposal. As he strategizes for his next administration, the individuals he is meeting with at Palm Beach signal an openness to Republican outsiders eager to bring change to Washington.
“There's a lot of different factions. There's a lot of people calling Trump. There's a lot of people who thought one thing was set in stone and are finding out that's not the case, and the chessboard is going to be shuffled a lot in the coming weeks,” remarked a source knowledgeable about the transition.
Describing the transition event as a “positive type of startup culture,” a participant noted that Trump and his team are “pulling the best people into the room to give ideas, regardless of titles.” “There’s positive energy, creativity, openness to ideas,” the source added.
An observer from the club commented that the transition process seems significantly more organized and “discreet” compared to past efforts at Mar-a-Lago, referencing the public national security meeting between Trump and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held in front of dinner guests.
So far, Trump has disclosed positions for chief of staff, deputy chief of staff for policy, EPA administrator, border czar, and U.N. ambassador, with more high-profile appointments expected soon. Concurrently, some potential candidates are withdrawing as discussions progress, including Sen. Eric Schmitt, who expressed a desire to remain in the Senate.
Participants in recent transition meetings include Lutnick and Linda McMahon, along with influential individuals like Musk, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Gabbard, and Kennedy. A plethora of conservative influencers, including Charlie Kirk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have also been involved in the discussions, according to sources familiar with the meetings.
Furthermore, Trump’s personal friend Steve Witkoff, who is co-chairing the inaugural committee, has been providing input on Trump’s soon-to-be-formed cabinet, noted a person informed about the discussions. Trump is also known to reach out to friends and allies outside the transition team for their insights.
Musk's substantial influence can be attributed to his investment of $120 million in Trump's campaign and his active promotion of Trump and Trump-friendly figures on his social media platform, X. He has been engaging in discussions regarding Trump’s cabinet selections and has even participated in calls with world leaders.
Kennedy's endorsement of Trump earlier this summer proved advantageous in securing support among critical independent voter demographics, including health-conscious suburban mothers and young men typically detached from Republican politics. He is poised to take on a significant role in shaping Trump's health care initiatives.
Trump has also been seeking counsel from his son, Donald Jr., who has emerged as a primary informal adviser to the former president. Over the weekend, Trump Jr. played a crucial role in discouraging discussions of Mike Pompeo or Nikki Haley for any official positions, asserting that his father intends to populate the White House with loyalists.
After actively supporting Vance during the vice-presidential selection process, Trump Jr. has expressed satisfaction with the appointees recommended by Trump's transition team, continuing to weigh in on positions of interest, much like he did in 2016 when he advocated for Rep. Ryan Zinke's appointment as Interior secretary.
“Don Jr. was very effective in getting JD picked. But I think his big role on the transition is being someone who can stop people who are perceived as not loyal to his father and his father's agenda. You saw that with Pompeo,” stated a close associate of the Trump operation.
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, has seen his influence grow recently. He has been spotted at Mar-a-Lago since Friday and is now positioned to be a key GOP influencer within Trump's circle.
After Trump called Kirk on Wednesday post-election, Kirk publicly supported two of Trump’s staffing decisions before their announcements: Wiles for chief of staff and Stephen Miller for deputy chief of staff. Similar to Musk and Kennedy, Kirk has been advocating for a rightward shift in GOP control of the Senate, endorsing Sen. Rick Scott for the role over more traditional Republican candidates.
Kirk's favor emerges from a successful get-out-the-vote campaign his organization executed, which was among several relied upon by the Trump campaign in lieu of a comprehensive internal field program. His focus on connecting with Gen Z voters proved strategic, given Trump’s unexpected gains among younger voters this election cycle.
Kirk has maintained a long-standing friendship with Trump Jr., having served as his body man during the 2016 campaign, assisting him with tasks like fetching Diet Cokes and supporting his social media efforts.
Despite the prominent presence of MAGA figures at Mar-a-Lago who have publicized their activities online, Susie Wiles remains the most influential, revered as a power broker following her role in orchestrating Trump's political resurgence and 2024 campaign. Her early hiring decision reflects her ongoing influence in Trump's administration.
“She’ll hire a lot of the incoming White House staff and also has a big voice in cabinet members as well,” noted a source acquainted with the transition activities. “So it’s really not too different from the influence she had as campaign manager when she gave advice and made sure that the White House is staffed up with people who are ready from Day One.”
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
