Beneath the Chandelier at Mar-a-Lago, Trump Makes Decisions at a Rapid Pace
President-elect Donald J. Trump remains deeply dismissive of Washington's expertise, focusing instead on selecting individuals based on their loyalty.
President-elect Donald J. Trump has been making key staffing decisions with remarkable speed and spontaneity. He selected his attorney general on a whim during a flight between Washington and Palm Beach, Fla., dismissed and then reconsidered a candidate for the Department of Homeland Security, and decided on his defense secretary during a quick slide presentation at Mar-a-Lago.
Confident in his instincts and increasingly dismissive of Washington's traditional expertise, Mr. Trump is filling the top roles in his administration at an unprecedented pace—nearly a month faster than he did in 2016.
Many of these decisions are being made under the chandelier in Mar-a-Lago's tearoom, where Mr. Trump evaluates potential Cabinet members using giant video screens. Shortlists prepared by his transition team, led by billionaire Howard Lutnick, are presented to him, complete with video clips of the candidates’ television appearances—an essential qualification for any future member of a Trump Cabinet.
Mr. Trump’s legal adviser, Boris Epshteyn, who remains under indictment for his involvement in the alleged fake electors scheme in Arizona, has played a significant role in influencing decisions in the tearoom and beyond. He is reportedly a key advocate for Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Joining him frequently are Susie Wiles, the president-elect’s chief of staff, Donald Trump Jr., Mr. Trump’s eldest son, and Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, all of whom have become regular presences in these discussions.
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