Donald Trump's young team: Meet the five former White House staffers who are joining ex-POTUS in Florida
Donald Trump's move to Florida from the White House saw five junior staffers following him to help set up the former president's new office and plan the next moves. Using a property at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago club, the team is currently in the process of getting organized, a former White House official told the Washington Examiner.
The team includes Margo Martin, the under-25 White House press assistant who was a familiar face at Trump press meets. She would cajole journalists in and out of the Oval Office or other venues. Currently, she is handling communications for Trump's new team. Martin is joined by Nick Luna, formerly the personal assistant to the then-President and Will Russell, director of the Trump White House advance team. Molly Michael, former Oval Office coordinator and Cassidy Hutchinson (also under 25), who used to be an aide to former chief of staff Mark Meadows, are also joining them.
Luna's wife, also named Cassidy, will continue working for the ex-POTUS' son-in-law, Jared Kushner, having worked for him at the White House. Kushner will also be joining the rest of the family at the Sunshine State with his wife Ivanka Trump, and their children. “He has a fairly young crew down there with him, which is typical for presidents once they leave office,” the former official told the outlet. “For younger staffers, he is still a very popular figure, and it is great experience. If you look at the Obama years, I think he took some junior staff, as well.”
Trump's life at Mar-a-Lago following his exit from the White House has borne quite the resemblance with his times spent at the venue over the weekends and holidays. He arrived at his West Palm Beach golf club to play 18 holes there on January 21. The following day saw him return to his regular table in the Grill Room across the golf course, for lunch. His new team has, meanwhile, stayed occupied with placing calls and organizing the office space and logistics. “If he needs to get hold of Sen. Graham, then they’ll facilitate that,” the former official told the publication.
The team is helping Trump set up his next plan, specifically those of running for office again in 2024. His plan includes running a grand campaign war that is expected to have a heavy impact in next year's mid-term elections, with control of the House and Senate being open. The present however sees Trump take time off in Florida. "He’s golfing, so there’s not a lot for his team to do,” said the source.
This comes in the wake of an impeachment article expected to be sent to the Senate. Presidential historian Martha Kumar said Trump's decision to leave office with a smaller, younger staff was quite common.“While he is powering down, in some ways, he has to power up, in other ways, and focus his attention,” she said. “Other presidents could take years to write their books, but he has impeachment right before him — and a full legal plate.”