Klippenstein, Miller helping steer ag transition effort

Donald Trump’s Agriculture Department transition landing team is still assembling. But some early names working on the effort include Brian Klippenstein, according to four people familiar with the conversations. Klippenstein, who’s known as “Klip,” was the key (and really only) official scrambling to pull together the chaotic Trump USDA transition in 2016. He has a hand […]

Trump’s DOT transition team includes officials from his first term

President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign has tapped two former Transportation Department officials to help the agency’s transition efforts as he prepares for his second term, POLITICO has learned. That includes Skip Elliott, who worked under Trump’s DOT as administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and also as acting DOT inspector general, two former […]

Trump: ‘NO INTENTION OF SELLING’ $3.5B stake in Trump Media

President-elect Donald Trump is doubling down on his plans to hold on to his roughly $3.5 billion stake in the parent company of Truth Social, just days after winning back the White House. In a social media post, Trump, who is the company’s majority shareholder, said Friday he has “NO INTENTION OF SELLING” his nearly […]

Trump transition staff poised to access national security secrets, Justice Department says

The Justice Department issued its first official comment on the presidential transition Friday, indicating that officials there are prepared to help incoming advisers to President-elect Donald Trump get access to classified information. “The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring an orderly and effective transition to the new Administration,” the statement said. “We are prepared […]

Get your Susie Wiles fix here

The hottest ticket in town is about to be Susie Wiles’ cell phone number. There are many reasons why Trump chose Wiles, who will be the first woman to hold the job, as his chief of staff. She largely eschews the spotlight — except for when she’s hitting back at Mark Cuban for saying Trump […]

State of play: The battle for Congress

There are two uncalled Senate races — both leaning toward Democrats — and about two dozen uncalled House races three days after Election Day. With the seats remaining, Republicans have the clear inside track for retaining control of the House. Nevada Senate: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen padded her lead as more ballots were counted […]

Calling all nat sec wonks: These are the transition positions you should be paying attention to

President-elect Donald Trump’s national security transition team is already taking shape, giving early insights into who could staff his national security and defense team once he takes office in January. The speculation around Cabinet secretary posts is hogging a lot of attention, but lower-level appointees in the National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon could […]

Trump advisers, Congress discuss tariff legislation

Advisers close to President-elect Donald Trump have been in discussions with House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) on a broad tax package that is partially paid for by tariffs approved by Congress, according to two people familiar with the conversations who declined to be named because of internal discussions. As part of those […]