Trump’s eldest son emerges as key voice influencing cabinet picks

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump Jr has emerged as the most influential Trump family member in the transition as the president-elect builds the most controversial cabinet in modern US history, according to a half dozen sources with knowledge of his role, elevating inexperienced loyalists over more qualified candidates for top positions in his administration.

Trump, who fiercely prizes loyalty, has long relied on family members for political advice, but which relative has his ear is known to vary.

This time, it is Don Jr, who has helped cabinet contenders sink or rise to the fore - from championing Senator JD Vance as Trump’s running mate to blocking former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from joining the cabinet, according to the sources, who include donors, personal friends and political allies.

Don Jr is due to join conservative venture capital fund 1789 Capital, although one of the sources said he will continue to host his politics-focused podcast and support candidates that espouse Trump’s brand of politics.

He will provide advice to his father in the White House, the source added, although they cautioned that Don Jr was unlikely to be involved in day-to-day deliberations.

Don Jr and the Trump-Vance transition team did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to ensuring candidates are loyal to his father, Don Jr typically seeks out contenders who embrace an anti-establishment worldview, including protectionist economic policies, and a reduction in military interventions and overseas aid, according to a handful of the sources and Don Jr’s own comments on social media site X and in public.

Don Jr was also instrumental in lobbying his father to pick his close friend Vance as Trump’s running mate.

Vance was popular with Trump’s base, but his anti-corporate rhetoric, opposition to Ukraine aid and past comments panning some Democratic women as “childless cat ladies” gave some donors and supporters pause.

Trump was ultimately happy with Vance, giving Don Jr extra political capital as an adviser during the transition, one of the sources added.

Not all of Don Jr’s picks have landed jobs.

He was keen on Ric Grenell, a personal friend and former ambassador to Germany, getting secretary of state, according to a separate source familiar with the matter. His father ended up picking Senator Marco Rubio, whose views are deemed by Trump’s core supporters as too traditional and internationalist.

Two of the sources close to Don Jr said he does not weigh in on all personnel decisions and is not working on the transition process or at Mar-a-Lago full time.