As President-elect Donald Trump outfitting his new administration with a diverse team of MAGA loyalists, some supporters appear to have been under the impression that anyone can now serve in the White House. And it’s not entirely clear whether they’re mistaken or not.
On Wednesday, Politics made the news that a host of MAGA influencers and other sycophants have begun publicly lobbying for permanent jobs in the Trump administration. These include Melissa Rein is livelya journalist and Instagram influencer most famous for a 2020 video in which she tore down a display of Covid-19 masks at an Arizona Target and Breanna MorelloONE X personality host of a right-wing political podcast. “President Trump is backed by a team of capable advisers who will cut through this Gucci-wearing bunch like a knife through butter,” a Republican strategist told Politico. “Every administration is besieged by wannabe celebrity advisers…The only distinguishing factor of this iteration is the large quantity of counterfeit Botox on display.”
Of course, one cannot fault Lively et al. to try. Trump has made some unique personnel choices, eschewing traditional criteria such as experience or expertise in favor of unswerving loyalty to the MAGA movement. Just this week, he announced plans to nominate the Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth as defense minister, though Hegseth’s omission Relevant policy acumen. Kristi Noemgovernor of South Dakota, also received Trump’s endorsement for secretary of homeland security, although she refrained homeland security experience. Furthermore, Trump is awards are expected role of health policy Robert F. Kennedy Jr.., female conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer last week Launch a website to mobilize candidates for vacant positions in the new administration. “President Trump asked Bobby to help ‘drain the swamp’” an announcement on the website said.
By and large, MAGA loyalists responded from outside the “swamp”—but maybe also far outside. In particular, Lively is waging a vigorous and relentless campaign to run for White House press secretary. The journalist and influencer reportedly moved from Scottsdale, Arizona to Palm Beach, Florida, to better socialize with Trump’s inner circle. On Instagram, she posted many photos of herself with RFK, Roger Rock, Vivek Ramaswamy And Tulsi Gabbardas well as several notes and videos showcasing her PR experience.
Before this week, however, Lively was known less for her career “advancing the conservative movement”—as her cover letter for the show said—and more for the very public crisis that she experienced at the height of the pandemic. Videos she livestreamed of herself tearing up mask screens and ranting about QAnon were viewed more 100 million timesaccording to Washington Post. Lively was involuntarily hospitalized for a week after the incident and then enrolled in an eight-week program to address her mental health difficulties. At the time, Lively denied the incident and called it a “broken episode”. Now, she told Politico, the whole thing was just a “PR stunt.” Time will tell whether it really works or not.
