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These are the MAGA prizefighters.
Donald Trump’s entourage during his visit to UFC 309 Saturday at Madison Square Garden offers some clues about who is in his inner circle as he works to assemble his administration.
With a little over two months before inauguration, the president-elect is spoiling for political fights over his nominees.
And as he watched a series of MMA fights ringside, Trump surrounded himself with some of his most loyal allies — nearly all of whom are outside the traditional power structures that have dominated Washington for decades.
“It really looks like ancient Rome. This is sort of a conquering, Republican Caesar, who is going into the Colosseum, and everyone’s cheering. And he’s got his political gladiators with him,” Bulwark reporter Marc Caputo mused on CNN Sunday.
“That appearance isn’t just about him enjoying the applause, he’s sending a message to the Senate. Like not only are you entertained, these are my people, are you willing to fight? Here’s who I am.”
Trump received a hero’s welcome and electrified the raucous crowd packed into the iconic NYC arena. He entered the alongside UFC CEO Dana White and the rest of his entourage.
Behind him during the big entrance were House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), billionaire Elon Musk, his eldest son Donald Trump Jr., Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and others.
Notably, recently Senate GOP conference leader-elect John Thune (R-SC) was not present on the trip. MAGA world had generally favored Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in the race last week to succeed outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), though Trump was neutral.
Johnson, 52, who has struggled with a divided and rambunctious group of House Republicans has worked hard to court Trump, who in turn, helped him snuff out possible competition for the gavel from his right flank last week.
“I think what the American people believe and what they’ve delivered with the mandate in this election is [a] demand that we shake up the status quo — it’s not working for the American people,” Johnson told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday.
“What I’ll say about the nominees that the president has put forward, is that they are persons who will shake up the status quo,” Johnson added.
During his staffing process for the next administration, Trump has generally been tapping more of the perceived disruptors to helm key agencies and departments than he had in his first administration.
This includes announcing Kennedy as his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Gabbard to serve as his Director of National Intelligence.
Both choices have met with strong resistance from Democrats — and even some Republicans.
Trump picked Musk and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to be co-leads of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (which isn’t technically a government department). (Ramaswamy was also close by at the fight.)
Donald Trump Jr. is widely believed to be playing a key role in staffing decisions and is urging his father to refrain from so-called establishment picks.
The president-elect was also seen posing with musician Kid Rock and greeting podcast titan Joe Rogan, a UFC color commentator.
Onboard Trump Force Once
Before his triumphant arrival, Trump was pictured eating McDonald’s next to Trump Jr., Musk, Kennedy and Johnson.
Kennedy, who has long crusaded against unhealthy US food consumption habits, looked uneasy next to the McDonald’s meal.
Many of these men have spent ample time with Trump in Mar-a-Lago in the wake of his election victory, having his ear as he works to staff up his next administration and plots out his next four years in the White House.
The possibility of Kennedy landing the HHS role sent shivers down the spines of many top public health officials.
Trump’s announcement of his RFK Jr. as his HHS designate tanked drug company stocks on Friday. Former President Barack Obama’s HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, for example, recently warned that Kennedy could “end up killing people” in the role.
Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick perviously ruled out the possibility of Kennedy nabbing a cabinet post and suggested he would helm some sort of commission.
Elevator selfie
Before their entrance into the stadium, Trump Jr. posted a selfie on Instagram of the crew packed into an elevator. This included at least one agent in Trump’s Secret Service detail.
Trump was seen smiling in the back near Gabbard, Musk, Kid Rock and Johnson.
Politicians and entertainers
Johnson later posted a self with country musician-slash-rapper Jelly Roll and Kid Rock at the venue, with Trump and conservative pundit Dan Bongino talking to each other in the background.
The GOP House speaker had spent time in Mar-a-Lago with Trump as he works to figure out a legislative path forward. Congress has until the end of next month to avert a government shutdown.
Next year, key provisions in Trump’s 2017 tax cuts measure will expire as will the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidies. Additionally, Congress will face another debt ceiling showdown.
Ironically many of the politicos who tagged along with Trump had once counted themselves among the Democratic Party — including Kennedy, Musk and Gabbard.
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