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The rare statement, which came after a similar message from senior advisers last month, reflected growing concern in Trump’s inner circle about some of the ideas that associated with his second term. It comes as pundits and political opponents raise concerns about the former president and his friends embracing authoritarian views and rhetoric.
Wiles and LaCivita added a caveat to their mission statement: “Let’s be more specific, and direct: People who are publicly discussing management jobs for themselves or their friends are, in fact, hurt President Trump… and themselves. Distractions are not acceptable.”
A representative of the Trump campaign, speaking on the condition of anonymity under campaign rules, said Friday’s statement came in response to a report published by Axios The previous day offered a list of members of the second Trump administration, as well as “those who keep pushing their names and causing problems for the President.”
The Washington Post and other outlets have previously reported that Trump and his allies have made specific plans to use the federal government to punish his opponents, including discussions of using the Insurrection Act in his first day in office, where he can use the military against civil society demonstrations. Trump, who has disputed his complaints and promised compensation, has repeatedly said he sees his charges as evidence that the Justice Department and the FBI will turn against his enemies.
Friday’s statement also came amid a growing backlash from the campaign against reports that the second Trump would be more serious and aggressive than his first. Trump’s advisers, who tried to make a more disciplined campaign compared to the previous Trump, see those reports as useless for the general election.
Trump, however, has at times destroyed that message, including Tuesday during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. When asked if he would “not use power to reward anybody,” Trump said, “Except for Day 1,” and went on to talk about drilling for oil and closing the border. .
A coalition of right-wing groups called Project 2025 is preparing for a Republican administration. But in light of reports about Trump’s secondary policies, including immigration and labor, Wiles reached out to the project’s director, Paul Dans of the Heritage Foundation, to tell him to The report failed, The Post previously reported.
As Trump’s team tries to push back against historians who have raised concerns about the rhetoric and sudden plans Trump and his allies have shown – such as the presidential campaign Biden and some lawmakers are also issuing warnings against a second Trump — some of whom are former administration officials. that message.
In an interview this week on Stephen K. Bannon’s podcast, former White House official Kash Patel suggested that the second Trump administration would go to the press. .
“Yes, we will go after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden in the presidential election – we will go after you,” he said. of Patel. “Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’ll find out.”
Isaac Arnsdorf contributed to this report.