When Kevin McCarthy’s name was circulated for months as “”dark horse candidate” Regarding the possibility of becoming President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, the former House speaker did not accept the possibility, but did not rule out his interest either.
His noncommittal stance was part of a time-honored tradition in Washington, which heated up in the run-up to Trump’s second inauguration. Whether you will be selected or accepted for a role is speculation.
So even if the buzz doesn’t lead to new jobs, the impression of being close to power can lead to new business. Getting mentioned for a management job is almost as good as getting the job itself.
This phenomenon is a typical part of the inauguration of a new government, but few admit that this is a tactic they themselves employ. New characters are running around town trying to get closer to the incoming White House, trying to collect huge sums of money from people trying to influence policy decisions. Mr. McCarthy is not a lobbyist, but being nominated to a powerful White House job cannot jeopardize his new paid speaking gig.
Lobbyists and business consultants in particular are trying to tout any connections to the president’s inner circle. Jeff Forbes, a political operative who founded the lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners, said the practice is a common PR strategy for people looking to grow businesses downtown.
“This is one of the oldest games in Washington,” the lobbyist said. “In the best case scenario, you will be chosen, but in the worst case scenario, you will appear very attractive to potential customers.”
There has never been a better time for people with legitimate knowledge of Trump’s trajectory. Ivan Adler, a recruiter known as the “lobbyist hunter,” said there are many people looking for people with ties to the president-elect. In fact, K Street did so well during the previous Trump administration that lobbyists close to Trump were able to set up successful and lasting shop in Washington. Among them were Brian Ballard and Jeff Miller, who have since become two of K Street’s biggest names.
Another development is that when a lobbyist’s colleague is elected to a key position in the administration, the lobbyist’s stock also increases. The White House’s internal connections are a huge asset to present to potential clients. So personnel decisions can have huge ramifications for who’s at the top and who’s at the bottom at K Street.
“Everyone has a different approach to marketing, but that’s marketing,” said one longtime Republican lobbyist, who was granted anonymity to speak freely. “That’s a long time ago.”
In the run-up to the Republican inauguration, some names are likely to be talked about a lot. Among them is Wayne Berman, who heads Blackstone’s government affairs team and was recently named. Deputy Secretary of Finance. Former Trump Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who is a policy advisor at lobbying giant Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck, has emerged as a sleeper candidate for chief of staff (Trump’s de facto campaign manager, Susie) ), Attorney General, or Home Secretary (although Mr. Wiles was widely seen as the frontrunner).
Bruce Melman, a Republican lobbyist who owns his own store, said this is a tactic he used: “Being perceived as connected to a new crowd is good for business and social invitations.” He emphasized that this is not the case. “It’s just a truism that we know.”
D.C.’s strategy of putting names in the news media has a long history. But this could be a dangerous move, especially in President Trump’s orbit, where getting ahead of the president or putting your own ambitions above his is one of the gravest sins.
Trump is famously hostile to those who allegedly leaked his name to the media, and his allies have expressed deep suspicions about those who tipped his name to the media. While this is a powerful marketing strategy, it doesn’t speak to his actual influence, Trump allies said.
“People use [the] “They’re trying to build a profile for this transition, knowing full well that they won’t have a chance to participate in it,” said one former campaign official. “I think people need to be skeptical when they read the names.”
There are other benefits to getting your name in the media besides getting paid right away. You’ll receive invitations to special parties, ensuring bragging rights among your colleagues. A group of Trump supporters who were granted anonymity to speak freely said they recently received a message that Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) name was being circulated to the Secretary of Agriculture and laughed at the suggestion. the former campaign official added. Massie supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary and was seeking to rebuild his image, sources suggested. (Mr. Massey’s publicist did not respond to a request for comment.)
“The people whose names will be made public are not among them,” said a former Trump administration staffer who is now a lobbyist. Typically, these people are not as “close to the center” as others believe. “I think there are a lot of those types of people in this administration.”
Even before the election, people close to Mr. McCarthy suggested that while his name was still circulating for various positions, Mr. McCarthy was content with his new post outside the government.
“I think he’s still pretty happy,” said a source close to Mr. McCarthy.
Even after McCarthy swaps out his gavel for a different type of speaker, there could still be a payoff. The former California congressman reached out to the agency for speaking opportunities. His clients include the American Hospital Association, French bank BNP Paribas, and snack industry trade group SNAC International.
Mr. McCarthy has spent years with Trump after their relationship soured after Mr. McCarthy publicly said that Mr. Trump was at least partially responsible for the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. I have been trying hard to regain his grace. Washington’s juices have dried up significantly.
But just recently, Mr. McCarthy repaired his ties with the president-elect. And his name as a candidate for chief of staff brings new relevance.
