Recruitment efforts are in progress for Donald Trump’s upcoming administration as individuals aligned with MAGA have started to submit their applications to serve the president-elect. Beyond proving their professional qualifications, candidates reportedly must also show their loyalty to Trump during interviews conducted by his most devoted supporters.
A number of MAGA affiliates, including Charlie Kirk, have been assigned the responsibility of evaluating potential hires for high-level positions within the Pentagon and intelligence agencies.
Kirk, a conservative activist, pro-MAGA podcast host, and the founder of Turning Point USA, is part of a recruitment team overseen by Sergio Gor, who manages the publishing of Trump’s books and previously operated a multimillion-dollar super PAC that backed the president-elect. Since the election, Kirk’s prominence seems to be on the rise, becoming one of the select few individuals from whom Trump seeks counsel.
In recent weeks, Kirk along with other loyalists has convened with job applicants at Trump’s transition headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida. Sources indicate that they rigorously question candidates about their commitment and loyalty to the president-elect, as detailed in a New York Times report.
Nine individuals who either took part in interviews or were actively involved in the hiring process spoke with the Times regarding Trump’s recruitment strategy.
Candidates were initially asked about their ideas for reforming the Pentagon, technological improvements for intelligence agencies, and their perspectives on deploying military forces for immigration enforcement. Some candidates informed the outlet that they were then presented with questions seemingly crafted to evaluate their allegiance to Trump.
The report stated that interviewers inquired about who the candidates supported in the last three elections, their views on the events of January 6, 2021, and their beliefs about the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
According to respondents, each of these inquiries seemed to only allow for one acceptable response.
Applicants who expressed criticism of the violence at the Capitol on January 6 or acknowledged that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election were reportedly met with disinterest. They shared that they were not selected for positions.
Loyalty-related questions, as reported by several sources familiar with the transition team, are standard for interviews associated with roles in various agencies. They noted that the president-elect’s team scrutinized candidates’ statements regarding Trump made on and shortly after the day of the Capitol incident.
While Karoline Leavitt, the prospective White House press secretary, refrained from addressing specific inquiries about the job interviews when approached by the Times, she remarked, “President Trump will continue to appoint highly qualified individuals who possess the talent, experience, and necessary skills to make America great again.”
