The West Wing of the White House is the administrative center of the White House and is considered the power center of the White House. It houses the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Situation Room, and offices for some key advisors.

According to reports by CCTV, Chief of Staff Meadows has promised since taking office that he would manage the White House with stricter discipline than during his first term. This has not only strictly limited the issuance of "special passes" for direct entry into the Oval Office but also excluded President Musk's office from the West Wing.

Then, who are the close people around the president in Trump's new term? The office layout map of the West Wing seems to silently give the answer.

Exterior view of the West Wing

Distance signifies power

The West Wing is a two-story white building built in 1902, with about 75 rooms that can accommodate approximately 250 employees.

According to multiple officials from the Trump administration and those close to the president, the arrangement of offices in the West Wing is quite deliberate: the distance from the Oval Office highlights the status of its occupants.

Currently, all officials with offices on the first floor of the West Wing, as well as many with offices on the second floor, enjoy the privilege of direct contact with Trump, although most still need to schedule an appointment before entering the Oval Office.

In contrast to Trump's first term, when he hired senior advisors from more traditional Republican circles, those surrounding Trump now are mostly his closest and most loyal advisors. They are either members of the first government or part of the 2024 campaign team, ideologically aligned with Trump, and unlikely to oppose key presidential decisions.

Sketch of first-floor offices

Looking at the sketch of the first-floor offices, the presidential advisor closest to the Oval Office is Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino. He is one of the longest-serving advisors in Trump's team and his office is next to the president's private dining room. This was once Jared Kushner's office during Trump's first term.

As one of the spokespeople for Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement, Scavino has a large following on social media. Every short video and comment he posts receives close attention.

Near Scavino's office sits James Blair, deputy chief of staff responsible for legislative affairs. Blair previously served as the political director for Trump's 2024 campaign. Now, he occupies the office once held by Steve Bannon, the former chief strategist in Trump's first term.

Next to Blair's office is the office space used by past chiefs of staff, which also serves as the office for current "housekeeper" of the White House, the "Ice Beauty," Meadows.

The Chief of Staff is often called the second most powerful person in Washington, responsible for overseeing all White House staff, arranging the president's schedule and meetings, and providing advice on presidential policies, among other duties.

However, during Trump's first term, this tradition was broken. Trump would often consult with various aides in the Oval Office, not only excluding the Chief of Staff but sometimes even keeping the content of their discussions secret from him. Now, the 68-year-old "Ice Beauty" Meadows is trying to rectify the atmosphere in the West Wing and set rules for those around the president.

Across the power corridor on the west side of the West Wing is Vice President Vance's office. Next to Vance is the office of National Security Advisor Waltz. This is the fourth largest office in the West Wing, after the Oval Office, the Vice President's office, and the Chief of Staff's office. Waltz's deputy, Alex Huang, and senior advisor Mika Ketcher share the suite of offices.

In the prime location on the first floor of the West Wing, adjacent to the Roosevelt Room and the first-floor hall, are the offices of Deputy Chief of Staff Bo Harrison and Presidential Assistant Robert Gabriel. However, according to senior White House officials, neither Gabriel nor Harrison have the privilege of direct access to the Oval Office; neither does Waltz's deputy, Alex Huang, nor senior advisor Ketcher.

Roosevelt Room

First-floor hall

In the northern section of the West Wing, the president's communications team is located in a corner near the Cabinet Room. Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budovic occupies the largest office among them. During previous administrations, this office was usually reserved for the White House press secretary. Adjacent to Budovic is the office of White House Communications Director Steven Zhang and Press Secretary Levitt.

The president's four closest assistants work outside the Oval Office, including Special Assistant Margot Martin, who records Trump's activities on social media, former news anchor Natalie Harper, who edits Trump's social media posts while he dictates, Presidential Aide and Military Aide Walter Nota, and Trump's receptionist Chamberlain Harris.

Trump frequently leaves his desk to shout to the four assistants, much like his interactions with personal assistants during his first term.

Oval Office

Influence not to be underestimated

Aside from the first floor of the West Wing, some influential advisors sit in basements or offices on the second floor, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, one of the most important officials in the Trump administration and current Middle East envoy Steve Witkowski.

It is said that Miller is a known white supremacist and is highly valued by Trump. His placement on the second floor continues the office he occupied during Trump's first term, and his title often underestimates his power within the White House.

Witkowski is a key figure in mediating conflicts between Israel and Palestine and negotiating peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, frequently meeting with Trump in the Oval Office.

Notably, in the Eisenhower Executive Building adjacent to the West Wing, some senior aides also enjoy the privilege of direct contact with Trump, including Government Efficiency Director Musk and Senior Personnel Official Sergio Gore.

Eisenhower Executive Building

It is rumored that Musk had hoped to have an office in the West Wing, but was denied by Chief of Staff Meadows at the beginning of Trump's presidency.

According to former Secretary of State Kissinger, the crowded office space and fierce intellectual competition in the West Wing have, to some extent, fostered the core creativity of American politics. The question remains: why doesn't the Eisenhower Executive Building, less than 50 meters away, possess the same influence? "Don't ask me what the significance of this five-minute walk is—there must be a reason."

(Editor's email: ylq@jfdaily.com)

Original Title: Who Are the Closest People Around the President in the West Wing: Can the Chief of Staff Only Be Ranked Second?

Column Editor: Yang Liqun, Text Editor: Yang Liqun

Source: Liberation Daily, An Zheng

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7490539541770666507/

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