Locator: 49379POLITICS.
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Politics: Trump's Inner Circle Of Those We Know
Updates
November 27, 2025
The revised list, November 9, 2025:
- Tier 1: Scott Bessent, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Karoline Leavitt, Howard Lutnik, Pam Bondi, Tom Homan, Susie Wiles, Kevin Hassett, Russell Vought. Sean Duffy. Laura Loomer.
- first among equals: Doug Burgum -- energy, advisor
- first among equals: to carry the torch: Marco Rubio.
- Sean Duffy moved to Tier 1, November 9, 2025.
- Laura Loomer, November 13, 2025 -- after reading The New Yorker essay by Antonia Hitchens.
- Pete Hegseth now on the cusp -- moved a/c carrier into Latin America, November 11, 2025.
- US Army Secretary: Daniel P. Driscoll moved to "rogue gallery" -- November 27, 2025
- Tier 2: Pete Hegseth; Chris Wright.
- Tier 3: RFK, Jr. -- remains at Tier 3. With recent vaccine issue again elevated at CDC (November, 2025), RFK seems to be surviving. But seems to be a one-pony circus; not sure if he could handle major health threat.
- Not ready for prime time: JD Vance (?). In fact, November 13, 2025, there are whispers that Trump and Vance don't see eye-to-eye on immigrants. In this case, Trump is correct again; Vance is off his rocker. With Driscoll appointment (November, 2025) JD Vance looks like he may have more influence than I realize.
- Jury is still out: Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem (she is looking like the weakest link with the Spirit airplane caper that was just reported).
- Wall flowers: most of the rest.
Previous Posts
Adding Russell Vought to the list.
From August 23, 2025:
I doubt we will ever see another president like Trump in my lifetime. Doesn't waste time. Has a rogue gallery for his cabinet. And they're learning. Among his twenty or thirty lieutenants, there are tier 1 lieutenants, tier 2 lieutenants, etc.
- Tier 1: Scott Bessent, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Karoline Leavitt, Howard Lutnik, Pam Bondi, Tom Homan, Susie Wiles, Kevin Hassett. Sean Duffy moved to Tier 1, November 9, 2025.
- first among equals: Doug Burgum
- Tier 2: RFK, Jr.
- Not ready for prime time: Pete Hegseth, JD Vance (?).
- Jury is still out: Chris Wright, Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem.
- Wall flowers: most of the rest.
I'm adding Russell Vought to the Tier 1 group.
With recent action against drug cartels in the Caribbean; "all hands on deck” (Washington, DC); and, new rules for journalists, I'm moving Pete Hegseth from "not ready for prime time, to Tier 2. RFK, JR, has outlived his fifteen minutes of fame, and is moving to Tier 3. Chris Wright can move to Tier 2.
The revised list:
- Tier 1: Scott Bessent, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Karoline Leavitt, Howard Lutnik, Pam Bondi, Tom Homan, Susie Wiles, Kevin Hassett, Russell Vought.
- first among equals: Doug Burgum -- energy, advisor
- first among equals: to carry the torch: Marco Rubio.
- Tier 2: Pete Hegseth; Chris Wright.
- Tier 3: RFK, Jr.
- Not ready for prime time: JD Vance (?).
- Jury is still out: Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem.
- Wall flowers: most of the rest.