Happy Veterans Day! It’s also 11/11, make a wish! Here's what's coming up today: -
Palm Beach, Fla., has become the epicenter for Republicans looking for a White House job.
- Trump made his first Cabinet pick; plus Stephen Miller is set for a big return.
- Republicans face a big obstacle in tackling the border.
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Trump made demands for more power in appointing staff.
- Keep reading for Veterans Day restaurant specials.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.
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Bring your best red tie, an elevator pitch, a thumb’s-up and some names to drop: |
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For any Republican jockeying for a spot in the next Trump administration, there’s only one place to be: Palm Beach, Fla. President-elect Trump has spent his post election days at his Mar-a-Lago resort, taking meetings strategizing over how to fill out his administration and what he’ll accomplish the first 100 days in office. Republicans have flocked to the GOP-epicenter to be a part of the action. For example: -
Elon Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO who likely won’t even have a job in the White House. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports that Musk has been seen at Mar-a-Lago nearly every day since Trump won. They’ve had meals together, golfed together — and Musk has even been in the room during some of Trump’s calls with world leaders.
📸 Trump's granddaughter Kai Trump posted a photo with Elon Musk, captioning that he’s “achieved uncle status.”
It’s not just Mar-a-Lago. It’s anywhere near West Palm Beach: BBC reports that the hotels and restaurants in the West Palm Beach area are buzzing with eager jobseekers.
It’s worth reading BBC’s reporting: ‘Power in the Palms: Inside the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago’
Omg, that dog is a robot: As part of the security at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, there is a robotic dog patrolling the perimeter. 📹 New York Post’s footage of the robotic dog
Remember: Numerous Republicans have trekked to Trump's private Florida club this year amid wrangling for top spots. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who is vying to become the next Senate majority leader, visited in March, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is hoping to hold onto the Speaker's gavel, has visited multiple times. |
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President-elect Trump has made his first Cabinet pick for his second administration, offering the job of United Nations ambassador to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).
What to know about Stefanik: She’s one of Trump’s biggest allies in the House. She’s very outspoken about Trump’s “America First” agenda and is expected to be fairly combative in the U.N. Does she have foreign policy experience?: Her diplomatic experience is limited. She has served on the House Armed Services Committee and Intelligence committees.
💡Why this matters politically on Capitol Hill: It’s looking increasingly likely that Republicans will keep the majority in the House, but it will be very narrow. Trump pulling Stefanik off Capitol Hill will make his margins temporarily slimmer. (The Hill)
This would open the position for GOP conference chair: Republicans have already begun the scramble to elect a replacement for Stefanik’s leadership position. The Hill’s Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell report that Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) are running for that position. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) is also making calls about it.
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➤ STEPHEN MILLER IS BACK: |
Stephen Miller is back: Miller, who was the architect of Trump’s immigration policy during his first administration, will return to the White House in January to serve as deputy chief of staff for policy, reports The Hill’s Brett Samuels.
He will work alongside Susie Wiles, whom Trump named as his chief of staff. (The Hill) |
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Trump announced Sunday that he named former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan as his “border czar.” |
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➤ MORE READS ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION: |
- ‘Trump talked to Putin, told Russian leader not to escalate in Ukraine’: The Washington Post
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‘If Trump Tries to Fire Powell, Fed Chair Is Ready for a Legal Fight’: The Wall Street Journal
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‘As Trump Threatens a Wider Trade War, the U.S. Confronts a Changed China’: The New York Times
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‘Trump is already wielding power and causing massive disruption’: CNN
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Omg, this demand reads like a 16th century scroll edict: |
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President-elect Trump demanded that whoever becomes the next Senate Republican leader must vow to allow him to make nominations and appointments without Senate approval. This would happen through a loophole known as “recess appointments.”
Trump posted on X: “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again.” Read Trump’s full X post
^ Read this with a old-timey British accent. I can’t unhear it. How this works: When the Senate is out of session for more than three days, a president can make a recess appointment that can last for two years. This is meant for emergencies. To avoid this, senators never go out of session for that time. Instead, they have a “pro forma” session. Trump wants unilateral control in confirming his picks without facing opposition over their approval. |
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➤ WHERE THE SENATE GOP LEADERSHIP RACE STANDS: |
Sens. John Thune (S.D.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Rick Scott (Fla.) are running for the position.
Trump has not endorsed any of the three, but a number of conservative celebrities are now backing Scott, who had been seen as a big underdog until a few days ago.
Who’s backing Scott?: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. |
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Republicans may have a big hurdle coming up: |
“President-elect Trump’s GOP allies in Congress want to jam tough immigration and border security reforms through the Senate using a special fast track known as budget reconciliation, but face a major obstacle in Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.” How so?: Republicans don’t have enough votes to avoid a filibuster. Their loophole would be to use reconciliation to pass it with just a simple majority. However, reconciliation can only be used on budgetary policies. It’s up to the Senate parliamentarian to determine whether it qualifies.
Read Alexander Bolton’s reporting: ‘Trump’s border security plans face potential obstacle in Senate parliamentarian’
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➤ WHAT ARE TRUMP’S PRIORITIES?: |
1. Extend Trump tax cuts. 2. Fund border security measures and a wall. 3. Repeal parts of Inflation Reduction Act. 4. Expand school choice and take on universities.
Read Emily Brooks’s explainer for each |
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Ten House races have still not been called, leaving control of the lower chamber still TBD.
Republicans have won 216 seats and Democrats have won 209 seats. 218 is the magic number to reach to win control. Of the 10 uncalled races, Republicans are ahead in eight and Democrats are ahead in the other two. The Hill and Decision Desk HQ estimate an 80 percent chance Republicans will ultimately win. |
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🍨🍒 Celebrate: Today is National Sundae Day! 🍴Veterans, take note: USA Today pulled together a list of restaurants that have discounts for Veterans Day. 🏢 WaPo has ordered employees back to the office: The Washington Post announced that employees will be required to work from the office five days a week, beginning in staggered times in 2025. |
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The House and Senate are out. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. They attended a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. (all times Eastern) |
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Today: Veterans Day. Here are two op-eds on the holiday.
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12:15 p.m.: Biden leaves Arlington National Cemetery and flies to Delaware.
- 3:30 p.m.: Biden leaves Delaware and returns to the White House, arriving around 4:35 p.m.
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