President-elect Donald Trump has issued a sweeping ban against former allies from his first administration, publicly declaring that 11 prominent Republicans, including his former Vice President Mike Pence, will be barred from serving in any capacity in his second administration.
The unprecedented public declaration extends beyond the named individuals to include anyone who has worked with them or received their endorsements, effectively creating what officials call an intraparty exclusion list.
The president-elect stated that those who worked with or received endorsements from individuals he described as suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” would not be considered candidates for positions in his incoming administration. He indicated this restriction would apply to anyone connected with several prominent Republican critics of his leadership.
The list of banned officials includes former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, former Representative Liz Cheney, former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan, all of whom have either criticized Trump or supported his political opponents.
Trump’s transition team reports significant progress in staffing other positions, stating they have already hired more than 1,000 individuals for government positions. These new hires are characterized by Trump as “outstanding in every way,” reflecting what his team describes as a careful vetting process to ensure alignment with his administration’s goals.
The announcement has sparked immediate pushback from some of the blacklisted individuals. John Bolton, who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor during his first term, offered pointed criticism of the staffing approach, describing it as a “futile sense of subservience” that he believes will prove detrimental to the nation’s interests.
In announcing the exclusions, Trump employed specific criticisms of several banned individuals. He referred to former UN Ambassador Haley as a “birdbrain” and characterized former Representative Cheney as a “psycho,” highlighting the personal nature of the political divisions.
The Trump transition team has defended the announcement as a practical measure, arguing it will “save time, money, and effort” in the hiring process. According to transition officials, the advance notice about banned individuals and their associates is intended to streamline the vetting process for potential appointees and prevent time spent considering those who would ultimately be rejected.
The selection process for the potential second Trump administration strongly emphasizes loyalty to what Trump calls his “America First” agenda. Cabinet and staff selections are being made with particular attention to candidates’ historical support for Trump’s policy objectives and public statements about his leadership.
Transition officials indicate that the hiring restrictions will apply across all levels of the administration, from cabinet positions to lower-level staff roles. The ban encompasses direct employment and advisory positions, effectively barring the listed individuals and their associates from any formal role in a potential second Trump administration.
