President-elect Donald Trump’s team expected a treasury day at Mar-a-Lago. Top aides rushed around last Thursday, continuing their work to build the administration from Trump’s West Palm Beach residence. That morning, they anticipated the next major announcement would be a pick for treasury secretary.
Then, everything changed. “I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General,” former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz posted on social media. “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
Gaetz withdrew after it became clear that sexual misconduct allegations and an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation would make it nearly impossible for him to get confirmed as the nation’s top law enforcement official. He will not return to Congress.
Trump’s team quickly adapted, finding another attorney general pick with the same key traits: loyalty to Trump and strong Florida connections. Just six hours after Gaetz’s withdrawal, Trump announced he had chosen former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a staunch Trump ally who helped spread baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
The selection of two Floridians for such a crucial role reflects how Trump’s second term will heavily rely on staff and political appointees from his adopted home state. It also highlights the increasing prominence of Florida’s political figures and lobbyists. Florida, once the nation’s largest swing state, has become a stronghold for Trump and the Republican Party. Trump won the state by more than 10 percentage points, up from his three-point victory in 2020.
“Florida became a government in exile for Trump world,” said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power, referring to Mar-a-Lago becoming central to Trump’s post-White House political life. “Mix that with the conservative successes we’ve had in Florida, and the fact the state has a very deep Republican bench at the federal level, it’s no surprise it has become the epicenter.”
For Trump, choosing Bondi made perfect sense. “It made sense from the first moment Gaetz withdrew,” said a Trump ally familiar with the process. “Trump has liked her since 2016, and I think they were always going to find a place for her in the administration. This just opened that door.”
“It happened so quickly because it made so much sense,” the ally added.
Bondi’s swift selection also demonstrated how Trump views the attorney general role, especially as he prepares a flurry of Day 1 executive actions, many of which are likely to face legal challenges.
“You need an Attorney General on Day 1 to execute your plan,” a Trump official said. “That might not be the case for all Cabinet departments, but it is here.”
Trump has tapped at least five Floridians for prominent jobs, including Gaetz, Bondi, Sen. Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Florida Rep. Mike Walz for national security adviser, and former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Florida has a huge talent pool, so none of this surprises me,” said Florida-based lobbyist Nick Iarossi, who raised money for Trump’s campaign and was announced as a managing director at Washington-based lobbying firm BGR Group after Trump’s win. “I’m kind of surprised other states aren’t pushing back harder, but they just aren’t.”
“That makes sense to a degree,” Iarossi added about the state Trump won easily. “Trump isn’t just rewarding states that helped him politically; he’s looking for people loyal to him and philosophically aligned. He’s trying to get things done.”
Some of Trump’s top White House aides are also Floridians. Susie Wiles, a longtime Florida operative who led Trump’s first two campaigns in the state, will serve as his chief of staff. James Blair, a longtime deputy to Wiles, has been tapped to serve as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs.
The Florida-flavored presidential campaign, led by Wiles, continued with Blair as its political director. Florida-based pollster Tony Fabrizio served as the top pollster, and longtime Florida GOP operatives Brian Hughes, Danielle Alvarez, and Alex Garcia held various senior advisory roles.
The common thread through them all is Wiles. She has long been one of Trump’s top advisers, serving as his Florida campaign co-chair during his first two races and co-chair of the national campaign during his 2024 run.
Much of the Florida influence, beyond Trump’s residence in the state and his personal involvement in its politics, stems from Wiles. She hired trusted deputies and past associates to fill out the campaign and now, the early days of the administration.
“Susie brings with her a Florida approach without question,” said Brian Ballard, a Florida-based lobbyist and Trump fundraiser. “She is a national player but clearly has major Florida roots and connections. The many people from Florida you see going to the administration are in no small part because of her.”
Ballard’s firm, Ballard Partners, previously counted Wiles and Bondi among its lobbyists. Bondi joined the firm after she was term-limited out of her post as Florida attorney general.
Additionally, after Trump’s election victory, Continental, a Miami-based lobbying firm led by Carlos Trujillo, who served as ambassador to the Organization of American States during Trump’s first administration, opened its first Washington office. Katie Wiles, the daughter of the president’s new chief of staff, will lead the office.
“It’s not just those guys,” a longtime Florida lobbyist told NBC News. “You can see it in several areas. As more Florida heavyweights join Trump world, it’s going to have a positive impact on Florida lobbyists, even those who may not have a traditional DC footprint.”
“It’s the way of the world,” the person added.
