Trump allies training MAGA 'shock troops' to take over government: report
Donald Trump's allies are training a corps of MAGA "shock troops" to quickly begin remaking the government in the event that he wins a second term.
The former president remains bitter at the former administration officials who tempered his impulses and blocked some of his more extreme policies during his time in the Oval Office, and his allies are identifying and preparing dedicated loyalists to place in key roles to implement his agenda, reported NBC News.
“They have to be resolute with their commitment to the president’s vision,” said one top Trump official. “You weren’t elected; you’re a Cabinet person as part of the executive branch, and your job is to understand and execute.”
The Association of Republican Presidential Appointees will host a two-day "boot camp" on Feb. 19 and 20 to prepare potential government appointees insight into the "operating context" of these roles and tactics they could use to help Trump "gain control over the levers of power."
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“We’re not going to sit around and wait for the Senate, which is very, very divided and not even in the hands of conservatives, to get things done," said a former White House official. "Things will be happening, even before Inauguration Day.”
Allies are working to "weed out those that would employ subterfuge” to thwart Trump's plans, and the former president's fixation on loyalty has settled over the entire Republican Party.
“What I fear is this idea of loyalty means ‘stop questioning,’” said a former adviser. “There will be consequences if you do, and that’s why I think there’s some credence to the idea that he’s a so-called authoritarian. I don’t think he is authoritarian, but he’s opening himself up to this criticism. His idea of loyalty is one-way.”