New Dynamics in the West Wing During Trump’s Second Term
CNN
—
The offices in the West Wing have historically been crucial locations for the most powerful individuals within the White House. This importance is amplified during President Donald Trump’s second term, as chief of staff Susie Wiles has pledged to maintain a more controlled access policy for those meeting with Trump compared to his first term.
As a result, individuals with what White House officials call “walk-in” privileges—those who can visit the Oval Office without scheduling an appointment—are considerably fewer in Trump’s current administration.
However, many officials working in offices on the first floor and some on the second floor do retain this coveted access, according to multiple sources close to Trump. Still, most of them usually arrange an appointment before entering the Oval Office. Some aides located in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, like Elon Musk and Trump’s Presidential Personnel Office director, Sergio Gor, also enjoy this privilege.
Unlike his previous term, Trump has assembled a team of close, loyal advisers. Many individuals in the West Wing worked for him either during his 2024 campaign or his first administration. In contrast to 2017, when he appointed senior staff from traditional Republican backgrounds, his current team largely shares his ideology and is less likely to challenge his major policy choices.
Dan Scavino, serving as deputy chief of staff, holds an office directly adjacent to the Oval Office, near Trump’s private dining room. Next to him sits James Blair, Trump’s deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, who was also his 2024 political director. Blair’s office previously belonged to Steve Bannon, who served as Trump’s chief strategist after the 2016 election.
Wiles, whom Trump has recently called “the most powerful woman in the world,” has taken over the office historically used by previous chiefs of staff, all of whom were men. Elsewhere, Vice President JD Vance has his office down the hall, where his chief of staff Jacob Reses is also located. National security adviser Mike Waltz’s office follows, supplemented by his deputy chief of staff, Alex Wong, and senior adviser Micah Ketchel.
