On Monday, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) signaled his willingness to join the Trump administration as White House chief of staff. The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus is well-known for his political savvy and his willingness to broker deals to further conservative issues. Nick Ayers, currently the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence, was considered the frontrunner to replace outgoing Chief John Kelly, but he took himself out of the running last week.
“Serving as Chief of Staff would be an incredible honor,” Meadows told POLITICO in a statement Monday. “The President has a long list of qualified candidates and I know he’ll make the best selection for his administration and for the country.”
A team of POLITICO reporters reported that Trump “doesn’t have any use for a traditional chief of staff [because] he doesn’t want to be told what to do.”
“He needs a chief of staff who shares those interests — and Meadows might just be that person,” the reporters suggested. They cited unnamed Hill and Meadows staffers in nothing that the Freedom Caucus chairman has Trump’s ear, insider savvy, a keen understanding of Congress and oversight, and a great television presence.
The reporters did not just praise Meadows. They also listed his flaws: “He has made a few enemies in the Capitol, and there are those who don’t appreciate the Freedom Caucus’ tactics.”
Even so, the POLITICO team had to admit “it could be a strangely good fit.”
PJ Media has reached out to Meadows and the Freedom Caucus for comment on the chairman’s plans for the Freedom Caucus if he skips on over to the White House. This story will be updated with any response.
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