Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Trump picks adviser for top West Wing role
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has named close adviser Kellyanne Conway as his White House counselor, elevating the woman who led his campaign to victory to a senior West Wing position.
Trump — who also announced his senior White House communications staff, including naming former Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer as press secretary — has a strong rapport with Conway, and she was seen as a positive influence on his often chaotic campaign.
“She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message,” Trump said in a statement Thursday.
He’s already named outgoing Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus as his chief of staff and conservative media executive Steve Bannon as a senior adviser. Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner will also be an influential adviser, though his role is to be determined.
Internal rivalries have long been a hallmark of Trump’s businesses and campaign as well as his transition team. Conway and Priebus have been at odds over some major decisions, including who should serve as Trump’s secretary of state. Trump ultimately chose Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson.
Conway irritated some Trump aides with her outspoken opposition to the prospect of the presidentelect picking Mitt Romney to head the State Department. She panned the idea in public, though she said she had also made her feelings known to Trump privately.
Conway, a longtime Republican pollster, considered not joining the White House staff and turned down offers to serve in a communications role. She also expressed a desire to help Trump set up an outside political organization to promote his agenda.
Conway said Thursday that she was “humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results.”
Spicer’s elevation was championed by Priebus, his longtime ally at the RNC. Additionally, the transition team announced that Jason Miller will be the director of communications. Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks was appointed director of strategic communications while Dan Scavino will be director of social media.
Meanwhile, a New Jersey township that’s home to one of Trump’s golf courses is asking the federal government to help cover security costs for the president-elect. Bedminster Township Mayor Steven Parker wrote to U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance last week saying they don’t want to disproportionately burden their taxpayers for Trump’s visits to Trump National Golf Club, NJ.com reported Thursday.