Trump team’s search for impeachment strategist narrows to one candidate
October 28, 2019
The White House is moving closer to hiring a communications specialist this week to bolster its impeachment strategy and messaging, with former top Treasury aide Tony Sayegh now as the leading contender.
If the hire pans out, Sayegh would work out of the White House on a short-term basis and would aim to amplify the president’s one-man response team, using surrogates and Trump supporters.
His portfolio also would include a broader set of communications questions and challenges outside of impeachment, including the best way to structure the White House press and communications shop and work with outside allies, said a person familiar with the search.
A senior administration official called Sayegh’s hire essentially a “done deal.”
Sayegh has the support of the Trump family including Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, with whom he worked closely on tax reform and the childcare care tax credit.
“Tony might be the only person for a role like this you’ll find both Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner praising, and that’s something,” said Jason Miller, a senior adviser to President Trump’s 2016 campaign and the former communications director for the Trump transition. “They need more bodies tackling this effort, and you’re not going to find anyone better.”
The White House press office declined to comment.
Sayegh visited the White House several times within the last week to discuss the possibility of taking the job, according to two sources familiar with the search.
It remains unclear whether President Donald Trump has signed off on the hire, a key point since the president has been dismissive of his aides’ attempts to establish a so-called war room or more formal response team.
Sayegh previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for the Treasury Department, from which he was detailed to the White House to lead its communications effort for the Republican tax bill. Once under consideration for White House press secretary, he now works out of New York as a managing director at Teneo.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
