The Daily Populous Tuesday December 31st, 2024 morning edition
Authored by nypost.com and submitted by moxyte

President-elect Donald Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles sent a message Sunday ordering nominees to refrain from any posting on social media as Senate confirmation hearings are scheduled to start next week.

“While this instruction has been delivered previously, I am reiterating that no member of the incoming administration or Transition speaks for the United States or the President-elect himself,” Wiles wrote in a memo obtained by The Post.

“Accordingly, all intended nominees should refrain from any public social media posts without prior approval of the incoming White House counsel,” she said in the Dec. 29 missive.

5 Susie Wiles watches as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 15, 2024. AP

5 “While this instruction has been delivered previously, I am reiterating that no member of the incoming administration or Transition speaks for the United States or the President-elect himself,” Wiles wrote in a memo obtained by The Post. AP

The first-ever female chief of staff, nicknamed the “Ice Maiden,” also noted that she appreciates “how enthusiastic everyone is” about joining the second Trump term in her otherwise frank directive.

Trump’s nominees have been silent ahead of what is expected to be a fraught process for some in the GOP-controlled Senate. If Democrats band together against any nominee’s confirmation, Republicans can’t afford to lose any more than three votes from their own conference.

The Wiles memo, according to a Trump transition source, is not in response to the recent social media ruckus caused by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chairs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy over H-1B visas that had MAGA world spinning.

5 President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, meets with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) at the US Capitol on December 10, 2024, in Washington, DC. Getty Images

DOGE is not an official entity, despite its name, and does not need Senate confirmation, meaning the tech moguls are free to convey their opinions online.

“It was a reminder of the guidance to intended nominees as confirmation hearings get underway next week,” the transition source told The Post.

Several of Trump’s cabinet picks have faced scrutiny in recent weeks, but only one, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), shelved his nod for attorney general after a private Senate whip count was shared with him indicating he didn’t have the votes for confirmation.

5 DNI pick former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard leaves a meeting with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) at the Hart Senate Office Building on December 18, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Getty Images

Other picks needing Senate confirmation have held on — despite waves of criticism — like Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth, who faced a storm of allegations about his drinking and sexual misconduct, but still has Trump in his corner heading into the confirmation process.

Trump’s nominees have refrained from posting on social media from their public accounts, per a review from The Post, indicating the top-town directive has been heeded.

Those who could face tough questioning — such as former Democrats like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of National Intelligence, respectively — have also quieted down since Christmas.

5 Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of health and human services, arrives for meetings at the Capitol on December 19, 2024, in Washington, DC. Getty Images

All nominees have been in closed-door discussions with senators on Capitol Hill in recent weeks — including some Democrats — to whip up support.

Even Hegseth — whose confirmation was on thin ice due to some GOP reservations — has since received backing from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who said she had “encouraging conversations” with him.

The defense secretary designee had been defending his record online — and slamming critics as well as “anti-Christian bigotry in the media” for claiming his cross tattoos were symbols of white supremacy.

charcoalist on December 30th, 2024 at 19:38 UTC »

The nominees can't be trusted to make social media posts yet he wants to place them in the most important positions. He knows how bad they are for the country.

markroth69 on December 30th, 2024 at 19:20 UTC »

Ah the "I never heard of Project 2025" defense.

Taint_Liquor on December 30th, 2024 at 19:18 UTC »

Yup. The free speech president.