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AXIOS.COM | Scoop: Trump's loyalty cop clashes with agency heads

  • esther17376
  • Jul 21
  • 1 min read
Stylized graphic featuring John McEntee in a suit against a bold red background, overlaid with excerpts from Trump administration vetting questions such as “What part of Candidate Trump’s campaign message most appealed to you and why?” and “Is there anything in your background that could potentially embarrass the Administration?” The image highlights McEntee’s role in overseeing loyalty screening for Donald Trump’s team.

JUN 14, 2020 — John McEntee didn’t just reshape the Presidential Personnel Office—he weaponized it. This report captures the early months of McEntee’s tenure, when he overrode Cabinet officials, pulled nominations, installed Trump loyalists across federal agencies, and introduced a new loyalty questionnaire for political appointees. From DHS to the Pentagon to USAID, McEntee made clear that experience was secondary to alignment—and that no position was too high for a shake-up.



 
 

© 2025 John McEntee.

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