✦ 𝑪̴𝑹̴𝑰̴𝑺̴𝑷̴𝒀̴ ✦ 💫

🎥 Former senior Trump administration adviser Calley Means lays out what he describes as the real power structure inside the White House, identifying a small circle of political operatives, former lobbyists and outside consultants who he says exercise extraordinary control over government policy while serving corporate interests. Means helped broker RFK Jr.’s 2024 alliance with Trump and subsequently led Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) implementation efforts as a senior adviser, but resigned on October 22. He spoke to Joe Rogan about how the administration had established “the most centralized White House decision-making structure” in modern American history. “These are the most powerful people in the country,” according to Means: ⤵️ 🔹 Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff: Means described Wiles as the central gatekeeper, claiming no major policy decision could proceed without approval from her office and that cabinet secretaries spent considerable time trying to win her favor. Before joining the administration, Wiles worked as a lobbyist for Ballard Partners and Mercury Public Affairs and served as a political consultant to Benjamin Netanyahu. Means alleged she blocked initiatives opposed by corporate donors, including a food safety investigation, telling him: “I need the sugar industry money” for the midterms. Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller would replace Wiles as White House chief of staff, effective November 9. 🔹 James Blair, Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Political Affairs: A longtime Florida political consultant and Wiles ally who served as political director of Trump’s 2024 campaign. Means said Blair’s consulting career included work for the sugar industry and that he exercised considerable influence over White House policy. Blair subsequently left to run Trump’s midterm political operation but remained influential, according to Means, who accused him of prioritizing corporate fundraising and Republican gerrymandering over policy commitments. 🔹 Tony Fabrizio, Trump’s Chief Pollster: An outside consultant whom Means described as effectively holding veto power over all policy through his political polling assessments. Fabrizio’s firm publicly lists corporate clients including PepsiCo, Pfizer, Dow Chemical and tobacco companies. Means alleged Fabrizio discouraged school lunch reform and restrictions on ultra-processed foods while advising the administration that pursuing those policies was politically unwise. Means said both Fabrizio and Blair also shaped the administration’s midterm strategy. 🔹 Walker Barrett, Senior White House Policy Adviser: A former congressional staffer and Florida neighbor of Wiles whom Means described as relatively junior but extraordinarily powerful. Means recounted Barrett presenting him with a finalized executive order protecting domestic glyphosate production, informing him that the decision was not open for discussion and that Kennedy should not appeal to Trump to reverse it. 🔹 Richard Walters, Deputy Chief of Staff: A former Republican National Committee finance director and chief of staff who subsequently became a partner at FGS Global, a consulting firm that represented pharmaceutical and pesticide interests. Means alleged Walters effectively ran the White House during periods when Wiles was receiving cancer treatment. He also accused Walters of exerting pressure to loosen restrictions on flavored vaping products. 🔹 Chris LaCivita, Outside Political Adviser: Wiles’s co-manager of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, who remained an influential political consultant outside the administration. Means accused LaCivita of earning substantial fees from special interests while retaining access to the administration. His son, Chris LaCivita Jr., works at Checkmate Government Relations, a lobbying firm whose federal lobbying business expanded rapidly following Trump’s return to office. 🔸Means also identified three lobbying firms he alleged… CONTINUES BELOW