Key Takeaways:
– Michael Allen’s co-hosting of a fundraiser for Liz Cheney led to the termination of his role on Donald Trump’s transition team.
– Despite helping to organize meetings on Capitol Hill, Allen was ousted due to his association with Cheney, a prominent Trump critic.
– There are concerns about potential ‘purity tests’ within Trump’s administration.
– Despite the setback, Allen expressed his eagerness to continue supporting the Trump administration.
Allen’s Fall From Grace
If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’d know that longtime Republican Michael Allen fell out of favor with former President Donald Trump’s transition team surprisingly fast. His experience in multiple national security policy and legislative positions during George W. Bush’s tenure didn’t shield him from this fate.
His shortcoming? He co-hosted a fundraiser for former Representative Liz Cheney, a rare Republican who openly criticizes Trump. This move happened to be viewed with disfavor by Trump’s camp.
Setting The Stage For Ratcliffe
Before this incident, Allen had been diligently working for the Trump administration. He had begun arranging meetings on Capitol Hill for John Ratcliffe. For those who might not know, Ratcliffe is a Trump loyalist and was a congressman for Texas in the past.
But his work was almost over when he was driven out from his role. Despite sources revealing that Allen did a commendable job, he was unable to remain on the team. One insider even pointed out the stringent ‘purity tests’ in this new Trump administration, which are more intense than in the first term.
Trump’s Circle Purges Critics
This incident gives us a hint of the internal workings in President Trump’s circle of influence. Efforts are being made to rid Trump’s orbit of Republicans who have backed vocal Trump critics, such as Cheney.
Cheney is significant because she voted to impeach Trump. She also serves on the House Jan. 6 committee. Anyone who has shown support for her seems to face swift action, as Michael Allen discovered.
Allen’s Optimistic Stance
Despite the surprising action taken against him, Allen seems unperturbed. He is happy to have contributed and remains eager for President Trump’s term. Perhaps he’s brushing off the incident as an unfortunate roadblock.
Ratcliffe’s Upcoming Confirmation Hearing
In the meantime, the Senate Intelligence Committee is getting ready for Ratcliffe’s confirmation hearing this Wednesday. As for Ratcliffe, the to-be CIA director appears to be a little light on Democratic support, as none have publicly supported him yet.
Current Career Path
Allen has since moved on and now holds the role of Managing Director at Beacon Global Strategies, an advisory firm.
Closing Thoughts
Transition phases can be tumultuous, and that’s exactly what Michael Allen got caught up in. He learned the hard way that even serving the Trump administration well may not be enough if there are affiliations that the higher-ups deem unsuitable. As we tarry on, the twists and turns of this political transition continue to surprise us.