The aide who runs Trump's Twitter account inherited Hope Hicks' prime White House office


President Trump's former golf caddy — a man with zero political experience — has, against all odds, risen to a top position in the West Wing.
Dan Scavino, who is an assistant to the president and director of social media, is the longest-tenured Trump employee in the White House, noted a sprawling profile of the man published by The New York Times Magazine on Monday. He is the architect behind many of the president's tweets, often tapping out 280 characters while Trump dictates, and previously served as an unofficial photographer during the campaign. Now that Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director, has left the administration, Scavino is one of the last "original" Trump team members and is closer with the president than ever, the Times Magazine reports. Scavino even took over Hicks' office after she departed at the end of March, just down the hall from the Oval Office.
Scavino was instrumental in framing Trump's campaign as "a movement," former chief strategist Stephen Bannon told the magazine. "He has his hands on the Pepes," Bannon said of Scavino, referring to the alt-right mascot "Pepe the Frog." Scavino has remained close with Trump due to his understanding of how to play to the president's base, officials told the Times Magazine, and often acts as a yes-man to placate Trump's ego.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Scavino is also the only aide allowed access to Trump's treasured Twitter account, and one source said that Trump and Scavino craft his tweets together, splitting the work 50-50. Because of how much Trump values his Twitter presence, sources say, Scavino's importance is unlikely to diminish, especially given his undying faithfulness to the president.
Scavino declined to be interviewed for the story. As a friend of Scavino's told the magazine: "Golf is a sport of the least mistakes. … That's how someone like Dan might float to the top — by not doing anything wrong." Read more at The New York Times Magazine.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside haven
The Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Albania’s AI government minister: a portent of things to come?
In The Spotlight A bot called Diella has been tasked with tackling the country's notorious corruption problem
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of Belém
The Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants