Donald Trump’s presidential transition team faces a massive challenge—one that includes bringing women who did not vote for the president-elect onboard with his stated mission to unite the country.
So far, the team doesn’t seem to have made much progress on that part of its task, as Trump’s appointment of former Breitbart News chairman Steve Bannon as his senior advisor drew intense criticism Monday over the racist and misogynist content that has run on Bannon’s alt-right news site.
There are four women on Trump’s 16-person transition team, and while 25% is not exactly an inspiring ratio, it’s not so drastically different from that of President Barack Obama’s transition crew, which was one third female (including both co-chairs and advisory board).
Here’s a look at the four women that have been officially tasked with helping Trump make the transition to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue:
Ivanka Trump: Trump’s eldest daughter has reportedly been one of his closest advisors throughout the presidential campaign—and in the days that followed his election. Though she strongly denied that she acted as one of father’s “surrogates” during the race, her influence on him has nevertheless been palpable, particularly in matters of paid maternity leave and child care, for which the younger Trump has been a vocal advocate. Back in August, he brought up his daughter’s name in an interview about potential female cabinet members, saying: “She’s very popular, she’s done very well.”
A current EVP at the Trump Organization, she may soon be overseeing the company. The real estate mogul is planning to transfer management of his portfolio of businesses to his three eldest children, Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric, according to Bloomberg. Trump’s decision to appoint all three to his transition team presents obvious conflicts of interest, though the appointments are not illegal.
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Rebekah Mercer: According to a Politico profile that called Mercer the “most powerful woman in GOP politics,” the 42-year-old hedge fund heiress played a critical role in his campaign, reportedly spurring the billionaire’s August campaign shake-up, during which he hired both Bannon and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway. She also ran the day-to-day operations of Make America Number 1 PAC, which received upwards of $2 million in donations from Mercer her and her family, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Marsha Blackburn: The Tennessee Congresswoman is perhaps best known for her staunch opposition to abortion, including what New York Magazine calls her “witch hunt” against Planned Parenthood. Blackburn was one of few elected officials to speak at the Republican National Convention this summer, and was a frequent defender Trump throughout the campaign, including backing his proposed Muslim ban and praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Pam Bondi: Florida’s attorney general since 2011, Bondi has been accused of dropping an investigation into possible fraud in the marketing of Trump University in 2013—not long after the Donald J. Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to a PAC formed to support Bondi’s 2014 re-election campaign. In September, a spokesperson for Bondi denied the claims, telling Coins2Day‘s Shawn Tully that her office was never considering joining the larger case against Trump University.
Trump representatives did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
