According to Trump Jr., his father, former President Donald Trump, often jokes, “You know, you’re much better at politics than you were at real estate.” Trump Jr. admitted, “I’m not 100% sure sometimes with him—whether it’s a joke or not.”
The former co-host of The Apprentice and current host of one of Rumble’s most popular podcasts, Trump Jr. has big plans for the GOP if his father reclaims the White House next month. In his conversation with The Wall Street Journal, he emphasized the need to build a sustainable movement beyond his father. “I don’t want just MAGA with only Trump, and then it goes back to the old ways,” he explained.
“We need to have a bench. And for a long time, I don’t think we had any of that. And this election cycle, you’ve seen the emergence of people that can actually carry that mantle. I think that’s really important.” One of Trump Jr.’s notable successes has been influencing the 2024 GOP ticket, particularly with the inclusion of Senator JD Vance (R-OH).
“I expended about 1,000% of my political capital” in persuading his father to select Vance, Trump Jr. said, as Vance stood beside him, smiling. “Making the argument, getting others who believe the same thing to do that—you know, just a constant barrage. I can be pretty persistent when I need to be.”
The WSJ also highlighted Trump Jr.’s efforts beyond Vance. Representative Jim Banks, a young congressman from Indiana who grew up in a trailer park, caught Trump Jr.’s attention with a 2021 memo urging the GOP to embrace its “working-class” identity. Trump Jr. became one of Banks’s earliest supporters in his Senate run, endorsing him before his father did and helping clear the field of competition by hosting fundraisers and events, told Axios.
Banks praised Trump Jr.’s efforts, stating, “More than anybody, Don is focused on the future of the movement, building the new Republican Party, getting younger people like myself and JD elected in key places.” From a fundraising perspective, Trump Jr.’s appeal is undeniable. A top Republican fundraising consultant told The Wall Street Journal, “From a donor standpoint, he’s by far the No. 1 requested person. He goes places and they sell out immediately.
He’s the No. 1 surrogate and it’s not even close. It’s pretty rare that you have someone who has that kind of hybrid appeal with both donors and grassroots.” If Donald Trump were to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump Jr. would be well-positioned to leverage his influence in Congress, which he has filled with allies such as Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). JD Vance echoed this sentiment, telling The Wall Street Journal, “I think the Republican Party has just drastically changed and there’s no going back. And my job is to make sure that that change is successful and effective and can actually implement successful public policies.”