President-elect Donald Trump is taking appearances into consideration as he crafts his administration, according to a new report.
Trump’s aides have accepted he may rule out candidates who do not satisfy his image of what represents particular roles, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
“That’s the language he speaks,” said a source familiar with the Trump transition team’s internal deliberations. “He’s very aesthetic. You can come with somebody who is very much qualified for the job, but if they don’t look the part, they’re not going anywhere.”
{mosads}A Trump transition spokesman said the president-elect considers how officials representing his administration will appear in public.
“Presentation is very important because you’re representing America not only on the national stage, but also the international stage depending on the position,” Jason Miller said.
“People who are being selected for these key positions need to be able to hold their own, need to be doers and not wallflowers, and need to convey a clear sense of purpose and commitment.”
The Post said Trump’s flair for branding and image has partially influenced several of his Cabinet selections.
Trump was drawn to two of his secretary of State options, it said, due to their commanding physical appearance.
The president-elect settled on ExxonMobil Corp. CEO Rex Tillerson over 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney despite admiring both men’s “central casting” quality, sources told the Post.
Trump reportedly ruled out John Bolton for secretary of State in part due to the former United Nations ambassador’s distinctive white mustache.
“Donald was not going to like that mustache,” an anonymous Trump associate told the paper. “I can’t think of anyone that’s really close to Donald that has a beard that he likes.”
A longtime friend of Trump’s noted the former reality television star believes appearances matter when communicating with the public.
“[Trump] likes people who present themselves well and he’s very impressed with somebody who has a background of being good on television because he thinks it’s a very important medium for public policy,” said Chris Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax Media. “Don’t forget, he’s a showbiz guy.”