Trump’s former personal assistant to oversee White House personnel office

President Trump’s former personal assistant, who was reportedly escorted out of the building in 2018, will oversee the Presidential Personnel Office, a source confirmed to The Hill on Thursday.

John McEntee, the president’s longtime body man, is expected to head up the office tasked with vetting presidential appointments and recruiting candidates to work across various White House agencies. The office is responsible for thousands of lower-level appointees, as well.

The White House declined to comment on McEntee’s new role, which was first reported by The New York Times.

McEntee is viewed as a loyal aide to Trump, having worked on his campaign. The move to lead a major office within the White House marks a significant turnaround for the 29-year-old, who was fired in March 2018 as the president’s personal assistant for undisclosed security reasons. Multiple reports said it was related to a gambling habit.

The Times reported in December that McEntee was expected to return to the West Wing as an assistant to the president.

News of McEntee’s new responsibilities came on the same day the White House announced former communications director Hope Hicks would return to the West Wing. 

Hicks, who resigned in February 2018, will serve as a counselor to the president and senior adviser. She will work closely with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on political matters.

The two staffing changes reflect the president’s desire to surround himself with loyalists as he shifts gears following his impeachment acquittal in the Senate. Both McEntee and Hicks were among the president’s most trusted aides, and both worked for Trump dating back to his campaign.