Trump Team Tests Job Candidates by Asking Who Won the 2020 Election

US President Donald Trump, from left, US Vice President JD Vance, and US House Speaker Mike JohnsonPhotographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images/Bloomberg

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By Nancy Cook, Saleha Mohsin, and Annmarie Hordern

March 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

The White House is giving potential job candidates litmus tests in interviews to make sure they are sufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump and his second-term agenda, according to people familiar with the process.

Among the questions asked of multiple candidates: Would you be willing to serve as a spokesperson for mass deportations? Which of Trump’s executive orders is your favorite? Who won the 2020 presidential election? And which Trump policy do you disagree with?