The Trump campaign hired former Jeb Bush staffer Trevor Naglieri to serve as his New Hampshire state director, Politico learned from two GOP operatives.
Naglieri worked for Bush in 2016 as a field director before serving as New Hampshire field director and national field director for Senator Ted Cruz.
Trump defeated Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz in New Hampshire to score a huge primary victory in 2016.
Some question if hiring Naglieri will help or hurt Trump in the Granite State.
JUST IN: Donald Trump has hired Trevor Naglieri, a former Jeb Bush Presidential field coordinator, as his New Hampshire state director.
Will this help or hurt Trump in the state of New Hampshire? pic.twitter.com/VkE7ytH1fG
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) March 28, 2023
SCOOP: Former President Donald Trump has hired Trevor Naglieri as his New Hampshire state director, turning to a veteran of Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz's presidential campaigns to lead his 2024 efforts in the FITN GOP primary state https://t.co/ngFzMlTZg4 @politico #nhpolitics
— Lisa Kashinsky (@lisakashinsky) March 28, 2023
From Politico:
Naglieri is Trump’s second big hire in New Hampshire. Two months ago, POLITICO first reported that former state GOP Chair Steve Stepanek, a longtime ally, would serve as a senior adviser to the former president in the first-in-the-nation primary state. The two join Alex Latcham, one of Trump’s Iowa hires, who’s overseeing all early state operations.
New Hampshire handed Trump his first primary win in 2016 — in which he defeated both Bush and Cruz. But he went on to lose the state in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.
The Naglieri hire further illustrates the dual tracks that Trump is currently on: moving aggressively on a third run for the White House while simultaneously battling legal woes on several fronts.
His rivals have yet to take similar steps on the staffing front.
NH Journal noted:
Trevor Naglieri is a Franklin Pierce University graduate and longtime GOP operative who worked for local candidates like former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and congressional candidate Gary Lambert. At the presidential level, Naglieri was field director for Gov. Jeb Bush in New Hampshire in 2015 before jumping to Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential team as statewide field director. Now he is New Hampshire State Director for Trump 2024.
It’s a resume that is raising eyebrows in NHGOP circles.
“From Low-Energy Jeb to Lyin’ Ted to Indicted Trump? Wonder how the ‘MAGA’ voters are going to feel about that?” asked one NHGOP pro.
In 2014, Naglieri also served briefly as a staffer to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who would go on to be one of the seven votes to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial over his behavior on January 6. “Our Constitution and our country is [sic] more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,” Cassidy said at the time.
And while Naglieri has made the move from more traditional conservative candidates to the Trump campaign, recent national headlines have highlighted Trump staffers who have jumped ship. Erin Perrine, Trump’s 2020 press communications director, recently joined a super PAC promoting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. That PAC, called “Never Back Down,” is headed by Trump’s homeland security chief Ken Cuccinelli.
Trump’s New Hampshire campaign chief Steve Stepanek tells NHJournal he is happy with the new hire.
“Trevor has great New Hampshire roots. He’s bright, he’s hard-working, and I’m sure he’ll do a phenomenal job,” Stepanek said. “He’s just one of the many great hires we’ll be announcing in the near future.”
Asked about Naglieri’s journey from some of the most anti-Trump campaigns to Team MAGA, Stepanek shrugged.
“There are very few of us who started with Trump and stayed with him the whole time. He’s not the first person to make this move, and I’m confident he won’t be the last,” Stepanek said.
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!