President-elect Donald Trump has directed his Cabinet nominees to refrain from using social media ahead of their Senate confirmation hearings, scheduled to begin next week. Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, issued the directive in a memo sent Sunday evening, urging nominees to avoid platforms like X and Facebook. The guidance signals a move toward more disciplined communication as the president-elect aims to minimize distractions or controversies that could complicate the confirmation process.
Wiles said in a memo obtained by The New York Post, “While this instruction has been delivered previously, I am reiterating that no member of the incoming administration or Transition speaks for the United States or the President-elect himself.” She further instructed in her Dec. 29 communication, “Accordingly, all intended nominees should refrain from any public social media posts without prior approval of the incoming White House counsel.”
The decision to implement a social media freeze appears to be part of a broader effort by the Trump transition team to avoid unnecessary controversies. While Trump himself is known for his outspoken online presence, this move reflects a deliberate strategy to maintain tighter control as he prepares to assume the presidency.
Several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees have already faced scrutiny, with Democrats pledging rigorous questioning on topics ranging from ethics to past policy positions. By curbing social media activity, the Trump team is likely aiming to prevent providing critics with additional material ahead of what are expected to be contentious confirmation hearings. Notably, nominees such as Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, have noticeably reduced their public visibility as the hearings approach.
According to a source involved in the Trump transition, the memo from Wiles is not a response to the recent social media controversy involving Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chairs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy regarding H-1B visas—a subject that has sparked significant discussion in MAGA circles. Despite its formal-sounding name, DOGE does not require Senate confirmation, which allows the tech moguls to openly share their opinions online. The source explained to The Post, “It was a reminder of the guidance to intended nominees as confirmation hearings get underway next week.”
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