Here’s who we spotted in Washington’s halls of power on this busy news day
Capitol Hill was swamped with political heavyweights Wednesday as key players converged for meetings and early preparations for the transition.
Senate Republicans in the morning chose John Thune to succeed Mitch McConnell as GOP leader. In the afternoon, House Republicans unanimously elected Mike Johnson as their nominee for speaker. And the day didn't end there.
Here’s a look at who was spotted in Washington’s halls of power on Wednesday:
- Donald Trump met with House Republicans in the morning at the Capitol Hill Hyatt Regency hotel, where he voiced support for Mike Johnson to remain speaker. He later met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office.
- Elon Musk attended the House GOP conference meeting with the president-elect.
- JD Vance returned to the Hill for the Senate Republican leadership elections.
- His wife Usha Vance was also spotted in the Senate.
- Gavin Newsom was on the Hill to meet with Democratic members of California’s congressional delegation and lobby the outgoing Biden administration for additional funding and federal waiver extensions before Trump takes office.
- Elaine Chao, the former transportation secretary and McConnell’s wife, was spotted on the underground Senate subway. She told POLITICO reporters that she was on the Hill for “orientation events for the new Senate spouses.”
- Stephen Miller, who Trump announced earlier Wednesday will be his deputy chief of staff for policy, posted a photo from the White House Rose Garden on X.
- Dan Scavino, the president-elect’s deputy chief of staff, posted several videos from Washington on social media.