Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles are facing backlash from Trump supporters for hiring former DeSantis strategists to run the America PAC, a key group supporting President Donald Trump. The PAC, funded by Elon Musk, recently brought on Generra Peck and Phil Cox, who were previously in charge of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s campaign. Their arrival has sparked concern among Trump’s loyal base.
Peck and Cox dismantled the existing team just weeks before early voting begins, removing Trump-aligned vendors and bringing in their own people. Trump had vowed not to hire former DeSantis staffers after the Florida governor’s campaign lost momentum, making this move particularly controversial.
Many supporters fear that relying on the same strategies that contributed to DeSantis’s declining popularity could undermine Trump’s campaign during a critical election season. LaCivita, who has previously been criticized for sidelining Trump loyalists in favor of establishment figures, praised the new team, calling it an improvement over the old structure. However, many in Trump-world see this as a repeat of DeSantis’s failed approach.
The reliance on outside groups like America PAC has also led to frustration, with insiders pointing out that DeSantis made the same mistake by not keeping operations central to his campaign. Critics warn that incorporating the DeSantis team could hurt Trump’s efforts in key battleground states, where America PAC has been active, such as Wisconsin, Arizona, and Michigan.
Loyal Trump groups like Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point Action and Chris Buskirk’s Turnout for America are still involved, but concerns remain that the shift toward former DeSantis operatives may negatively affect Trump’s grassroots support as the election nears.
