New Questionnaire for White House Aides Test Loyalty and Admiration for Trump

The White House has issued a new questionnaire that must be filled out by all potential appointees to the administration. Questionnaires are usually used to vet applicants but this new version, issued by Presidential Personnel Office, specifically examines an applicant’s loyalty to President Donald Trump.

The form refers to Trump fives times, while it previously didn’t mention him at all. This is part of a wider push to guarantee only those who admire the President are part of the administration. The attitude has been demonstrated in recent hiring and firing.

One question is “What part of candidate Trump’s campaign message most appealed to you and why?”

This question goes far beyond the normal vetting of applicants’ political positions.

The questionnaire asks if potential aides have been in the media commenting on “Candidate Trump, President Trump or other personnel or policies of the Trump Administration.”

They must also describe their ‘political evolution’ and say which ‘political commentator, thinker or politician” best reflects their views’ most represents their views.

Though this amounts to introducing a loyalty test for all future hires, it is likely to slip under the radar during the busy campaign season.