Governor Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday invited incoming members of the second Trump administration to live in Virginia and commute to Washington, D.C., highlighting advantages offered by the commonwealth.
In a 30-second video posted to the social media platform X, the governor urged Trump administration officials to choose to live in Virginia over Maryland or the nation’s capital.
“To the new members of President Trump’s administration moving to the area, I want to personally invite you to make Virginia your home,” said Youngkin. “Virginia is right across the Potomac. We offer a great quality of life, safe communities, award winning schools where parents matter, and lower taxes than D.C. or Maryland.”
The governor added, “It’s why so many people Choose Virginia as the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Conservative reporters and government staffers shared their support for the governor’s suggestion, with Elizabeth Weibel of Breitbart News urging in a post to X, “I highly encourage people to move across the bridge to Virginia: There’s less crime, lower taxes, and it’s pro 2A.”
Jessica Constescu, a Free Beacon reporter, wrote in a post to X, “There’s a gun store 2 blocks away from my apartment. Living across the Potomac in Northern Virginia is great”
Republican political strategist Lukas Baker added, “I can say I look forward to filing for VA taxes in the near future.”
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The video from Youngkin comes as President-elect Donald Trump has finished nominating his top cabinet members, with most of them reportedly on “solid political ground” and likely to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Susie Wiles, who was the co-chair of Trump’s campaign and will serve as his White House Chief of Staff, cited the completion of the president-elect’s nominations when she announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Trump-Vance transition and the Biden-Harris administration.
“After completing the selection process of his incoming Cabinet, President-elect Trump is entering the next phase of his administration’s transition by executing a Memorandum of Understanding with President Joe Biden’s White House,” Wiles said in a statement.
She explained the action would allow those nominated by Trump to begin recruiting staffers, including many could need to relocate for positions in Washington, D.C.
“This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles.
Youngkin’s push for members of Trump’s administration to choose Virginia over the capital or neighboring Maryland comes as the commonwealth’s Republicans look to retain control over its statewide offices next year, when the governor is precluded from seeking a second consecutive term in office by the Virginia Constitution.
While Youngkin cannot seek a second term, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears announced last month that she will run for the Republican nomination.
The governor recently endorsed both Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares, who announced he will seek reelection rather than launch a gubernatorial campaign.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
