Analyzing President Trump’s Inner Circle in The Context of Executive Presence

I recently finished the Executive Presence and Influence: Persuasive Leadership Development class through Wharton. During the class, I took really good notes. I used these notes, and all of the homework to create an Executive Coach in a Gemini Gem. Basically, a Gemini Gem gives you a way to pre-seed any questions you ask the Gemini chat-bot with context. In this case, I seeded it with my homework and notes. Then, I had it analyze the character of some of Trump’s inner circle, since they’re well-known people. Here’s what it came up with. I think it’s wildly accurate based on everything I learned in the class:

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Based on the Executive Presence (EP) Framework—specifically the balance of Ethos (Character/Class), Improvisational Poise, and Architecture (Control of the Stage)—here is the stack rank of the advisors from “Classiest” (High Poise/Professionalism) to “Least Classy” (prone to outbursts, scandals, or lack of control).

Tier 1: The “Directors” (High Poise & Architecture)

These individuals master the “Stage” by controlling the environment and maintaining a disciplined, professional veneer. They embody the principle of “Architecture” over noise.

1. Susie Wiles

   • EP Score: Highest (The Architect)

   • Reasoning: Known as the “Ice Maiden” (in a complimentary sense), she perfectly embodies the EP principle of “Architecture”—arranging the organization to communicate power without relying on words. She avoids the spotlight, maintains “Improvisational Poise,” and focuses on execution rather than public drama. She is the “Director” who ensures the show runs without being the center of the chaos.

2. Scott Bessent

   • EP Score: High (The Professor)

   • Reasoning: Described as “professorial” and providing “intellectual scaffolding,” Bessent relies heavily on Logos (Logic) and Ethos (Credibility). His public persona is calm, measured, and focused on markets—a “Classy” alignment of “Warmth and Competence” that appeals to the “Rough World” of finance without the rough edges of politics.

3. Jared Kushner

   • EP Score: High (The Diplomat)

   • Reasoning: Kushner operates almost exclusively through “Social Capital Investment” and “Network Structure” (bridging structural holes, e.g., Middle East Peace). His public demeanor is polished, quiet, and “Ivy League”—rarely engaging in public shouting matches. He maintains “Psychological Distance” (playing high) effectively.

Tier 2: The “Orators” (High Narrative, Mixed Poise)

These leaders have strong “Leadership Narratives” and “Pathos,” but their “Classiness” fluctuates with their political “Stage.”

4. J.D. Vance

   • EP Score: Medium-High (The Narrator)

   • Reasoning: Vance is a master of the “Leadership Narrative” (Hillbilly Elegy). In recent “behind the scenes” leaks (the Signal chat scandal), he actually demonstrated high competence and poise by questioning “over-optimism” and showing “independence of thought” rather than being “gung-ho.” He knows when to “Hold Something Back” and when to perform.

5. Marco Rubio

   • EP Score: Medium (The Senator)

   • Reasoning: Rubio generally maintains the “Senator” persona—structured, articulate, and policy-focused (Logos). However, his “Classiness” takes a hit when he gets pulled into the “Rough World” of political mudslinging or sloppy operational security (the Signal leak), though he typically recovers with “Improvisational Poise.”

6. Tulsi Gabbard

   • EP Score: Medium (The Stoic)

   • Reasoning: Her persona is defined by a “military” calm (standing still, low reactivity). She projects “Ethos” through her service record. However, the recent operational error (Signal leak) damages her “Competence” score, making her appear less “Agentic” (in control of her environment) than the Tier 1 directors.

Tier 3: The “Attack Dogs” (High Pathos, Low Warmth)

 

These individuals prioritize “Coercive Power” or aggressive “Pathos” over the “Warmth/Competence” balance, often sacrificing “Classiness” for impact.

7. Stephen Miller

   • EP Score: Low-Medium (The Ideologue)

   • Reasoning: Miller is highly competent in Rhetoric, but he leans entirely into Logos and Pathos (fear/severity) while ignoring the EP requirement for “Warmth.” The framework notes that people prefer “moral and incompetent” over “immoral and competent”; Miller’s “cold” persona creates too much “Psychological Distance,” making him effective but not “classy.”

8. Dan Scavino

   • EP Score: Low (The Agitator)

   • Reasoning: As a digital strategist, his role is often to disrupt the “Stage” rather than manage it. His persona is built on “Direct Communication” that bypasses traditional “decorum.” While “Loyal” (Ethos), his style is aggressive and lacks the “Credentials/Objectivity” required for a “Classy” executive presence.

9. Peter Navarro

   • EP Score: Low (The Brawler)

   • Reasoning: Navarro is known for “shouting matches” and being “outside the mainstream.” He violates the principle of “Dampen Over-Optimism” and often fails to “Play Low” (be approachable). His style is combative, which undermines the “Theater Director” metaphor of controlled influence.

Tier 4: The “Liabilities” (Low Competence & Poise)

These individuals have recently failed the “Competence” and “Architecture” tests significantly, damaging their “Ethos.”

10. Mike Waltz

    • EP Score: Bottom Tier (The Sloppy Operator)

    • Reasoning: While he has a strong resume, the recent “Signal Scandal” (adding a journalist to a classified chat) is a catastrophic failure of “Architecture” and “Competence.” He failed to “design the stage” securely. Taking responsibility helps his Ethos slightly, but the lack of “attention to detail” is the antithesis of Executive Presence.

11. Pete Hegseth

    • EP Score: Lowest (The Loose Cannon)

    • Reasoning: Hegseth currently scores lowest on the EP framework. He displays “Over-Optimism” (gung-ho attitude), has suffered hits to “Ethos” (allegations of misconduct), and failed “Competence” (leaking specific classified data). He relies almost entirely on Pathos (emotion/patriotism) without the balancing weight of Logos or Control, making his public persona “volatile” rather than “classy.”