How Trump's 29-year-old former 'bag man' went from making a viral football video to heading the Presidential Personnel Office and rooting out disloyal staff
Alex Wong/Getty
John McEntee, 29, is the new director of the Presidential Personnel Office. His job is to identify staffers who aren't loyal to President Donald Trump, and to hire people who are.
McEntee first tasted fame in college in 2011, when a video he made of football tricks went viral. It's racked up 7 million views.
Out of college, he worked briefly at Fox News before joining Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. When Trump was elected, he entered the White House as his personal assistant.
McEntee was removed from the White House in 2018 over security clearance and finance issues. Now, he's back in Trump's administration.
John McEntee has reason to smile. At 29, he's one of President Donald Trump's most trusted aides.
From the outside, McEntee's life hasn't been geared toward a position in the White House. In 2011, he had a moment of fame after making a viral video displaying his football skills. He also had a brief stint working in social media at Fox News.
What set him on the path to the White House was joining Trump's campaign early on, alongside Jared Kushner and Stephen Miller. In the White House, he became Trump's personal assistant or "bag man."
Despite his hard work, in 2018, he was escorted out of the president's residence amid a financial-crimes investigation. He was not allowed to collect his things, or grab his jacket.
But because Trump valued his loyalty, within 24 hours, the president's 2020 reelection campaign rehired him as the senior adviser for campaign operations.
Now he's back in the White House as the director of the Presidential Personnel Office, rooting out appointees who aren't loyal to the president.
Here's how a young, viral football star ended up next to one of the most powerful men in the world.
John D. McEntee II was born on March 9, 1990. He grew up in Anaheim, California, in a Republican-voting family, although it wasn't overly politically active. It was a religious family, and McEntee was an alter boy for years.
Johnny McEntee, right, waits for team photos during the NCAA college football team's media day in Storrs, Conn. on Aug. 12, 2011.
AP Photo/Jessica Hill
McEntee's footballing talents became clear early on. He was a star athlete at Servite High School, where he threw 1,525 yards as a senior. The family's palatial home has a painting of McEntee in the billiard room throwing a pass.
McEntee throws a pass in 2012.
Jessica Hill/AP
Sources: Max Preps, TEI Entertainment, The Orange County Register
His father is a successful producer, manager, and agent who books stars from Snoop Dogg to Bette Midler for Las Vegas casinos and Fortune 500 companies — meaning McEntee grew up around celebrities, which helped later in his career.
Jason Davis/Getty Images for IEBA
Sources: TEI Entertainment, The Orange County Register
McEntee went to the University of Connecticut, where he was known as "Johnny." He declined a scholarship, knowing his father could afford his tuition. He got a position on the football team, and became a starting quarterback. In 2011, he won the Joseph M. Giannelli Unsung Hero Award for his efforts.
Connecticut quarterback Johnny McEntee weathers the tense final minutes of an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati at Rentschler Field on Dec. 1, 2012.
AP Photo/Jessica Hill
Sources: People, The Daily Campus, UConn, Politico
That same year, McEntee starred in a video titled "Johnny Mac Trick Shot Quarterback". The video of him making impressive football shots went viral, getting 7 million views, and was featured on CNN.
McEntee in college
Screenshot via HardcoreHuskies/YouTube
Sources: CNN, YouTube, USA Today
In 2012, he graduated with a communications degree. He spent the summer focusing on football training, but he didn't get a contract with any NFL teams. Soon after, he become a production assistant at Fox News, where he focused on the network's social media accounts.
McEntee graduating in 2012
Jessica Hill/AP
He was still at Fox News when he emailed Trump's campaign repeatedly, asking for a role. When he got no response, he said the campaign needed someone to respond to the sorts of emails he was sending. He said that someone could be him.
McEntee visits the state Capitol with his teammates in Hartford, Conn. on April 27, 2011.
Jessica Hill/AP
Sources: People, Politico, Hartford Courant
His email worked. He started as a volunteer, but was quickly hired. By August 2015, he snagged a full-time job as Trump's trip director.
McEntee
Alex Brandon/AP
"I bought into the message," he said of the Trump campaign at the time. "I was sick of the career politicians." Politico reported that McEntee told another Trump staffer he had never heard a a politician "be so straightforward or speak so honestly about the country's problems."
Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty
Sources: People, Politico, Hartford Courant
His father told Politico the family was shocked he went into politics. "We thought he missed his calling as a priest," he said.
Alex Wong/Getty
Source: Politico
As Trump campaigned from Trump Tower, McEntee was known as an uplifting presence. Along with working hard, he also had a sense of humor — he played on a hover-board, and accepted a challenge to do 100 push ups in 90 seconds.
A doorman stands in front of Trump Tower along Fifth Avenue on August 14, 2017 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Source: Politico
It was McEntee's job on the road to make sure Trump got McDonalds, or KFC, when the candidate didn't like food provided by fundraisers. He also had to learn what TV channels Trump liked at certain times of the day.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty
Source: Politico
After the election, Trump awarded McEntee with a job as his personal aide in the White House.
McEntee in the Oval Office.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Source: Politico
The position is sometimes called "bag man" because McEntee was responsible for the president's belongings. He was the staffer who met the president in the morning in the White House residence, and the last to see him off every night.
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
Source: Politico
He also prepared papers for the president's speeches.
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters
He made a salary of $115,000 in fiscal year 2017. The top salary for White House staffers then was $179,700.
McEntee and White House policy adviser Stephen Miller stand on the tarmac after arriving with Trump aboard Air Force One in New York on May 4, 2017.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Source: White House
McEntee was very close to the president. He was one of few staffers who could get their calls answered on the first ring.
McEntee (R) with John Kelly and Rob Porter
Evan Vucci/AP
Source: Politico
McEntee was known as a reliable staffer despite his low profile outside the White House. "Johnny got it," former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told Politico. "Whatever we needed, it didn't matter: He was on it."
McEntee and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly listen as Trump speaks during a meeting with lawmakers on Feb. 13, 2018.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Source: Politico
Amid a constantly shifting staff, McEntee was able to hold onto his position close to the president. His football background helped. The pair could bond over sports small talk.
McEntee returns to Washington with then-White House senior adviser Steve Bannon aboard Air Force One on March 5, 2017.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Source: Politico
McEntee's humor continued onto Air Force One. He liked write notes to other staffers with Trump's signature, which he perfected, only to reveal that he wrote them all along. Another staffer told Politico it was all in good fun.
McEntee (L) deplanes with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner as they return with Trump from a weekend at his New Jersey golf estate home via Air Force One on May 7, 2017.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Source: Politico
But in May 2018, McEntee's luck ran out. Then-chief of staff John Kelly ordered him to be removed over serious financial concerns. The Wall Street Journal reported the investigation included online gambling, where he made individual bets worth tens of thousands of dollars, and incorrectly filing his taxes.
Jabin Botsford /The Washington Post / Getty
Sources: Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post
He also couldn't pass his background check, so he didn't have permanent security clearance. He was escorted from the White House without a chance to collect his things, or a jacket.
Tom Brenner / Reuters
Sources: Business Insider, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Axios
McEntee was "very upset," to be fired, according to the Washington Post, and said he hadn't done anything wrong. But officials were wary his reported gambling habits could make him vulnerable to influences outside the White House.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post / Getty
Source: Washington Post
It didn't dent his career for long. Within 24 hours, Trump's 2020 reelection campaign had rehired him as the senior adviser for campaign operations. His close connection to the president paid off.
McEntee directs Trump as he participates in the US-ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines on November 13, 2017.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Source: CNN
In December 2019, reports began to circulate that McEntee was going to get another chance in the White House. As Trump grew more concerned with "never-Trumpers," he wanted his trusted aides close.
McEntee stands by as Trump greets supporters after arriving aboard Air Force One in Lewisburg, West Virginia on February 1, 2018.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Sources: The New York Times, Axios
In February 2020, McEntee was announced as the new director of the Presidential Personnel Office, meaning he chooses who to hire and who gets fired. His focus, according to Axios and CNN, was to identify staffers who were disloyal to Trump. These were primarily political appointments, not career staffers.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty
In late February, McEntee hired 23-year-old James Bacon, an undergraduate, to work directly under him. Bacon, who worked for McEntee during Trump's presidential campaign, replaced Katja Bullock, who was more than 50 years older than him.
Sarah Silbiger/Getty
Sources: Politico, The Hill, Insider
McEntee might be back in the White House, in an even more senior position, but he's no longer the freshest face in the administration.
Patrick Semansky / AP
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