BY DAN HILDEBRAN
State Representative Chuck Brannan spent 10 hours over two days with President Donald Trump and other officials at the White House.
As the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, the former Chief Detective of the Baker County Sheriff’s Office and Deputy U.S. Marshal was invited to Washington, along with other Florida House leaders.
Brannan said the group first met with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who has ties to Brannan’s district. The daughter of NFL player and broadcaster Pat Summerall, Wiles was raised in Lake City.
After meeting with the chief of staff and other officials, the delegation moved on to the Oval Office for a meeting with the chief executive.
Brannan said the President then took the group on a tour of the White House residence.
Brannan said he was impressed by Trump’s detailed knowledge of the building’s structural components, attributing it to the President’s former career as a New York developer.
“He pointed out the grout in the bathroom and talked about it in detail,” recalled the state representative.
Brannan said the delegation also spent time with Vice President J.D. Vance, Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury, Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy.
Brannan said he was particularly impressed with Vance, who came across as down-to-earth.
The Tallahassee lawmaker, who represents Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Union, and part of Alachua County, said the officials asked the delegation about the most important issues facing the Sunshine State.
Trump and other officials also briefed the group on their priorities.
