Earlier this month, Alina Habba, former personal attorney to Donald Trump and current White House counselor, stirred significant controversy during an appearance on Fox News when she issued a bold warning to federal employees across the Executive Branch. Her message was direct: anyone not aligned with the “America First” agenda would be removed from their position. The comment came during a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who questioned the fairness of Trump being required to retain career government staff—especially those perceived as part of the so-called “deep state.” Hannity expressed frustration that Trump, if reelected, might be constrained…Earlier this month, Alina Habba, former personal attorney to Donald Trump and current White House counselor, stirred significant controversy during an appearance on Fox News when she issued a bold warning to federal employees across the Executive Branch. Her message was direct: anyone not aligned with the “America First” agenda would be removed from their position.
The comment came during a conversation with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who questioned the fairness of Trump being required to retain career government staff—especially those perceived as part of the so-called “deep state.” Hannity expressed frustration that Trump, if reelected, might be constrained by officials who, in his view, actively worked against him, citing the efforts of special counsel Jack Smith’s team.
Habba didn’t hold back in her response. “Why wouldn’t Donald Trump be allowed to choose his own people?” she asked. “To all the liberals who are panicking, I say—yes, you’re right to be nervous. If you’re not putting America first, then no, you shouldn’t stay.”
She went on to paint Trump’s critics as part of a broader problem in government, accusing them of prioritizing partisanship and undermining justice. “These weren’t people promoting fairness,” she continued. “They were polarizing figures. They weaponized the law and made justice political.”Habba’s remarks come at a time when discussions about federal workforce loyalty and political alignment are heating up. Her statements echo a broader effort among Trump allies to reshape the federal bureaucracy by rooting out what they see as entrenched resistance within key institutions. Critics, however, warn that such efforts could compromise the independence and integrity of nonpartisan civil servants.
While the White House has not issued an official clarification or elaboration on Habba’s statements, they have fueled renewed debate over the limits of executive power, the role of career officials, and the future direction of American governance if Trump returns to office.
The message from Habba is clear: loyalty to the “America First” vision is non-negotiable—and those who don’t align may soon find themselves on the outside looking in.
