Last week, a former adviser to Mike Pence cautioned that women entering President-elect Trump’s White House would encounter a “hostile environment.” Olivia Troye, who had worked as Pence’s national security adviser, shared in a post on her Substack, “I’m not going to lie to you.
No matter who you are, you are entering a hostile environment. I was fortunate — Mike Pence was a decent, respectful island in Trump’s sea of contempt. It will be much, much worse this time.” Troye, who had campaigned for Vice President Harris, Trump’s opponent in the 2024 race, left the first Trump administration in August 2020 and has since become a vocal critic of the president-elect.
Olivia Troye warns of a hostile environment for women in Trump’s White House
In her advice to women considering roles in the upcoming administration, Troye emphasized the need for strength, noting that the “chauvinistic male-dominated culture” would be aggravated by influential figures like Elon Musk, JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and others in key positions.
She acknowledged that the environment would be intimidating but encouraged women to stay true to their principles, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. “Remember, you have only yourself to face in the mirror every day,” she added.
Gaetz, who had been considered for Trump’s attorney general, withdrew from the position last week, while Hegseth faces an uncertain path to Senate confirmation as Defense Secretary.
In addition to her recent comments, Troye had previously sounded the alarm in late 2020 about the potential for violence on January 6, following a post from then-President Trump on social media.
Trump had written, “See you in Washington, DC, on January 6th. Don’t miss it. Information to follow!” Troye expressed concerns about the threat of violence on MSNBC, stating that “the president himself is encouraging it.”
