Vice President Mike Pence’s 18 top power players

• Vice President Mike Pence is a low-key but central figure in President Trump’s orbit. He surrounds himself with a tight-knit group of aides and family members who have often been with him for years.
• The vice president’s closest advisor and confidant is his wife, Karen Pence, who controls access to him and plays a significant role in shaping his policy decisions.
• Much of Trumpworld is really Penceworld, as top Pence lieutenants have taken prime roles on the campaign and in the administration.
• The vice president serves as a bridge between the antiestablishment Trump orbit and the mainstream conservative and religious circles.
• As the likely front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Pence and his advisors could play a key role in shaping the future of the Republican Party.
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Vice President Mike Pence has a powerful and loyal circle of advisors and family members who behind the scenes have helped him rise to one of the most important jobs in American politics and policy.

They’re also positioned to help him go even further.

What’s perhaps most critical to know about Pence is that he’s an all-important bridge between Trump’s political base and the conservative religious and establishment stalwarts that make up the boundaries of the Republican Party.

He keeps a relatively low profile through it all, but he has installed many of his longtime advisors in key administration and political roles, allowing him to shape the policy and personnel that govern the country.

Many of Pence’s top aides, including Marty Obst and Marc Lotter, play significant roles in Trump’s campaign and administration. This list illustrates how much of Trumpworld is secretly Penceworld — and what that will mean come 2024 as Pence enters the Republican nominating contest, no matter who wins this November, as the undisputed front-runner.

Insider will update the Pence rankings periodically to reflect any important changes.