Vice President-elect JD Vance prepares to take office.
But meetings to plan policy rollouts and announce appointments at MAGA headquarters sometimes have to wait until after family time and a chance to romp with the kids on the grounds of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
In these photos, Trump’s top lieutenant is seen dressed casually in a polo shirt and shorts as he plays with Ewan (seven), Vivek (four) and Mirabel (two) on the expansive lawn leading to the water.
Mother Usha keeps an eye on things while Dad leans over the sea wall with a palm frond, before the children follow suit and all pretend to be fishing.
At one point they reach out to pick what looks like mollusk shells just above the waterline.
It could be any family enjoying the winter sun in Palm Beach, if not for a robotic figure lurking in the background.
A Secret Service mechanical hunting dog is on guard. They have become a common sight around Mar-a-Lago as security officials maintain high vigilance amid reports of an Iranian plot against the president and his team.
The children look enraptured by his presence, following him around and squealing with joy, a witness said.
The Vances enjoy family time at Donald Trump’s club in Florida. Mum Usha Vance keeps a close eye on Ewan, seven, Vivek, four, and Mirabel, who will celebrate her third birthday next month (left to right)
Father JD Vance joins in and shows his children a shell plucked from the sea wall
A secret service robot dog in the background reminds us how their lives are changing
That’s just one of the features the Vance family will have to get used to as they prepare to move into Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the vice president.
Vance told DailyMail.com earlier this month that he was annoyed about no longer being allowed to drive and wanted his minivan back.
But it was all fun on Friday morning, as the family was able to let off steam at one of the most exclusive addresses in the country.
Usha wore a red summer dress as she stayed close to Ewan as he sat on the wall.
She was a frequent traveler aboard Vance’s campaign plane, but found a seat out of the spotlight when her husband took the stage.
Their children joined them occasionally, including on election day last week.
Vivek ran back to the press booth that day to shout “fake news” at traveling journalists.
Vance was addressing supporters at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday evening when he described the moment as part of the “second best day of the campaign.”
The children pretend to go fishing with palm leaves
Dad shows them how to do it on Friday morning
Trump addressed his supporters at the America First Policy Institute Gala on Wednesday
Tucker Carlson, Cheryl Hines, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr, Tulsi Gabbard at dinner on Wednesday night
“And not even 15 minutes later, our German Shepherd puppy walked back there and took it over to where the media was sitting,” he claimed.
“And I think, I think that says something about how we think about fake news in this movement.”
Trump’s running mate was joined by other stars from the Trump world for the America First Policy Institute Gala at Mar-a-Lago.
Silvester Stallone introduced the president-elect, who called last week’s victory “the most consequential election” before comparing it to his 2016 victory.
“They’d say, ‘He didn’t win the popular vote.’ And we’ve now won the popular vote by record, so no one can say that about us anymore,” Trump said.
He gave his speech after upending the political establishment by targeting vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.