Illustration by Darya Shnykina.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS WIFE, MELANIA, were standing up to leave a Pacific Palisades fire station in January of 2025 when the president’s longtime adviser Ric Grenell waved over a junior California legislator.
“Mr. President,” Grenell told Trump. “I want you to meet….Bill Essayli.”
Essayli was a former federal prosecutor who had just begun a second term as an assemblyman from Corona; he was known less for his legislative victories than his pugnacious, camera-ready antics.
Decades younger than Trump and Grenell, he shared many of their attributes: a refusal to back down or cede any ground to opponents, an affinity for hurling bombastic, even outrageous, barbs online and off, and a preternatural ability to transform attention into power.
"He's been with you from the beginning," Grenell continued while Essayli, clad in dark slacks and a white dress shirt, folded his hands together.
Grenell, at times pointing his index finger, sketched the salient points: “He's Muslim.” “He’s a killer.” “He’s MAGA.”
A “Palisades Strong” banner hung behind the trio and cameras kept rolling as Grenell made his objective explicit: "I want him to be U.S. Attorney." Grenell continued, "I promise you, you will be so proud of him."
Essayli retrieved a business card from his pocket and handed it to the president.
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