How DC Business Could Profit From Trump

Every new administration carries with it a rash of changes echoing into all parts of government and the private sector. While career bureaucrats stay, there are about 4,000 political appointees that go with the former president from government. While a herd of Democrats go, a herd of Republicans are coming into government and are looking to establish themselves in living quarters throughout the Capitol region.

So what will Trumpians be looking for? Here are a few of the companies that are likely to see the most benefit, not just from the new regime, but the regime change.

1) Steakhouses. President Clinton was big on southern food and Georgia Brown's, but President Bush brought back the steakhouses like The Palm as well as D.C.'s own. President Obama helped usher in the current and diverse scene with tons of small plate and international establishments like Oyamel, Rasika, and Founding Farmers. But Steakhouses are poised yet again, as it's the food of kings, and the preferred fare of many red state residents who are likely to visit, as well as fill out the government halls.

2) Luxury Hotels and Car Services. The president-elect’s cabinet has over $11 billion in net worth so far. The president-elect and his cabinet secretaries will have a lot of well-heeled friends coming in for a visit, as well as just enjoying luxury. While Uber, ZipCars and Car2Go have made things cheap and available, next item up for bids are Town Cars and "Hummscalades" in more prominent supply.

3) Full Service Storage Operators. As current residents egress and others enter for a four to eight year span, a lot of stuff is going into storage. Closetbox is a popular company in D.C. to take care of everything. They come pick everything up, store it securely, and provide an online dashboard so you know where everything is. There are certainly the traditional roll-down door companies, but you have to do-it-yourself. And in a city this busy and clogged with traffic, nobody has time — or a truck — for that.

4) Food Carts. Washington, D.C. has developed a vibrant food truck scene in recent years at central daytime spots like Farragut Square and Macpherson Square. But with many Trump administration officials descending from New York City, we expect they will bring some food carts with them to Washington and it will be huge. Just as it is in a great city like New York. The best. Ask anybody. So get in on the action and license your food cart.

5) Real Estate Agents. The D.C. metro area has diverse neighborhoods that are likely to be attractive to the Trump crowd, like Georgetown, Kaloroma and Capitol Hill; and for those coming later on in the administration the new marina in the southeast section of town. 

I encourage those budding entrepreneurs to get ahead of the trends in 2017. Just make it major, super-classy and it will be huge. And remember, as our president-elect said, "If you don’t tell people about your success, they probably won’t know about it."

I have no interest in any of the businesses mentioned in this contribution.

Bradley A. Blakeman served as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush from 2001-04. He is currently a professor of politics and public policy at Georgetown University and a frequent contributor to Fox News Opinion. Read more reports from Bradley Blakeman — Click Here Now.