Behind the scenes: Ballard back in West Wing

A Ballard Partners associate persuaded Trump at a fundraiser to issue a March 2 Truth Social post that benefited the company Ripple Labs, a Ballard client.

• Trump's post blindsided the White House's crypto czar, David Sacks, who promptly complained.

The intrigue: Several Trump allies struck back Thursday via a brutal Politico story that detailed the controversy and said Ballard was frozen out.

• That would be close to a death sentence for a firm whose substantial Washington presence is tied in great part to his access to the president and senior administration officials — including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who worked for Ballard years ago.
• So Ballard cut short a European vacation and scored a meeting with Trump and Wiles.

Inside the room: "They had a good conversation," said an administration source familiar with the "very cordial" meeting. "The president spoke his piece. Brian spoke his, and apologized."

• "There's a reset. It's back."

The big picture: The underlying story provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the way power flows around Trump — and shows just how difficult it is for Trump's staff to keep special interests at bay.

• "Ballard's not a pariah, at least not anymore," said a second source familiar with the meeting. "You don't get a 30-minute meeting with the president and Susie and not have clout."

"But there's a lesson here: Go through the proper channels."

• Ballard declined to comment.