--- - |2+ Objective Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was unorthodox by any standard. But does an unorthodox campaign result in an administration different from its predecessors? Methods We examine the Trump transition to identify similarities with and differences from previous administrations. Results Similarities include certain patterns in personnel selections, centralization of policy making, and the role of the vice president. Key differences include fewer high‐ranking officials with prior experience in government, the White House chief of staff lacking policy experience, a higher proportion of nominations being challenged in the Senate, and decrease in gender and ethnic diversity among key appointees. Conclusion An unorthodox presidential campaign produced an administration somewhat different but not wholly different from its predecessors. - Social Science Quarterly, EarlyView.