Transitioning to
Prom
Backed by
Analysis of current
The members of Trump’s Cabinet have a variety of ideologies that may not always align with the "America First" motto. Some potential nominees seem to be driven by a desire for revenge, while others are more concerned with stabilizing the economy. There are also those who are dedicated to reducing both the size of the government and its spending, though this task may be difficult
Written by David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger has been a journalist for The New York Times for over 40 years, during which he has reported on the administrations of five different
As President-elect Donald J. Trump made his last cabinet picks and other appointments, his team portrayed his administration as cohesive, loyal, and guided by the principle of Making America Great Again. However, beneath the surface, there are at least three different groups with varying ideologies that are only just held back during the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, led by potential appointees, have been tasked with dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to target the so-called deep state and anyone involved in the prosecution of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has assembled a team to help stabilize the markets, with Scott Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street, possibly leading the charge. While Mr. Bessent agrees with the idea of deregulation and lower taxes, he may work to prevent Mr. Trump’s more controversial proposals, such as imposing tariffs that could lead to inflation, from negatively impacting the stock market’s post-election growth.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working to reduce the size of the government. Their goal is to cut at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget, which is more than the total cost of salaries for all federal employees. The total federal budget in the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
One of the biggest uncertainties of the new administration is how these missions will align and potentially conflict with each other.
Having a variety of different beliefs and viewpoints is often viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about Mr. Trump’s recent cabinet choices is the diverse range of experiences and worldviews that are sometimes hidden beneath their outward loyalty to the "Make America Great Again" slogan and to Mr. Trump himself. Some of his picks may not fit in well at a Trump rally.
We are experiencing difficulty in accessing the content of the article.
Kindly activate JavaScript in the settings of your web browser.
We appreciate your patience as we confirm your access. If you are currently in Reader mode, please sign out and sign into your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all of The Times content.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access.
Are you currently a member? Sign in to access your account
Interested in accessing all of The Times? Sign up for a subscription
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation for information on the