Transition of power
Prom
Backed by
Analysis of current
The members of Trump’s Cabinet have different ideologies that are hidden behind the slogan of ‘America First’. Some are seeking revenge, others are focused on stabilizing the markets, and some are determined to reduce both the number of people and budgets, even if it seems like an impossible task.
Written by David E. Sanger
For over forty years, David E. Sanger has been reporting for The Times and has covered the administrations of five different American presidents.
The last group of people chosen by President-elect Donald J. Trump for his cabinet and other positions were said to form a united, loyal team focused on his "Make America Great Again" agenda. However, upon closer inspection, there are actually three separate groups with differing beliefs and ideologies, all working together to navigate the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, headed by potential candidates, have been tasked with dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to uncover and target members of the deep state and those involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has put together a team to help keep the markets stable, with Scott Bessent potentially leading it. Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street who was chosen by Trump for Treasury Secretary, is familiar with Trump’s policies on deregulation and lower taxes. However, he may try to prevent Trump’s more extreme ideas, such as imposing tariffs that could cause inflation, from negatively impacting the stock market after the election.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is aiming to significantly 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. (It’s worth noting that the total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.)
One of the major uncertainties of the new administration is how their missions will align and potentially conflict with each other.
Having a variety of beliefs and opinions is often viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about President Trump’s recent appointments is the diverse backgrounds and perspectives that may not align with his Make America Great Again slogan or loyalty to him. Some of his picks may not seem like they would fit in well at a Trump rally.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the article’s content.
Ensure that JavaScript is turned on in your browser’s settings.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access. If you are currently using Reader mode, please close it and sign in to your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all of The Times content.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access.
Are you currently a member? Please sign in.
Interested in having access to all the content from The Times? Subscribe
Prom
Index of the website
Navigation for site information
