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The members of Trump’s Cabinet have diverse ideologies that are hidden behind the idea of ‘America First’. Some potential nominees are driven by a desire for revenge, others are focused on stabilizing markets, and another group is determined to reduce the number of people and budgets, although this may prove to be a difficult task.
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 actions and policies of
Donald J. Trump’s team of cabinet picks and other appointments were chosen to create a cohesive and loyal administration focused on the "Make America Great Again" agenda. However, underneath the surface, there are at least three different groups with varying ideologies that are being kept in check to navigate the confirmation process.
A group seeking revenge, led by potential candidates, has been tasked with dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. They are targeting individuals associated with the deep state and those involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump is assembling a team to help maintain stability in the markets, with Scott Bessent being considered as a potential leader. Bessent, a wealthy businessman from Wall Street who is also being considered for Treasury secretary, is aligned with Trump’s views on deregulation and tax cuts. However, he may work to prevent Trump’s more extreme ideas, such as tariffs that could lead to inflation, from negatively impacting the post-election stock market growth.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is aiming to significantly reduce the size of the government. Their goals are extremely ambitious, as they aim to cut at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget. This amount is more than the total cost of salaries for all federal employees. For reference, the total federal budget in the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
One of the greatest uncertainties of the new administration is how these missions will overlap and potentially clash.
Having a variety of beliefs and opinions is often viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what is surprising about Mr. Trump’s recent selections is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align completely with his "Make America Great Again" platform or loyalty to him. Some of his choices may not seem like they would fit in well at a Trump rally.
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