Trump’s period
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The members of Trump’s Cabinet have different approaches and focuses, with some seeking revenge, others aiming to stabilize markets, and another group focused on reducing personnel and budgets. These ideologies are all hidden behind the facade of putting America’s interests first.
Written by David E. Sanger.
Throughout his career at The Times, David E. Sanger has written about five different American presidents for over forty years.
In the last few appointments made by President-elect Donald J. Trump, his team claimed to have put together a cohesive and loyal administration driven by the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) agenda. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that there are actually three separate factions within the administration, each with different ideologies that have been kept in check to navigate the confirmation process.
A team seeking revenge, led by potential nominees, has been instructed to dismantle the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to target the deep state and individuals involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump is assembling a team to help keep the markets stable, with Scott Bessent, a Wall Street billionaire and potential Treasury secretary, at the helm. While Bessent supports Trump’s views on deregulation and lower taxes, he may push back against more extreme measures, such as imposing tariffs that could lead to inflation and disrupt the post-election stock market growth.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working to reduce the size of the government significantly. 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. (For reference, the total federal budget in 2024 was $6.75 trillion.)
The interactions and conflicts between these missions are uncertain and pose a major challenge for the new administration.
Having a variety of different beliefs and viewpoints is often considered a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what is surprising about President Trump’s recent appointments is the diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align completely with his "Make America Great Again" slogan or loyalty to him. Some of his picks may not fit in well at a Trump rally.
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