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The members of Trump’s Cabinet have various ideologies hidden beneath the slogan of ‘America First’. Some potential nominees are driven by a desire for revenge, others are concerned with stabilizing markets, and another group is focused on making drastic cuts to both personnel and budgets.
Written by David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger has reported on the actions and policies of five different U.S. presidents during his extensive career as a journalist for The New York Times
In the days leading up to his inauguration, President-elect Donald J. Trump selected his final cabinet members and appointees, aiming for a team that his advisors characterized as being united, loyal, and dedicated to the "Make America Great Again" agenda. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that there are at least three separate groups within the administration, each with their own set of beliefs and ideas that they must navigate while going through the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, led by potential candidates, has been tasked with dismantling 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 putting together a team to keep the markets stable, with Scott Bessent possibly leading the team. Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street who was chosen by Trump for Treasury secretary, supports ideas like deregulation and lower taxes. However, he may try to prevent Trump’s more radical ideas, such as imposing tariffs that could cause inflation and disrupt the post-election stock market growth.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working on shrinking the government. Their goal is to reduce the annual federal budget by at least $2 trillion, which is more than the total cost of salaries for all federal employees. In the 2024 fiscal year, the total federal budget was $6.75 trillion.
The potential interactions and conflicts between these missions are a major uncertainty for the new administration.
Having a variety of different beliefs and opinions is typically viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about Mr. Trump’s recent selections is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align perfectly with his "Make America Great Again" agenda. Some of his choices may not fit in well at a Trump rally, despite their loyalty to him.
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