The transition of
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Analysis of current
The members of Trump’s Cabinet represent a variety of ideologies under the guise of prioritizing America’s interests. Some potential nominees are driven by a desire for revenge, others aim to stabilize markets, and another group is dedicated to reducing the number of people and budgets, even though it may be a difficult task.
Written by David E. Sanger
For over forty years, David E. Sanger has reported on five different American presidents while working for The Times.
The last set of cabinet picks and other appointments made by President-elect Donald J. Trump were meant to create a cohesive and supportive administration focused on the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) agenda. However, underneath the surface, there are actually three separate factions with different ideologies that are barely being kept in check during 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 so-called deep state and individuals involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has assembled a team to help stabilize the markets, with Scott Bessent being considered as a possible leader. Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street, has been selected by Trump as a potential Treasury secretary. While he supports Trump’s ideas on deregulation and lowering taxes, Bessent may work to prevent extreme measures, such as imposing tariffs that could cause inflation and disrupt the post-election stock market gains.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working to shrink the government, with the ambitious goal of cutting at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget. This amount is even larger than the total annual cost of salaries for all federal employees. (For reference, the total federal budget in the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.)
The interaction and potential conflicts between these missions are a major uncertainty for the new administration.
Having a variety of beliefs and viewpoints is typically viewed as an advantage, rather than a flaw, in presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about President Trump’s recent appointments is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align perfectly with his "Make America Great Again" agenda or personal loyalty to him. Some of his choices may not seem like they would fit in at one of his rallies.
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