The process of
Prom
Backing or aided
Analysis of current
The cabinet members chosen by Trump have various ideologies that are hidden behind the slogan of ‘America First’. Some nominees seem to be motivated by seeking revenge, others are more focused on stabilizing the markets, and some are committed to reducing both staff and budgets, though it may be a difficult task.
Authored by David E. Sanger.
For over four decades, David E. Sanger has reported on five American presidents during his time at The Times.
Before officially taking office, President-elect Donald J. Trump made his last selections for his cabinet and other positions, aiming for a cohesive administration driven by the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) motto. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes evident that there are actually three separate groups with differing beliefs and opinions, which have been kept under wraps to successfully navigate the confirmation process.
A group has been formed with the intention of seeking revenge, headed by potential candidates who have been tasked with dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to target the "deep state" and individuals involved in the prosecution of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has put together a team to help keep the markets stable, and he wants Scott Bessent, a wealthy businessman from Wall Street, to lead it. While Mr. Bessent supports Trump’s ideas about deregulation and tax cuts, he may try to prevent some of Trump’s more extreme proposals, such as imposing tariffs on foreign goods that could cause inflation and disrupt the post-election stock market growth.
A team of government officials, headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has set ambitious goals to significantly reduce government spending. Their aim is to cut at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget, which is more than the total amount spent on salaries for all federal employees. Just to provide context, the total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
One of the major uncertainties of the new administration is how its missions will intersect and potentially clash.
Typically, having a variety of beliefs and viewpoints is considered a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about Mr. Trump’s recent choices is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align completely with his "Make America Great Again" agenda or loyalty to him. Some of his picks may not fit in well at a Trump rally.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the article’s content.
Please activate JavaScript in the settings of your web browser.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently using Reader mode, please log out and sign in to your Times account, or consider subscribing to access all of The Times content.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm access.
Are you already a member? Sign in to access your account
Looking to access all of The Times’ content? Subscribe now.
Prom
Page Index
Navigation for Site Information