Transition of power
Prom
Backed by
Analysis of current
Trump’s Cabinet: Various Beliefs Hidden Beneath the Slogan of ‘America First’
Some potential candidates are seeking revenge, others are aiming to stabilize markets, and a different group is determined to reduce both personnel and budgets, possibly in a futile manner.
Written by David E. Sanger
Throughout his career at The Times, David E. Sanger has reported on five different American presidents for over 40 years.
President-elect Donald J. Trump completed his cabinet selections and other appointments with a team that his aides say is united, loyal, and driven by the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) slogan. However, beneath the surface, there are at least three different factions and a variety of ideologies that are barely contained to navigate the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, led by potential nominees, have been tasked with dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to target the alleged deep state and individuals involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has put together a team to help keep the markets stable, with Scott Bessent, a Wall Street billionaire, potentially leading the team. While Bessent supports Trump’s goals of deregulation and lower taxes, he may work to prevent extreme measures, such as tariffs that could cause inflation, from negatively impacting the stock market after the election.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working to reduce the size of the government, with the goal of cutting at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget. This amount is more than the total cost of salaries for all federal employees. (Note: The total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.)
The way these missions will work together and where they may conflict is a major uncertainty for the new administration.
Having a variety of different beliefs and viewpoints is typically viewed as 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" agenda. Some of his choices may not fit in well at a Trump rally, despite their loyalty to him.
We are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
To use all the features of this website, make sure JavaScript
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently in Reader mode, please log out and sign into 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? Please sign in.
Interested in accessing all of The Times? Simply subscribe to gain full
Prom
Index of Pages
Navigation for Site Information