Trump Transition:
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Analysis of current
The members of Trump’s Cabinet have various ideologies hidden beneath the guise of ‘America First’. Some individuals in consideration for positions seem to be motivated by seeking revenge, while others are more concerned with stabilizing markets. Another group is determined to reduce both staff and budgets, although their efforts may prove to be challenging.
Authored by David E. Sanger
During his career at The Times, David E. Sanger has reported on the actions and decisions of five different American presidents spanning over forty years.
In the last set of cabinet picks and appointments made by President-elect Donald J. Trump, his team characterized the administration as being unified, loyal, and driven by the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) motto. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that there are at least three different groups with varying ideologies, which are being kept under control to successfully navigate the confirmation process.
A team seeking revenge is being led by potential nominees who have been instructed to dismantle the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to root out the so-called deep state and anyone involved in the prosecution of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has a team dedicated to keeping the markets calm, with hopes that Scott Bessent, a Wall Street billionaire chosen for Treasury secretary, will lead it. Bessent is familiar with the MAGA principles of deregulation and lower taxes, but he may work to prevent Trump’s more extreme ideas, such as implementing tariffs that could lead to inflation, from negatively impacting the post-election stock market growth.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is aiming to significantly reduce the size of the government. Their goal is to cut at least $2 trillion from the yearly federal budget, which is more than what is spent on federal employee salaries. The total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
The interaction and potential conflict between these missions is a major uncertainty for the new administration.
Having a variety of different ideologies and opinions is typically viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about Mr. Trump’s recent choices is the diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align perfectly with his "Make America Great Again" platform or personal loyalty to him. It is surprising to think that some of his appointees may not feel entirely at ease at a Trump rally.
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