Transitioning from
Prom
Backed by
Analysis of current
The members of Trump’s Cabinet represent a variety of ideologies, all under the guise of putting America first. Some potential nominees are driven by a desire for revenge, while others are focused on stabilizing markets and some are dedicated to reducing the number of employees and budgets, possibly without success.
Written by David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger has reported on five presidents of the United States over a span of more than 40 years while working for The New York Times.
President-elect Donald J. Trump completed his selection of cabinet members and other appointees, aiming for a cohesive and loyal administration focused on his "Make America Great Again" agenda. However, beneath the surface, there are at least three separate groups with differing ideologies, only kept in check during the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, headed by potential appointees, have been given the task of dismantling the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. They are targeting what they refer to as the deep state, as well as anyone involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has a team in place to reassure the markets, with Scott Bessent potentially leading it. Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street who Trump has considered for Treasury secretary, is familiar with the ideas of deregulation and lower taxes promoted by MAGA. However, he may work to prevent Trump’s more radical proposals, such as imposing tariffs that could lead to inflation, from negatively affecting the stock market after the election.
A team, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is focused on reducing the size of the government. Their goal is to cut at least $2 trillion from the annual federal budget, which is more than the total amount spent on federal employee salaries. To put it in perspective, the total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
One of the major uncertainties of the new administration is how these missions will intersect and potentially clash with each other.
Having a variety of beliefs and viewpoints is often viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what is surprising about Mr. Trump’s recent choices is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align with his "Make America Great Again" agenda. Some of his picks may not fit in well at a Trump rally despite their loyalty to Mr. Trump.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
To use this website properly, make sure to turn on JavaScript
We appreciate your patience 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 your access.
Are you currently a member? Please sign in.
Interested in having access to all of The Times content? Subscribe now
Prom
Navigation for Site Information
Index of Site Pages
