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The members of Trump’s Cabinet hold different ideologies under the guise of ‘America First’. Some nominees are driven by a desire for revenge, others are focused on stabilizing the markets, and another group is dedicated to cutting expenses and reducing staff, possibly to an extreme extent.
Written by David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger has been a journalist for The New York Times for over 40 years, during which time he has reported on five different presidents of
As President-elect Donald J. Trump completed his selection of cabinet members and other officials, his team portrayed a cohesive and devoted administration focused on the "Make America Great Again" agenda. However, beneath the surface, there are at least three separate groups with varying beliefs, all working together to navigate the confirmation process.
A group of individuals seeking revenge, led by potential candidates, have been instructed to dismantle the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. Their goal is to target the "deep state" and individuals involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has put together a team to help stabilize the markets, with Scott Bessent potentially leading it. Bessent, a billionaire from Wall Street who Trump has considered for Treasury secretary, supports deregulation and lower taxes. However, he may work to prevent Trump’s more extreme ideas, such as imposing tariffs that could lead to inflation, from negatively impacting the stock market after the election.
A team led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is working to shrink the government by cutting $2 trillion from the annual federal budget. This amount is more than the total cost of salaries for all federal employees. The total federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year was $6.75 trillion.
One of the key uncertainties of the new administration is how these missions will intersect and potentially conflict with each other.
Typically, having a variety of beliefs and opinions is viewed as a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, some of Mr. Trump’s recent choices have surprised people due to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives they bring, which may not align completely with his "Make America Great Again" agenda or loyalty to him. It is difficult to picture a few of his selections fitting in comfortably at a Trump rally.
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