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The members of Trump’s Cabinet have various ideologies, all hidden under the guise of prioritizing America. Some potential nominees are driven by seeking revenge, others are focused on stabilizing the markets, and another group is dedicated to reducing the number of people and budgets, even if it seems like an impossible task.
Written by David E. Sanger
David E. Sanger has been a journalist for The Times for over forty years, reporting on five different American presidents during his career.
As President-elect Donald J. Trump finalized his cabinet picks and other appointments, his team portrayed his administration as unified, loyal, and driven by the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) slogan. However, upon closer inspection, it is evident that there are at least three separate factions within the administration, each with their own range of ideologies that are only just being held back during the confirmation process.
A group seeking revenge is being led by potential candidates, with orders to dismantle the Justice Department, intelligence agencies, and Defense Department. They are targeting the so-called deep state and individuals involved in prosecuting Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump is assembling a team to help calm the markets, with Scott Bessent, a Wall Street billionaire chosen by Trump for Treasury secretary, likely to lead the team. Bessent is supportive of deregulation and lower taxes, but may work to prevent Trump’s more extreme ideas, 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 aims to significantly reduce 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 cost of salaries for all federal employees. This team’s objectives are very ambitious and could have a significant impact on government spending.
One of the major uncertainties of the new administration is how these missions will align and intersect, or where they may conflict.
Having a variety of beliefs and viewpoints is often considered a positive aspect of presidential cabinets. However, what stands out about President Trump’s recent selections is the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that may not align with his "Make America Great Again" agenda or personal loyalty to him. Some of his picks may not fit in well at a Trump rally, despite outward displays of support.
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