Trump’s change
Prom
Backed by
Analysis of current
Trump is showing continued defiance in his decision-making following the failure of the Matt Gaetz selection. By appointing Kash Patel as the F.B.I. director, he is demonstrating that he is not backing down in the face of opposition from Washington. Trump is appointing individuals with strong ideological beliefs, conspiracy theories, and even family members to key positions in his administration.
Authored by Peter
Peter Baker is the main reporter assigned to cover news from the White House and has reported on the actions and decisions made by the last five presidents, including Donald J.
Despite facing criticism for his previous appointments, President Trump is continuing to show defiance as he puts together his new administration. Instead of choosing qualified and respected individuals who would have an easier time getting confirmed by the Senate, Trump is rapidly selecting more individuals who align with his ideologies, believe in conspiracy theories, and in some cases, even family members for high-ranking government roles.
One notable action is his choice to remove the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, who he appointed in his first term, and hand over control of the agency to Kash Patel, who is known for his views against the "deep state." Patel, viewed as a troublemaker, was seen as a disruptive and potentially harmful figure by other Trump advisors who worked to prevent him from gaining power during the previous administration.
As Mr. Patel received attention, Mr. Trump also made announcements over the weekend regarding the fathers-in-law of two of his children. He revealed his intention to nominate Charles Kushner, the father of Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, who had been pardoned by Mr. Trump in his previous term, as the ambassador to France. Additionally, he selected Massad Boulos, the father of Tiffany Trump’s husband, Michael Boulos, to serve as his White House senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern matters.
Mr. Trump’s continued push for non-traditional appointments shows how committed he is to surrounding himself with loyal supporters who will help him achieve his goals, including seeking revenge against those he sees as opponents. Despite lacking evidence, Mr. Trump has accused President Biden of using government agencies to target him in recent investigations.
The controversial nominees chosen by Mr. Trump are challenging Senate Republicans to take a stand against other nominees they believe are unfit for their positions, especially after they played a role in stopping former Representative Matt Gaetz from becoming attorney general.
Gregg Nunziata, a former chief nominations counsel for Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, suggested that by selecting nominees who are more focused on loyalty and confrontation rather than traditional qualifications, the president is challenging the Senate to fulfill its role as a check on his power.
We are experiencing difficulties in accessing the content of the article.
Please activate JavaScript in the settings of your web browser.
We appreciate your understanding as we confirm your access. If you are currently using Reader mode, please close it 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 accessing all content from The Times? Subscribe now to gain
Prom
Page Directory
Navigation of Site Information