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After facing criticism for his selection of Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald J. Trump is standing firm in his decision to appoint Kash Patel as the new F.B.I. director. This move shows that Trump is not backing down in the face of opposition from Washington, as he continues to appoint individuals who align with his ideological beliefs, including conspiracy theorists and even family members.
Written by Peter Baker
Peter Baker is the primary reporter at the White House and has reported on the actions and decisions of the last five presidents, which includes Donald J. Trump.
Despite facing criticism for his previous appointees, President Trump remains steadfast in his decision-making as he builds his new administration. Instead of choosing well-qualified candidates with strong reputations and smoother confirmation processes, President Trump continues to select individuals with strong ideological beliefs, conspiracy theories, and even family members for key government positions at a rapid pace.
One notable decision made by the individual was to remove the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, who was appointed by him in his previous term, and appoint Kash Patel, who identifies as someone fighting against the alleged "deep state," to lead the country’s top investigative agency. Patel, known for stirring up controversy, was viewed as a disruptive and potentially harmful influence by fellow Trump advisors who worked to prevent him from gaining significant authority during the previous administration.
While the public was paying attention to Mr. Patel, Mr. Trump made announcements over the weekend regarding the fathers-in-law of two of his children taking on significant roles. He revealed that he plans to nominate Charles Kushner, who is the father of Jared Kushner (husband of Ivanka Trump) and was pardoned by Mr. Trump in his previous term for a felony, as the ambassador to France. Additionally, he selected Massad Boulos, who is the father of Michael Boulos (husband of Tiffany Trump), to serve as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs in the White House.
The consistent push for non-traditional appointments shows how committed Mr. Trump is to filling his inner circle with loyal supporters who will help him achieve his goals, including seeking revenge against those he sees as adversaries. Mr. Trump has claimed that President Biden is using government agencies like the Justice Department and F.B.I. to target him, despite no proof of Mr. Biden’s involvement in past investigations.
The controversial choices made by Mr. Trump are also a challenge to Senate Republicans to test their willingness to oppose other nominees they believe are not qualified, especially after their role in blocking former Representative Matt Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general.
Gregg Nunziata, a former chief nominations counsel for Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, suggested that by nominating individuals who lack traditional qualifications but show strong personal loyalty and a willingness to confront others, the president is challenging the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of serving as a check on his power.
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