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After the failure of the Matt Gaetz selection, President-elect Donald J. Trump is showing his determination by choosing Kash Patel as the new F.B.I. director. This decision demonstrates that Trump is not backing down from Washington opposition and is continuing to appoint individuals who share his ideologies, including conspiracy theorists and even family members.
Authored by Peter
Peter Baker is a journalist who specializes in reporting on the White House, and has closely followed the actions of the last five presidents, including Donald J. Trump.
Despite facing criticism for his previous appointees, President Trump is continuing to show defiance as he selects members for his next administration. Instead of choosing candidates with strong credentials and a good reputation that would have an easier time getting confirmed by the Senate, Trump is quickly appointing more individuals with strong ideological beliefs, promoting conspiracy theories, and even including family members in key government roles.
One significant move made by him was to remove the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, whom he had appointed in his first term, and replace him with Kash Patel, who sees himself as a fighter against the so-called "deep state." Patel, known for causing conflict, was viewed as a troublemaker and a potential threat by other Trump advisors who made efforts to prevent him from gaining power during the previous administration.
While the spotlight was on Mr. Patel, Mr. Trump made announcements over the weekend regarding the appointments of his children’s fathers-in-law to significant roles. He revealed his intention to nominate Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner (who is married to Ivanka Trump) and a previously convicted felon pardoned by Mr. Trump, as the ambassador to France. Additionally, Massad Boulos, the father of Michael Boulos (who is married to Tiffany Trump), was chosen to serve as his White House senior adviser on matters concerning Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Mr. Trump’s continued effort to make unconventional appointments shows his strong desire to have loyal supporters around him who will help him achieve his goals, such as seeking revenge against those he sees as his enemies. He has claimed that President Biden is using government agencies to target him, even though there is no proof that Biden had any involvement in recent investigations.
The controversial choices made by Mr. Trump can be seen as a challenge to Senate Republicans to test their willingness to oppose nominees they believe are not fit for the position, especially after their role in preventing former Representative Matt Gaetz from becoming attorney general.
Gregg Nunziata, a former chief nominations counsel for Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, stated that by nominating individuals who may lack traditional qualifications but show strong personal loyalty and a willingness to confront others, the president appears to be purposely challenging the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of serving as a check on the president’s power.
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