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Despite facing pushback from Washington, President-elect Donald J. Trump is showing his determination by appointing Kash Patel as F.B.I. director. This move suggests that Trump is unafraid to select individuals with strong ideological beliefs, people who believe in conspiracy theories, and even family members for key positions in his administration.
Written by Peter Baker
Peter Baker is a journalist who specializes in reporting on the White House, and has experience covering the last five presidents, one of whom is Donald J. Trump.
Despite facing criticism for his previous appointees, President Trump remains defiant and continues to select controversial individuals for his administration. Instead of opting for more qualified and reputable candidates who would likely have an easier time getting confirmed by the Senate, Trump is quickly filling positions with ideological figures, conspiracy theorists, and even family members.
One significant move he made was removing FBI director Christopher A. Wray, who he appointed in his first term, and replacing him with Kash Patel, who is known for his views against the "deep state." Patel, considered a troublemaker by many, was seen as a disruptive and potentially harmful force by other advisors in the Trump administration who worked to prevent him from gaining too much power.
As Mr. Patel received attention, Mr. Trump also appointed the fathers-in-law of two of his children to significant positions over the weekend. He revealed that he planned to nominate Charles Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s husband Jared Kushner’s father and a convicted felon who was pardoned by Mr. Trump at the end of his previous term, as the ambassador to France. Additionally, he selected Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump’s husband Michael Boulos’ father, to serve as his White House senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Mr. Trump’s commitment to making unconventional appointments shows how strongly he wants to have loyal supporters around him who will help him achieve his goals, even if it means seeking revenge against those he sees as opponents. He has claimed that President Biden is using government agencies to target him, but there is no proof that Biden had any involvement in recent investigations.
The controversial picks made by Mr. Trump are challenging Senate Republicans to show their willingness to oppose nominees they believe are not qualified, especially after they played a role in stopping former Representative Matt Gaetz from being chosen as 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 display strong personal loyalty and a willingness to confront, the president appears to be challenging the Senate’s ability and willingness to fulfill its constitutional duty as a check on his power.
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