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Following the failure of the Matt Gaetz appointment, President-elect Donald J. Trump is standing firm and unyielding in his decision to name Kash Patel as the new F.B.I. director. This move shows that he is not backing down despite facing opposition in Washington and 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 main reporter at the White House and has reported on the activities of the last five presidents, including Donald J. Trump.
Despite facing criticism for his previous appointees, President Trump is continuing to be defiant as he selects members for his new administration. Instead of choosing individuals with strong credentials and widespread respect who would easily pass Senate confirmation, Trump is quickly appointing more individuals who align with his ideologies, including conspiracy theorists and even family members, to key government positions.
One of the most notable actions taken by him was to remove the F.B.I. director, Christopher A. Wray, who he had appointed in his first term, and replace him with Kash Patel. Patel, who views himself as a fighter against the so-called "deep state," was seen as a troublemaker and potentially harmful by other Trump advisers who worked to prevent him from gaining significant influence during the previous administration.
While everyone was paying attention to Mr. Patel, Mr. Trump made some significant appointments over the weekend. He revealed his plans to nominate Charles Kushner, who is Ivanka Trump’s husband Jared Kushner’s father, to be the ambassador to France. Charles Kushner had previously been convicted of a crime but was pardoned by Mr. Trump at the end of his previous term. Additionally, he selected Massad Boulos, who is Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump’s husband’s father, to serve as his White House senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern matters.
Mr. Trump’s commitment to appointing non-traditional candidates shows how he is focused on surrounding himself with loyalists who will support his agenda, which includes seeking revenge against those he sees as his enemies. Despite lacking evidence, Mr. Trump has accused President Biden of using government agencies like the Justice Department and F.B.I. to target him in recent cases.
The controversial choices made by Mr. Trump are challenging Senate Republicans to test their limits in opposing nominees they believe are unfit for their positions, especially after their role in blocking former Representative Matt Gaetz’s nomination for 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 demonstrate strong personal loyalty and a willingness for confrontation, the president is challenging the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty as a check on his power.
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