A First Look at President-Elect Trump’s Forming Administration
For the past few days, the news out of Washington, DC has been dominated by President-Elect DonaldTrump’s announcements of members of his future administration.
Perhaps the most disturbing news was reported by Fox News during their interview with Donnie Jr., aka DJTJ, where he matter-of-factly admitted that his goal as a member of the transition team was to fill the administration with people “who don’t think that they know better than the President.”
Or in layman’s terms: yes men, which is quite ironic for a party that has spent years decrying Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives as the equivalent of “Didn’t Earn It.” Add that to Trump’s demand that Senate Republicans agree to recess appointments so as to not subject his picks to a confirmation process, and he’s all but guaranteeing that meritocracy will take a back seat to loyalists.
With Trump’s stated desire to eliminate the Department of Education, no selection is expected to be made to fill that position. Cabinet positions have been offered to the following “don’t think”-ers.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Little Marco indeed. The Florida Senator is just latest former-opponent-now-public groveler of the bunch. Expect his first steps to be undermining Ukraine and appeasing Putin. Forget about any normalization of relations with Cuba. But be prepared for a lot of crying about China. Just like his boss.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem
Trump’s cabinet pick to oversee his mass deportation efforts is the proud serial killer of animals, the non-southern border state South Dakota governor, an official so toxic that she managed to get herself banned from stepping foot in 10% of her own state. And that was before she told everyone about the puppy and goat killing spree.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
For the past decade, this former National Guardsman has been a Fox News contributor…and that’s it. Credited for being the driving force behind Trump pardoning three soldiers convicted of war crimes, he put a spotlight on himself last week when he proclaimed in an audition-slash-interview that the US military “should not have women in combat roles.”
Secretary of Interior: Doug Burgum
The two-term North Dakota governor, who has not been banned from his state’s tribal lands, ruled his state as a fairly moderate Republican until 2023, when he chose to make a run for the presidency. To prepare for his campaign, and to bulk up his MAGA cred, he signed several bills into law deliberately targeting transgender people.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Well, we all suspected this bit of insanity. The brain-worm afflicted, dead bear-dumping, road kill-eating, anti-vaxxer, disinformation-peddling conspiracy theorist may not be the Healthcare manager we need, but he’s definitely the kind of guy Trump deserves to have in his cabinet.
Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Doug Collins
This former Georgia congressman and Baptist minister served in the Navy and Air Force Reserve as a chaplain before being elected to Congress in 2012. His main claim to fame, however, was his defense of Trump during the Mueller Probe, so his lackey cred is well-established.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin
This former NY Congressman and long-time Trump loyalist has the added distinction of having earned the lowest score of all NY delegates on the League of Conservative Voters National Environmental Scorecard. Lee sees oppressive regulations everywhere and pledges to roll back as many as he can starting on “day one.”
United Nations Ambassador: Elise Stefanik
The NY Congresswoman who vaulted into a leadership role in the party after transforming herself into a Trump toady. A loud critic of any reminders of her pre-lackey past, she has thus far most notably demonstrated her talents for diplomacy by accusing the UN of being full of “antisemitic rot.”
Attorney General: Matt Gaetz
You heard that right. The lawyer with less experience than Alina Habba, and who was formerly under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct by the House Ethics Committee before his timely resignation on Wednesday, will be the one prosecuting companies practicing DEI.
Still to come: Treasury, Agriculture, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Energy, Commerce, Transportation.
Updated to correct Matt Gaetz current status as a former Congressman.