Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts and a resident of Minnesota, addresses the Values Voter Summit in Washington on September 18, 2009. President-elect Donald Trump’s selections for his cabinet indicate a preference for loyalty rather than experience, driven by a desire for revenge. (Brendan Hoffman/The New York Times)
By KATIE ROGERS
An ally from Fox News for defense secretary. A former Democrat who has become a Trump figurehead tasked with overseeing 18 intelligence agencies. A right-wing firebrand to take on the nation’s leading law enforcement role.
On Wednesday, the appointments by President-elect Donald Trump for key governmental positions continued to come swiftly, and his commitment to constructing a presidential administration rooted in vengeance became increasingly apparent.
Rep. Matt Gaetz perhaps encapsulated these intentions best as he expressed his eagerness for the comprehensive dismantling of federal law enforcement bodies just hours before Trump revealed him as his choice to head the Justice Department:
“We should put forth a vigorous approach against this WEAPONIZED government that has been weaponized against our citizens,” Gaetz shared on social media Wednesday. “And if that entails dissolving each one of the three-letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m prepared to get started!”
Trump could not have articulated it better himself. And that’s the entire purpose.
Among the president-elect’s other shocking selections are Pete Hegseth, a military veteran recognized for backing Trump on Fox News, designated as defense secretary; and Tulsi Gabbard, a past Democratic congresswoman, nominated as director of national intelligence.
“These choices are so outrageous they resemble a form of performance Art,” stated Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice, in an interview regarding Trump’s selections and their appropriateness for the positions.
This display of loyalists represents Trump’s initial show of strength to Senate Republicans, who will face considerable pressure to either endorse his nominee or find a way around that process. Furthermore, it somewhat resembles an assault on one of the checks against presidential power: Trump has insisted that the incoming Senate majority leader permit recess appointments, granting him the authority to install Cabinet members unilaterally.
That newly elected leader, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., informed reporters on Wednesday that the Senate would “explore all options” to ensure Trump’s appointees “are processed and that they proceed rapidly.”
The president-elect, Waldman remarked, had efficiently “provoked his first constitutional crisis” just eight days following the election victory.
“He’s going to select individuals who are conservative, who are Republicans,” Waldman indicated. “You know, that’s the outcome of an election. However, these selections appear crafted to irritate the Senate.”
Not all of Trump’s selections appear intended to undermine the traditional workings of government. The choice of Sen. Marco Rubio from Florida boosts the profile of an established foreign policy advocate who has adopted a tough stance on China. Moreover, Thune’s election hints that Republicans are prepared to resist pressure — at least in a secret vote — to place in power Trump loyalists like Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, a long-time supporter of Trump.
However, reactions among lawmakers on Capitol Hill to the selections — particularly Gaetz’s — evoked a mix of astonishment and skepticism.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, remarked that Gaetz is “not a serious contender” and likened him to the disgraced liar expelled from the House last year, commenting, “If I were making a joke, perhaps I’d say now I’m anticipating George Santos to be appointed.”
Timothy L. O’Brien, a long-time biographer of Trump, asserted that these selections represent his strategy to prioritize loyalty to himself above competence for their respective roles.
“He cherishes loyalty over competence, appearance over knowledge, and absurdity over maturity,” O’Brien stated. “He values this at the cost of almost everything, except his own continuation.”
Indeed, the unifying thread in Trump’s ongoing personnel announcements is that no individual will assume the role of establishing restraints for a president who resents them.
Instead, the Senate will now deal with the confirmation of Hegseth, whom Trump lauded as “tough, intelligent, and a true advocate for America First,” yet who may lack the necessary experience to command the 1.3 million active-duty personnel of the U.S. military. In Trump’s viewpoint, Hegseth’s opposition to “woke” culture within the armed forces and his stance on military diversity programs might suffice as qualifications.
They will also assess Gabbard’s credentials, known as one of Trump’s most ardent advocates. Her popularity among Russian state media has been notable. Democratic senators are anticipated to question her about her choices to engage with President Bashar Assad of Syria and her previous acceptance of Russian narratives.
Additionally, they will evaluate the history of Gaetz, who recently underwent a federal sex-trafficking inquiry that concluded in 2023. Should he gain confirmation, he will oversee the Department of Justice, which conducted that investigation.
Gaetz was also the focus of a House Ethics Committee inquiry regarding allegations of drug misuse, the inappropriate use of campaign funds, and the sharing of improper materials on the House floor, among other issues. He resigned from the chamber on Wednesday following Trump’s appointment of him as attorney general, effectively concluding the investigation.
“The Justice Department typically prosecutes incendiary figures,” Waldman noted. “This would involve an individual whose entire political persona is as a provocateur, being put in charge of an agency endowed with incredible authority and responsibility.”
It will now fall upon the Senate to determine how, or if, Trump’s selections will be implemented. As a candidate, Trump vowed to eradicate governmental corruption, battle censorship, and seek retribution against “enemies from within” who have unjustly targeted him. As president-elect, Trump’s organized, rapid, and attention-grabbing stream of selections is intended to demonstrate that he was serious in his commitments and that he means to redirect institutions from serving the national interest to functioning on behalf of his own objectives.
