Trump’s Unconventional Cabinet Picks: Loyalty Trumps Qualifications
Avery Kachmarsky
Staff Writer
Donald Trump continues to demonstrate a preference for loyalty over qualifications when selecting members for his cabinet. While loyalty will serve Trump’s interests in the short term, governing the world’s strongest nation requires experience and expertise. Senators in the Republican-majority Senate will have to choose between loyalty to the President and loyalty to governance.
Trump’s “2.0” approach values personal ties over experience and expertise and has been criticized for undermining the respect, professionalism, and functionality of government agencies. Critics warn that his cabinet appointees will hinder the ability of the agencies to serve the public due to their little to no prior governmental knowledge, as stated by The Associated Press. One fear raised by Trump’s appointments is his attempt to prevent any pushback against his agenda and policies. By doing so, he seeks to show voters that he will follow through on his promises, creating a larger “legacy” for himself even if no real legislation is passed, according to Reuters. Trump believes that the public will be more receptive of his second term if he is shown in a positive light, giving him the green light to appoint news hosts and allies who speak favorably of him. However, according to National Public Radio, many appointees may force Republican lawmakers to vote against these agendas to uphold national interests. Although the majority of Americans voted for Trump and most of those supporters approve of the policies and views expressed by many of his Cabinet appointees, by favoring loyalty, Trump risks creating an administration focused on political allegiance rather than the interests of the people who returned him to office.
In times of transition, leaders ideally look to former administrations and current leaders to consider the mistakes and successes of their predecessors and govern for the benefit of the people. In Trump’s 2.0 approach, however, there is a cavalier notion that appointees do not need to consider or collaborate with other members of Congress and that any aspect of government can be changed without consideration. As a result, those who have dedicated many years to Congress may consider leaving, as stated by The Atlantic. Trump has hinted that those who do not “fall in line” and are loyal to him would risk their positions, as retribution for their wrongdoings. When loyalty over experience and expertise is rewarded with key positions in government, there are few checks and balances, and government departments can become weaponized with appointees pledging their loyalty to the President over the people.
Consider current Attorney General Merrick Garland compared to Trump’s former appointee Representative Matt Gaetz. Among many transgressions, Former Rep. Gaetz has surrounded himself with members of the Proud Boys, despite the Attorney General’s mission to defend against paramilitary groups, and invited a Holocaust denier to the State of the Union. In perhaps his greatest show of loyalty to Trump, Gaetz did not hesitate to act on his behalf in the ouster of Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and in the process alienated himself from key House Republicans. These actions and ongoing allegations put into serious question Trump’s loyalty to Gaetz and Gaetz’s ability to uphold the law of the land and the interest of the people before his own. Former Rep. Gaetz, as of November 21, 2024, has withdrawn from being considered for Attorney General under Trump’s administration, according to BBC News
Despite Trump’s appalling picks regarding foreign policy, only one has some credibility under his belt. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is a surprising pick for Secretary of State, not only for his past personal attacks on Trump, but given his stance on the importance of foreign policies and relations. According to MSNBC, Senator Rubio has been elected to the Senate for three terms since 2010 and ran for president, against Trump, in 2016. Rubio currently serves as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a committee that ensures the legislative oversight on the nation’s intelligence is uniform with the Constitution. While Sen. Rubio backs Trump on his belief that the Russo-Ukrainian War should end in negotiations sooner than later for the sake of Ukraine, he has stated that he does not side with Russia, contradicting other appointees’ beliefs, as declared by MSNBC. Trump appointed Former Representative Tulsi Gabbard to be the next Director of National Intelligence, an individual who has argued that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 was justified because of U.S. biolabs in Ukraine, as explained by The Associated Press. The main issue is that the country’s next potential Director of National Intelligence “parrots” known Russian propaganda, as seen in Russian social media posts and on state-sponsored TV, which will not be a good pairing with U.S. Intelligence reports and information. However, with Republicans such as Senator Rubio, who has been bipartisan with Democrats and a member of the “Gang of Eight,” a group of four Democratic and four Republican senators, there may be hope for rational outcomes in the new administration, albeit slim.
The only chance of hope is for members of Congress to band together, despite party affiliations, and uphold the Constitution, morals, and strong foreign policies to ensure that the interests of the people and the nation are met before personal ambitions.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
