Trump’s Cabinet of Horror
Trump’s Cabinet of Horror
Trump is moving forward with appointments for the new administration, choices that are quite controversial and seem aimed at disrupting the status quo. The appointment process for Trump’s new administration in the United States continues. The list of colleagues and ministry officials has been enriched in recent hours with the appointments of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education, Mohammad as head of Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce.
According to what has happened so far, the power transition process continues based on the principle of absolute loyalty as the main criterion for selections. The risk cannot be too high. Trump has to manage very sensitive issues, from the war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East, the migration crisis, and relations with China.
To face these challenges, the President-elect is forming the most controversial team in modern American history, consisting of entrepreneurs, pro-Trump MAGA politicians, Wall Street managers, and individuals outside the political circle with controversial backgrounds. Some of the appointments might face vetoes from Republican senators, a situation that may force Trump to try to bypass the approval process by the US Senate.
An Anti-Vaxxer in the Health Department
One of the names most likely to be rejected is certainly Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of Bob Kennedy, for the Health Department. If his appointment is confirmed, Kennedy, who is openly anti-vaccine, will lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which sets US health policies and oversees 13 federal agencies, including the FDA and CDC, which he has previously announced he intends to dismantle.
One reason Republicans might refuse to confirm him is his stance on conspiracy theories and anti-science views regarding vaccines and the COVID pandemic. Kennedy has claimed that the virus may have been engineered in a lab and that it has been ethnically targeted, affecting some populations more than others. It is no coincidence that his appointment has led to a sharp drop in the stock prices of all pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Kennedy has raised doubts about the link between HIV and AIDS and identified 5G technology as a tool for controlling human behavior.
The Wrestling Lady in the Education Department
Trump has chosen Linda McMahon, one of the co-founders of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and co-chair of his transition team, as Secretary of Education. McMahon, a long-time ally of Trump, led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency and donated millions to his presidential campaign. Announcing his choice on Truth Social, Trump stated that McMahon would use her decades of leadership experience and deep knowledge in education and business to empower the next generation of American students and workers.
Several times in the past, Trump has attacked the Department of Education and promised to shut it down, an idea long supported by Republicans who object to overly progressive curriculum trends. This federal agency, established in 1979, is also responsible for overseeing public school funding, managing student loans, and programs to help low-income students. Last month, McMahon was legally pursued in a lawsuit involving WWE, accused of knowingly allowing a ringside reporter who died in 2012 to abuse teenage boys. The McMahon family has denied any wrongdoing.
The Tariff Man in the Commerce Department
After weeks of uncertainty and rumors, Trump has also chosen the next Secretary of Commerce. He is Howard Lutnick, the 63-year-old CEO of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, known as a staunch supporter of tariff policies.
Lutnick was previously a key member of Trump’s team and, along with Linda McMahon, has managed the President-elect’s transition team in recent weeks. As Secretary of Commerce, he will be responsible for implementing a major part of Trump’s economic program, including the promise to impose a 10% tariff on all imports and 60% on Chinese goods.
According to Axios, Lutnick hoped to become Treasury Secretary, but it seems Trump is considering other options. However, his role in the Commerce Department will allow him to have more direct control over the tariff program.
The choice of Treasury Secretary is considered a crucial decision because, in addition to the duties of the Ministry of Economy, it manages public debt and coordinates with the Federal Reserve to set monetary policies for the world’s largest economy.
The appointment of a loyalist like Lutnick to one of the highest posts in the new government is certainly not surprising. Imposing an aggressive trade agenda on someone outside Trump’s circle would have been nearly impossible even for Trump himself, between managing the CHIPS Act, a federal law passed in 2022 to encourage semiconductor production in America.
The aim of this law is to boost semiconductor production within the United States, reduce reliance on other countries for this crucial technology, and enhance innovation in this field. The law seeks to grow the semiconductor industry in America and bring chip production back to the country by providing financial aid and economic incentives to companies. Lutnick will be tasked with intensifying competition with China through export controls on sensitive technologies and tariff reviews for national security, known as Section 232.
Whether and how the important legacy of former Secretary Raimondo will end is not a trivial matter. Trump then implicitly refers to the additional direct responsibility of the Wall Street billionaire within the Office of the Trade Representative, another prominent position at the trade level that reports directly to the President, a post that is currently still vacant. An unusual move that sends a strong signal not to the opposing voices regarding tariffs within the future administration.