Since Donald Trump secured his second term in the oval office, he has nominated several people for a wide array of positions in his future cabinet. These selections have raised considerable confusion and concern among both Republicans and Democrats, especially since some of the nominees have little to no prior leadership experience in their respective departments. These choices are not only dangerous for America, but also the entire world, with the potential for a devastating impact on our future as a nation. The reason behind these inexplicable decisions is clear: loyalty.
The results of our election raised numerous questions, many of which center around one topic: the future of our country. After every election, the president-elect fills up their cabinet, picking who they believe is best fit for each department. This year, we saw this process expedited, with Trump selecting twelve people within only twelve days of the election—five times faster than incumbent President Biden chose the same amount of people. The explanation for this quickly assembled cabinet is clear: Trump already knew who he would pick, likely before the election even began. This time around, Trump employed a unique strategy to make these selections.
In the past, cabinet leaders were chosen based on expertise and experience, presenting figures who were qualified, with extensive backgrounds in their fields. Trump seems to have taken a significantly different approach, having nominated politicians with little to no prior experience in their would-be department. Some notable examples include Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (I). A common connection among these individuals is their loyalty toward Trump. Trump, one of, if not the most, controversial politicians of the twenty first century, has been charged with thirty four felony counts of falsified business records, faced forty criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials, and dozens of accusations of sexual misconduct. Throughout these court battles, Republicans have had no other choice than to side with Trump or risk losing their place in the future presidential administration. It seems that the key to earning a position in Trump’s administration is to either formally endorse him or consistently praise him.
Take Pete Hegseth as an example. Trump recently picked him to be the Secretary of Defense. Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has never led a company nor ran or served for congress. So how is he qualified enough to command a whole army? The answer is that he is not. As one can probably guess, his best qualification for this position is his unwavering support for Trump. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Army veteran who lost both of her legs in combat in Iraq, said in an interview with CBS that Hegseth “was a low ranking guy in the military and he never had a command position. He was a platoon leader once or twice, but he never even commanded a company.” Aside from his empty professional background, Hegseth had a daughter with Fox News executive producer Jennifer Rauchet while married to his second wife Samantha Deering. Additionally, he was investigated under a sexual assault investigation in 2017 where Hegseth paid the accuser as part of a non-disclosure agreement in 2020. Sexual misconduct seems to be a common theme within Trump’s cabinet picks, as three other people chosen to lead Trump’s administration also face similar allegations. If it weren’t for their histories of loyalty, it might seem these choices were made based upon who can boast the shadiest record.
These unserious choices present a foolish government, composed not only of ineffective politicians, but politicians that will further boost our leader’s ego. If Trump’s new strategy of choosing cabinet members continues to be utilized by future presidents, this loyalty-based approach will likely gain prominence as the path to becoming a leader within these administrations. Such a trickle-down effect exposes the true fragility of our democracy, and how truly important it is to protect it. When a leader chooses his advisors based on their devotion to himself or herself rather than their qualifications, it can quickly evolve into a more dangerous regime.
Another critical aspect to understand is that these nominations, if approved by Congress, will likely leave serious impacts on our nation and climate. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), another politician with a very close relationship with Trump, was recently appointed to the role of EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) administrator. As a “protector of the environment,” Zeldin’s reputation is substandard As a former New York representative, Zeldin received the League of Conservation Voters’ worst score on environmental issues out of the entire New York 2020 delegation. While in Congress, Zeldin voted against several EPA concerns, including replacing lead service lines across the country. The effects of this undeserved appointment will be drastic. Zeldin himself says he has the opportunity to “roll back regulations that are forcing businesses to struggle.” These ‘regulations’ include carbon emission rules set in place by the Biden Administration. If reversed, the United States is estimated to emit an additional four billion tons of carbon over the next six years. This is one of several positions in our government where loyalty-based selections will have an everlasting and deleterious global impact.
As the world’s leading power, the United States influences countries all over the world, from the climate to our military presence. Leaders should not be chosen because they back every statement our president declares, especially if they lack the qualifications and prerequisites to adequately lead their department. President-elect Trump’s unorthodox strategy of filling his cabinet based upon loyalty will negatively impact our country and could permanently alter future administrations.
