Trump’s White House picks are historic — for better, or for worse – The Cauldron
As Republican President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the White House, his choices for key positions in his administration definitely raise some eyebrows. Some of his decisions will make history, for better or worse.
With U.S. Senate hearings for his picks set to begin this week, here’s a breakdown of his most notable appointments.
The fairly tame
In an unsurprising, though historic decision, Trump named Susie Wiles, his 2024 campaign manager, to be his White House chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the role.
“It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” said Trump in a statement. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again.”
Wiles has extensive experience in running campaigns and lobbying, though lacks experience working in government and has been described as a “Washington outsider.” Being one to stay out of the spotlight, little is known of Wiles’ personal beliefs.
The fairly controversial
Trump has selected billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential competitor Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, also a Cincinnati native, to lead his proposed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE).
DOGE would be a completely new department that, if implemented, would be tasked with increasing federal government efficiency through expense reduction.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement.
But why Musk, a figure who avidly supported Trump throughout his reelection bid, though has no real experience working in the government?
The Department of Government Efficiency, acronym DOGE., might just be a reference to Musk’s favorite meme, with hit tweets such as “Release the Doge!” and “Baby doge, do do do do do.”
Together, Ramaswamy and Musk promise to cut 2 trillion dollars in federal spending by 2026.
The most controversial
A concerning amount of Trump’s picks have been accused of sexual assault.
Pete Hegseth, Fox News host and Trump’s pick for defense secretary, was accused of assaulting a woman in 2017. Charges weren’t filed, but the police report specifies the allegations were never found false. Now, insiders say he has enough votes to be confirmed as defense secretary.
Trump’s original choice for attorney general, former Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, withdrew from the running after facing backlash for both sexual misconduct allegations and an investigation of human trafficking. The House Ethics Committee wrote and released an ethics report on Gaetz stating he violated the law by having sex with a minor.
Linda McMahon, Trump’s pick for education secretary, and her husband faced a lawsuit for enabling the sexual abuse of children in their shared organization, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). According to the suit, McHahon and her husband were aware of ringside announcer Melvin Phillups Jr. using his position to recruit and sexually exploit children.
Former Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is accused of groping by his children’s nanny. Kennedy also holds the debunked belief that vaccines cause autism and is involved in a current attempt to revoke approval of the Polio vaccine.
Musk has been sued by former employees for sexual harassment and gave a $250,000 settlement to a flight attendant who accused him of sexual misconduct on his company’s corporate jet.