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Following a flood of initial cabinet nominations for President Trump’s administration, Vice President JD Vance heads to Capitol Hill to seek Senate approval. But who’s been chosen, what might their nominations mean and why—in typical Trump fashion— are they so contentious?
Marco Rubio – Secretary of State
Senator Marco Rubio has been nominated as Secretary of State. Having run against Trump in the 2016 Republican primaries, Rubio is known for his foreign policy positions, particularly on China and Russia. Condemning the invasion of Ukraine, Rubio recently demanded the conflict “be brought to a conclusion”, a conflicting stance to the approval US long-range missiles just last week. In the Middle East, Rubio has backed Israel, advocating for “the complete eradication of Hamas”, posing a threat for those wishing for ceasefire. But for Trump’s top diplomat, China is “the threat that will define this century”. Rubio has been a vocal critic on the subject matter of the country’s human rights violations, military expansion and its threat to international security. That said, the between Rubio and dynamic President Trump, who suggested he “couldn’t be elected dogcatcher”, will certainly spark interest in the upcoming months.
Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defence
One of the most controversial nominations, Fox News political pundit Pete Hegseth has been nominated to the head of The Pentagon. Prior to becoming a prolific ‘anti-woke’ warrior on Fox News, Hegseth served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, he fights for command over a defence budget that amounted to $886bn this year. His love for the ‘America First’ ideology and his embrace of Trump’s ambition to withdraw U.S. troops from abroad is clear. However, his lack of bureaucratic experience has raised concerns among senior military officials and senators alike. Critics have highlighted Hegseth’s support for Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL acquitted of stabbing a captive and wounded ISIS teenager. Despite conservative support, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville responded to the nomination saying “Really? I’d have to think about it.”. Hegseth clearly has a battle to win Senate approval and gain authority over the U.S. armed forces, second only to the president.
Robert F Kennedy Jr. – Secretary of Health and Human Services
The heir of an American political dynasty and having identified with Democratic values for most of his career, Robert F Kennedy Jr. expects to head the Department of Health. An environmental lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency, his unorthodox views have raised concerns among health officials. Despite gaining support for his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ message and speculation of pharmaceutical and food industries, he faces many controversies, most notably ‘anti-vax’ allegations. A Fox News interview with Kennedy from 2023 went viral after he shared his belief that “autism comes from vaccines”. This received backlash from professionals like Dr David Elliman, who denounced Kennedy’s “utter disregard for the evidence”. However, Kennedy’s concerns about ultra-processed foods and an “obesity epidemic” in the U.S. has resonated with voters. He also gained recognition for his critique of President Trump’s diet, saying “the stuff that he eats … is really … like, bad.”. With his unconventional views, Kennedy heads to Washington to revolutionise a department responsible for 100 government programmes.
Pam Bondi – Attorney General
Following a turbulent eight days that led to the withdrawal of his original pick for Attorney General, Trump promptly swapped out the divisive Matt Gaetz for Pam Bondi. During Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2019, the ex-Florida Attorney General served as Trump’s legal advisor and defence attorney. Now, if confirmed by the Senate, she will become the US’s chief law enforcement officer. Her nomination represents Trump’s intent to appoint his unwavering supporters, especially considering his last Attorney General, William Parr, called Trump’s denial of the 2020 election result “crazy stuff”. With Trump’s ambitions to end “weaponised government”, end the border crisis and restore faith in the department, Bondi will have much to prove. However, for an administration hellbent on cracking down on crime, is a candidate who delayed an execution to attend her own fundraiser the best choice?
Chris Wright – Energy Secretary
With his nomination of Chris Wright as Energy Secretary, Trump fulfils his promise to “drill baby, drill!”. The nomination of a fracking company’s founder described as a “media-friendly evangelist for fossil fuels”, is seen as a threat by climate activists. With Wright being nominated during the COP 29 conference in Azerbaijan, many are worried of the decision to appoint a man who insisted “there is no climate crisis”. Wright established he doesn’t care where energy is sourced “as long as it is secure, reliable, affordable”. For the fossil fuel industry, Wright’s nomination signals a large win, with predictions of a production boom under Trump’s administration.
With President Trump prioritising loyalty over acceptance, the mixed response to his first few selections sets the stage for a difficult fight for Senate approval.
Image: Cabinet Meeting, The White House from Wikimedia Commons, 2019 // CC0
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