President-elect Trump has started to name people to his cabinet and other key positions in his administration. Let’s tale a look at who’s going where.
Let’s start with the people from my home state of NY, Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin. They have been announced as UN Ambassador and EPA administrator respectively.
I have an issue with the choice of Stefanik. Not because she isn’t capable or qualified, she most certainly is both. Rather, I really, really think there shouldn’t be any selections from the House. The margins are too thin there to be pulling people that may be needed for the R’s to hold the Majority.
That concern also applies to the next individual on our little list: Mike Waltz, a House member from Florida, who has been named as National Security Advisor. Waltz is a former Green Beret, and served in the NatSec world before. I think, other than again losing a House seat, he’s an inspired choice. By the way, I am not the only one with that concern. Steve Scalise, the Majority Whip, voiced the same sentiments.
Tom Homan, the ICE director in Trump’s last administration has been named ‘Border Czar’ and will be responsible for all illegal immigration related things including the mass deportations. Homan is uniquely suited to this position, as he just DGAF about what anyone has to say about him.
Susie Wiles, who ran Trump’s campaign, has been named Chief of Staff. She is the first woman to hold that position. She is a long time republican operative, and I do not mean that in the perjorative sense.
Stephen Miller, who was previously a senior policy advisor has been named as the deputy chief of staff for policy. Miller is a hardcore border hawk.
Scott Bessent has been named as Treasury Secretary. Bessent is a billionaire hedge fund guy who has been a long time Trump supporter. He is pro crypto currency.
Now on to a couple that are reported but not confirmed.
Marco Rubio is allegedly going to be named Secretary of State. While I have little doubt about Rubio’s ability to manage State, I don’t think he has what it takes to remake it in the way it needs to be remade. By remade, I mean firing anyone who is in the least resistant to Trump’s agenda.
And our final person is rumored to be named DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem. While a marionette would be an improvement over Mayorkas, I expect Noem to be a transformative DHS secretary.
The key to all these appointments is going to be speed. As I’ve said before, Trump only has about 100 days to get his agenda implemented.