A wall of screens, files on the table. A special room is set up at Mar-a-Lago, in Donald Trump's Florida residence, to train his next administration as quickly as possible. Banker Howard Lutnick is leading the recruitment on his instructions, in coordination with Susie Wiles, who will head Donald Trump's cabinet at the White House, after his inauguration as president on January 20, 2025. Their objective: to keep the promise of radical rupture, to launch the offensive against the federal state, placing loyalists at the head of ministries and strategic agencies. The practice of power, the scope of government and the reputation of the United States could be disrupted, breaking with decades of bipartisan institutional culture.
The selection criteria are classic in the Trumpist world. First, loyalty to the leader. Then, television presence and ideological compatibility. These three points played, much more than competence, in favor of the new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, whose appointment was announced on Tuesday November 12. An Army veteran of the National Guard, the Princeton graduate is best known as a weekend anchor on the conservative Fox News channel. In March, this passionate Christian, with arms covered in tattoos relating to his faith, America and its weapons, organized a live prayer. Many Republican executives in Congress were left breathless when they learned of Donald Trump's choice.
Author of a book on the penetration of “wokism” and the supposed ravages of diversity in the army – which have become popular themes in the Trumpist world – Pete Hegseth has no expertise in military questions, security issues, crises current events involving the Pentagon. He opposed the promotion of women in the military to combat positions. Dizzying appointment.
Purge in sight
His book “reveals the betrayal of our warriors by the left”said Donald Trump in a press release. According to the Wall Street Journal, The Trump team is reportedly working on a proposed executive order establishing a disciplinary board, outside the Pentagon, to track down Army generals who fail “required leadership qualities”. The targeted executives would be retired. Purge promised, purge in sight.
The lack of skills is also glaring in the case of real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, the president-elect's golf partner. The latter appointed him special envoy to the Middle East on Tuesday, despite his lack of diplomatic experience and knowledge of the region. This choice is one of the happy surprises reserved for Israel in these nominations.
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