Donald Trump, who forms a government guided by allegiance to him, announced Thursday that he wanted to entrust the Department of Health to Robert F. Kennedy Jr, notoriously skeptical of vaccines.
He also intends to place three of his personal lawyers in key positions in the federal judiciary.
At a gala speech at his Mar-a-Lago stronghold in Palm Beach, Florida, opened by Argentine President Javier Milei and actor Sylvester Stallone, the president-elect welcomed his own nominations shattering attacks on Health, Justice, Defense and a commission for “governmental efficiency” entrusted to Elon Musk.
Donald Trump even asked that his second term “begin on November 5 [date de sa victoire, NDLR] because the markets have [depuis] broke the ceiling and the enthusiasm redoubled.”
Under the leadership of “RFK Jr,” the Health Department “will play a big role in ensuring that everyone is protected from dangerous chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and food additives,” Future 47 wrotee president by appointing the nephew of John F. Kennedy.
“Don’t become too popular”
“People like you Bobby. Don’t get too popular, Bobby,” he said.
This former environmental law lawyer with no scientific training forged an improbable alliance with the 78-year-old tribune by giving up being an independent presidential candidate.
He has propagated conspiracy theories, about COVID-19 vaccines as well as alleged links between vaccination and autism, and calls for an end to the addition of fluoride to running water, although it is considered a great health success. in the fight against dental caries.
RFK Jr wants to fight against junk food and is for a right to abortion stopping at the viability of the fetus (around 24 weeks).
This elusive personality, addicted to heroin in his youth, recounted having abandoned the corpse of a bear cub in Central Park in New York and one day having to have a worm removed from his brain.
Loyalty and rupture
But there is no question for Donald Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, of repeating what he described as the “biggest mistake” of his first term (2017-2021): choosing “people who were not loyal” .
“Trump’s choices meet two criteria: loyalty and rupture,” analyzes for AFP Todd Belt, professor of political science at George Washington University.
The president-elect, author of a come-back unprecedented with her resounding victory, proved it by appointing as Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a defector from the Democratic Party known for her pro-Russian positions.
As for the appointed Secretary of Justice, Matt Gaetz, a thunderous Trumpist, he is suspected of relations with a minor and led the overthrow of the Republican boss of the House of Representatives in the fall of 2022, sowing enormous chaos.
He must be supported by three lawyers for the president-elect, Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and John Sauer, whom Donald Trump wants to appoint as deputy secretaries and representative of the department to the Supreme Court. MM. Blanche and Bove defended the Republican in the criminal trial over hidden payments to a former pornographic actress which led to his conviction in New York on May 30. Unheard of for a former American president.
Musk and Iran
His first term had been a succession of spectacular dismissals. And many of his former advisers and secretaries have turned against him.
This time, the 45e and soon 47e president favors personalities who sometimes have no experience of the state apparatus, but who support it without reservation.
Like Elon Musk, who will lead a commission to reduce public spending and deregulation.
“He loves this place, I can’t make him leave.” He did an incredible job,” said the president-elect, while the richest man in the world spent the week at Mar-a-Lago.
According to the New York TimesElon Musk takes part in a number of decisions and met on Monday with Iran’s ambassador to the UN to “ease tensions” between Tehran and the United States.
Several future secretaries or advisors are invited to the conservatives’ favorite channel, Fox News. Donald Trump, himself a former reality TV figure and a big television consumer, “likes people who look good on screen,” says Todd Belt.
To run the Pentagon, the billionaire chose a Fox News host, Pete Hegseth, a former military man with no experience of high-level command.
However, he made a choice that contrasts with this quest for absolute loyalty: the Florida senator, Marco Rubio, with whom he had conflicting relations in 2016, must be secretary of state.
These appointments will have to be confirmed by the Senate and Donald Trump will thus test the loyalty of Republican elected officials.
