Since his victory on November 5, the former president, who will return to the White House on January 20, 2025, has made a number of sometimes surprising appointments, drawing from among the most loyal within his close guard.
And in this inner circle, we find Linda McMahon, the former president of the American wrestling league, appointed Minister of Education.
“As Minister of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly” to bring more educational freedom to every American state and “empower parents to make the best education decisions for their families.”Donald Trump said in a statement.
A 76-year-old businesswoman, Linda McMahon was, between 2017 and 2019, minister responsible for Small Businesses during the Republican’s first term.
Not hesitating to speak of Donald Trump as “a friend”, Linda McMahon is a major donor to the Republican Party.
TV stars also present
In the Trump administration, we will find TV stars, notably Pete Hegseth, 44 years old. Fox News host and former soldier, he was chosen for the post of Minister of Defense. He frequently interviewed President Trump during his first term, but has very little political experience.
Married three times, Pete Hegseth opposes the presence of female soldiers in combat. He is also considered pro-Israeli.
Another television star to appear in the Trump administration is Sean Duffy, named Minister of Transport. Donald Trump believes that his minister “will restore safety to American skies by ending diversity programs for pilots and air traffic controllers”.
The press release on his nomination mentions that he is the father of “nine incredible children” and therefore knows “how important it is for families to travel safely.
Marco Rubio at the head of diplomacy
At the head of American diplomacy, we will find Marco Rubio. A longtime senator from Florida, he has opposed Donald Trump in the past, comparing him to a “third world dictator,” a sentiment that now appears to be a thing of the past.
Marco Rubio was described by Donald Trump as a “fearless warrior who will never back down from our adversaries.”
He is known to be hostile to China and Iran, and staunchly supportive of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Israel. On the war in Ukraine, he aligns himself with Trump’s speech, saying that kyiv is in a “stalemate” against Russia and that the United States must show “pragmatism” rather than spending billions of dollars on weapons.
A climate skeptic on the team
The Ministry of Energy will be led by a climate skeptic, supported by American oil companies.
This is Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, an oil company. He is an advocate of fossil fuels, does not believe in climate change and compares the Democrats’ fight against global warming to Soviet communism.
Donald Trump also chose former Democrat Robert Kennedy Jr to head the Ministry of Health. The latter, openly opposed to vaccines, has several times relayed conspiracy theories, claiming that autism is linked to vaccines, or that the Covid-19 virus, “ethnically targeted”, spares Jews and Chinese.
Nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy Junior was credited with around 5% of the vote as an independent candidate, before withdrawing and supporting Donald Trump. Much to the dismay of other members of his famous family.
During his election campaign, Donald Trump called him “the stupidest member of the Kennedy clan.” However, the president now considers him intelligent enough to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
At the head of the Department of Justice we find Matt Gaetz, a thunderous Trumpist, suspected of relations with a minor.
Kristi Noem has been chosen to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Aged 52, the governor of South Dakota hit the headlines this year by cheerfully boasting of having killed one of her dogs that she considered indomitable. A confession which had destroyed her claims to become Donald Trump’s vice-president.
Rising star of the American right, Kristi Noem has nevertheless carved out a reputation for herself by sending members of her state’s National Guard to the border with Mexico. “We will secure the border and restore security”promised the Republican.
Elon Musk on the team
In Donald Trump’s team, we also find billionaire Elon Musk who obtained the position of head of the “department of government efficiency” with the main mission of radically reducing spending.
Trump’s first term was a succession of spectacular dismissals. And several former advisers or ministers had publicly turned against him.
This time, the 45th and soon 47th president favors personalities who sometimes have no experience of the state apparatus, but who support it without reservation.
“Let’s say that loyalty counts more than the CV”, believes for her part Valérie Beaudoin, associate researcher on the United States.
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