Starting at the top, I'm happy that Trump will be replacing Biden. And Vance vs Harris...please. Anyway, there will a lot of new faces. Historically, the top four cabinet positions were Secretaries of State, Defense, Treasury and the Attorney General. But with the relatively new Department of Homeland Security, I think we need to add that as a fifth. And, while not a cabinet position, I would say that the White House Chief of Staff rounds out the top six. There are obviously various other positions of importance, which I do not expect to get to today - Director of National Intelligence, National Security Adviser, Director of the FBI, Director of the CIA, Border Czar, and the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency, among others.
While readers know that I am not a fan of woke ideology, such as critical race theory or DEI, I do want to mention that of the top six positions three are women. I mention that only because Trump has been accused of all the usual - racism, sexism, etc.
Secretary of State. Marco Rubio will be replacing Antony Blinken. I shouldn't have to say anything else. Rubio will be the first Latino to serve in that position. (Which, again, I mention only because of the accusations against Trump.) Rubio has been the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He's a solid conservative, yet has worked across the aisle when it has served America's interests. I support Rubio.
Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth is nominated to replace Lloyd Austen. I do not wish to diminish Austen's long military career, rising to the rank of 4-star General. He is a silver star recipient. And on 10/13/23, a mere week after the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, Austen went to Israel and announced: "I am here in person to make something crystal cleat: America's support for Israel is ironclad." Where Austen has been criticized is his failure to notify his boss, the President, that he had surgery in December, 2023, and was in the hospital from January 1 through January 4 of this year. Not a good thing when the second in line (after the President) in the chain of command is MIA.
What about Pete Hegseth? He got his undergraduate degree from Princeton and a Masters degree from Harvard. He has been awarded the Bronze Star. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he has issues. He has never run a large anything, and the DoD is huge. He was accused of sexual assault, but never had his day in court because the prosecutor declined to bring charges. Yes, there was a civil case which he settled. But we attorneys know there are various reasons to settle those cases. And he has had at least one affair. So, he won't be Pope or Chief Rabbi.
But, I expect he will get rid of any woke nonsense currently inhabiting the DoD. And I don't think he can do worse than Austen in building up our military. We need to build up our Navy to deal with the growing threat from China. Russia is always a threat. And Iran may already have nukes. We have been supplying Ukraine and Israel (both of which I support) with missiles and other weaponry, but we need our own armaments to protect Americans. And, under Austen, military recruitment has been failing to meet its quotas. So, I support Hegseth. I believe he understands the concept of "peace through strength."
Secretary of the Treasury. Scott Bessent to replace Janet Yellen. I know nothing of Bessent. So I read a little. He will be the highest ranking openly gay member in government. (Again, I mention it because of the attacks on Trump that he hates every minority.) However, Bessent worked at the Soros Fund Management. When he started his own company, Key Square Group, Soros invested $2 billion with him. He has supported Al Gore, Obama and H. Clinton. Although Bessent supported Trump in 2020 and now. So, I'm concerned. But without more information, I will support Trump on this.
Attorney General. Pam Bondi to replace Merrick Garland. So many issues with Garland that virtually anyone would be an improvement. Garland thought the DOJ and FBI should investigate parents who attended local school board meetings, and who loudly complained about woke nonsense such as CRT. Garland appointed Jack Smith to go after Trump; basically because his boss told him to do so. Bondi was the Attorney General of Florida from 2011 to 2019. She was the lead attorney, among 27 state AG's, trying to overturn the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare. (See my 7/1/12 post "Obamacare Upheld Under a Flimsy - and Dangerous - Theory.") I support Bondi.
Secretary of Homeland Security. Kristi Noem to replace Alejandro Mayorkas. Again, no further comment should be necessary. I watched as Mayorkas repeatedly asserted that the border was secure, while Fox simultaneously showed video of hundreds/thousands crossing daily over the southern border illegally into our country. Noem has been Governor of South Dakota, having previously served in Congress. Was I happy when I heard about Noem shooting a dog on her farm? No. I love dogs. But I've never lived on a farm. And I don't know if there were any possible justifications. Obviously, Noem felt there were. And Noem is a solid conservative. I support Noem.
White House Chief of Staff. Susie Wiles to replace Jeff Zients. I do not know anything about either one. Obviously, however, an incoming President would not keep the outgoing President's political staff, when the two presidents are in different political parties. Fun fact for you football fans - Susie Wiles is the daughter of Pat Summerall, former NFL player for the Lions, Cardinals and Giants. He subsequently became a sportscaster. But I digress. Wiles has worked as a political consultant, and was co-chair of Trump's successful 2023-2024 campaign. For now, that's good enough.
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