On November 15, 2024, U.S. President-elect Trump (Trump) recently revealed his new cabinet picks, some of which seem to be entirely disruptive, shocking both Washington and public opinion. It is anticipated that some controversial picks may face difficulty in obtaining Senate approval. The newly elected majority leader of the Senate (Republican) stated on November 14 that the election results indicate that the American people have given Trump the “authorization” to reform, and he will respect Trump’s picks.
Once again elected as the President of the United States, Trump announced a series of nominations for his second term cabinet this week. Some of these nominations seem to be increasingly “disruptive,” showing that Trump – unlike his first term – is choosing his new cabinet members based on the “qualifications” needed to break norms and think outside the box.
On the evening of November 12 (Tuesday), Trump announced the nomination of Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense to lead the Pentagon. Given that Hegseth is a military veteran without a general rank, many believe he lacks experience and qualifications.
Hegseth is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard University, and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, retiring as a major in the U.S. Army National Guard in 2021.
Trump praised Hegseth as “strong, smart, a true believer in ‘America First’,” and said, “with Pete at the helm, America’s enemies will understand – our military will be great again, America will never back down.”
The next day (November 13), Trump formally announced the selection of Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. This pick is less controversial and may ease the minds of Senate Republican members.
Shortly after, Trump nominated former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Some raised eyebrows at this pick as Gabbard lacks experience in the intelligence community and her views don’t align with those of the U.S. intelligence.
Regarding Gabbard, Trump praised her by saying: “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit of her brilliant career to our intelligence community, defending our constitutional rights and ensuring peace through strength.”
Minutes later, Trump surprised everyone once again by announcing the nomination of Congressman Matt Gaetz, who has never served as a prosecutor, as Attorney General. Gaetz played a crucial role in the process last year that led to the removal of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and is a controversial figure among members of both parties.
Trump stated that he believes Gaetz can “eradicate systemic corruption within the Department of Justice” and focus on “fighting crime, and upholding our democracy and constitution.”
On November 14 (Thursday), Trump continued his streak by nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, a prominent former Democrat, along with Gabbard, played a significant role in supporting Trump during the critical stages of the 2024 election, attracting swing voters. Many observers were surprised as they thought Kennedy would hold a position in Trump’s new administration that does not require Senate approval.
Trump said, “Mr. Kennedy will restore those agencies to the ‘golden standard of scientific research,’ back to being a beacon of ‘transparency.'”
These picks not only shocked Washington but also stirred some Republican establishment figures in the Senate to varying degrees, as the picks are completely unconventional.
However, one of the Republican Senate leaders, Shelley Moore Capito, believes that Trump has learned from the choices he made for his first-term cabinet.
Senator Capito told the Congressional Mountain News, “The President campaigned as a disrupter. We’re not going to do things the way they (the establishment) were done. I think some of the nominations he made in 2017 were events where he found himself having to make decisions much faster and he didn’t have time to think about it at that time.”
In Trump’s first term cabinet, he had two officially approved Secretaries of Defense, both qualified and respected individuals, who could not align with Trump to carry out the “America First” agenda. Between the two defense secretaries’ terms and the third, Trump also had two acting Secretaries of Defense.
Similarly, in Trump’s first term, he had two official Attorneys General and four acting Attorneys General. Other cabinet positions saw frequent turnover due to friction with Trump.
Senator Capito said, “I think now he (Trump) is making some decisions more rapidly, understanding what he wants from these people.”
Some opinions suggest that Trump’s unconventional picks for his second term cabinet are a test of his power. However, Senator Capito does not believe this. She thinks that Trump, having been authorized by the voters, nominated these picks to show his determination to cater to the voters’ recognition from the election.
“If you ask me if this is a power game, I don’t think so. I think he is doing as he said,” continued Senator Capito.
Many of Trump’s new cabinet picks are very young, with Hegseth at 44, Rubio at 53, Gabbard at 43, and Gaetz at 42. This dynamic lineup suggests that Trump’s new administration will be energetic and provides American youth with opportunities and hope to advance in society. In particular, if Hegseth is confirmed as Secretary of Defense, this could inspire more American youth to enlist in the military, addressing the recruitment challenges the U.S. military has faced in recent years.
Most of Trump’s new cabinet picks require scrutiny and approval from the Senate. Given that some picks are controversial, this also puts pressure on the Senate Republican leadership. However, the newly elected Senate majority leader (Republican), John Thune, stated that the American people have given Trump the “authorization” for change, and Senate Republicans will respect his picks.
After the 2024 election, the Republicans secured 53 seats in the Senate, flipping to a majority, while the Democrats held 47 seats and shifted to the minority.
John Thune, the federal senator from South Dakota, was elected as the new Senate Majority Leader (Republican) in a closed-door meeting on November 13 (Wednesday). Thune, who is currently in his fourth senatorial term, was previously the second-highest-ranking Senate Republican.
As the newly elected Senate Majority Leader, Thune, in an interview with Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier on November 14 (Thursday), said Senate Republicans will collaborate with Trump to “ensure that he quickly forms a team to implement his agenda.”
“All these nominees have a process they must go through. They are all – you know, advice and consent, that’s the constitutional duty of the Senate in confirming nominations for executive branch government,” Thune said, “We will take this role seriously. But we will not allow Democrats to obstruct or hinder the will of Trump and the American people.”
Presidential cabinet nominees require the support of a simple majority in the Senate, at least 51 votes, for approval. This means that Senate Republicans, holding the majority, can only allow for two “defections” or a maximum of three “defections” in these confirmations. In such a scenario, Vice President Pence would need to break the tie for the confirmation to go through with 51 votes.
Democrats and some Republicans were shocked by Trump’s choice of Gaetz as Attorney General. Reports suggest that the House Ethics Committee is preparing to convene to investigate Republican Congressman Gaetz for alleged misconduct and illegal drug use. Gaetz denies the allegations.
Upon learning of his nomination as Trump’s Attorney General, Gaetz resigned from Congress on November 13 (Wednesday) so that the vacant Congressional seat could be filled promptly through a special election. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Gaetz’s resignation means that the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into him has concluded, and no report will be released.
Republican Federal Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska believes that Trump’s choice of Gaetz for Attorney General is not a “serious nomination.” She said, “We need a serious Attorney General, and I look forward to the opportunity to consider a serious person. (Gaetz) is not on my list.”
Baier asked Thune if he would use “recess appointments” if the nominees did not have enough votes for confirmation, allowing the president to fill vacancies during Senate recess.
“Well, that’s an option, but obviously, you know, you also have to have all Republicans supporting recess,” Thune replied, “So those Republicans you mentioned, having issues with voting for someone in regular order, might face the same with voting for Senate recess…You also have to get House approval. It’s a process. It’s all a process. But I think these things are not necessarily impossible.”
Thune continued, “I think we have to put all the options on the table. These nominees should have their days in court. They should get hearings, confirmation hearings, and a chance to be reviewed. The Senate will fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent. But we won’t allow Democrats to obstruct the will of the American people, providing Trump with the picks he wants to execute his agenda.”
He further added, “Although the confirmation process for some nominees may not be straightforward, Trump won both the electoral college and popular vote in the election, indicating that the American people have given him the ‘authorization’ for change.”
Thune said, “The people of this country want change. He (Trump) wants to achieve this goal. I have always believed that when it comes to the cabinet members he wants, you should respect the President’s wishes.”
“Clearly, we have a process to carefully examine all these nominees and determine if they are qualified and suitable for these positions.”