In a whirlwind day in Washington, President-elect Donald Trump sparked both celebration and consternation with his initial cabinet picks, even as Republicans solidified their grip on power by retaining control of the House of Representatives.
Trump’s Cabinet Choices Raise Eyebrows
Trump wasted no time in assembling his top team, but his choices for key positions like attorney general and director of national intelligence quickly drew fire from critics on both sides of the aisle.
Matt Gaetz: Attorney General Pick Prompts Pushback
For the powerful role of attorney general, Trump tapped Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, a staunch ally who has faced past allegations of misconduct. The nomination shocked many, with one GOP colleague calling it “reckless” and “silly.”
“Gaetz must be the worst nomination for a cabinet position in American history,” former national security adviser John Bolton declared bluntly.
Tulsi Gabbard Tapped for Intelligence Role
Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, also raised concerns due to her history of controversial foreign policy stances. Gabbard has questioned atrocities attributed to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and clashed with Trump’s own secretary of state nominee, Marco Rubio, in the past.
Hegseth Nomination Stuns Military Brass
The surprises continued with Trump’s selection of Peter Hegseth as defense secretary. The choice stunned many military officials, who openly questioned whether Hegseth possessed the necessary experience to oversee the Pentagon’s vast operations and budget.
GOP Trifecta Sets Stage for Trump Agenda
Even as the cabinet drama unfolded, Republicans had reason to celebrate as they officially clinched the 218 seats needed to retain their House majority. The win gives the GOP full control of Congress and a clearer path to advance Trump’s legislative priorities.
Mike Johnson Keeps Speaker’s Gavel
In the House, Mike Johnson fended off a challenge from the party’s right flank to win another term as Speaker. Johnson secured a key endorsement from Trump to help put down the internal revolt and keep the GOP caucus unified heading into the new term.
Senate GOP Picks Thune, Shuns Trump Allies
On the Senate side, Republicans elevated South Dakota’s John Thune to the top leadership post, rebuffing a challenge from Trump ally Rick Scott of Florida. The move signaled some distance between the Senate GOP and the MAGA wing of the party as embodied by high-profile Trump backers like Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson.
Symbolic Meetings Mark Transition of Power
Amidst all the political reshuffling, the traditional transfer of power continued on schedule, starting with Trump’s first White House visit as president-elect.
Biden Welcome Contrasts 2020 Snub
In a symbolic gesture, President Joe Biden welcomed Trump back to the Oval Office, extending a courtesy not provided to Biden himself after the bitterly contested 2020 race. The meeting capped a busy day of meetings for Trump, though the most poignant may have been another quip about returning to the White House.
“It’s a nice world today,” Trump said after thanking Biden for the warm welcome, a marked departure from the rancor of recent campaigns.
The shifting political dynamics in the halls of power portend turbulent times ahead as a second Trump term begins to take shape. With a firm grip on Congress and a cabinet stocked with controversial allies and relative newcomers to Washington’s ways, the real work is only just beginning for America’s newly-empowered chief executive.
