Thursday November 14, 2024
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 14, 2024
A Government of the (Most) Loyal, by the (Most) Loyal, for the (Most) Loyal
As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, his Cabinet appointments reflect a vision that deeply diverges from the traditions of U.S. governance and the peaceful transitions of power Americans have come to expect. Typically, the transition period is marked by a gracious, symbolically unifying gesture—a meeting at the White House where outgoing and incoming presidents signal continuity and respect for democratic processes. In 2020, Trump famously disrupted this tradition by refusing to meet with President-elect Joe Biden, a snub now underscored by incoming First Lady Melania Trump’s decision to skip the customary White House tour with Dr. Jill Biden. This refusal of symbolic unity is emblematic of Trump’s wider disregard for norms and appears to set the stage for an administration filled with loyalists, ideologues, and media personalities who may prioritize fealty over expertise.
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A closer look at Trump’s appointments reveals a Cabinet stacked with political loyalists, partisan firebrands, and billionaires. Notably, he has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a proposed new “Department of Government Efficiency.” Musk, the world’s richest man and a vocal Trump supporter, has contributed millions to pro-Trump political action committees and has frequently used his social media platform to shape public opinion in ways favourable to Trump’s agenda.
His potential control over government efficiency measures raises questions about the motives behind regulatory and budget cuts and whether they would truly benefit the American public or serve the interests of corporate allies and ultra-wealthy backers like Musk.
Equally concerning is the appointment of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. A Fox News personality more known for his television commentary than military leadership, Hegseth has stoked divisive narratives, dismissing military diversity programs as “woke” and pushing rhetoric that undercuts the inclusion and unity central to military morale. His stance that women should not serve in the military suggests he might roll back decades of progress in creating a military that reflects American society. Moreover, his support for conspiracy theories around the “Stop the Steal” movement raises questions about his ability to objectively defend democratic principles in his role as defence chief.
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Adding to this is Trump’s proposed “warrior board,” an executive order that would replace the Pentagon’s existing promotion and review system with an ideologically driven panel of retired generals handpicked by Trump to judge “leadership qualities” among top officers. Retired Major General Paul Eaton of VoteVets has warned that this order would essentially create a “MAGA military,” compromising the apolitical tradition of the U.S. armed forces by ensuring loyalty to Trump rather than to the Constitution. This proposal follows Trump’s repeated complaints that he needs generals “like Hitler had,” raising fears that the Department of Defense may see an erosion of its independence if top officers are removed based on political conformity.
Trump’s choices for diplomatic roles also reveal a troubling blend of ideological rigidity and political favouritism. His anticipated appointment of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, for instance, signals a likely shift in U.S. foreign policy towards uncompromising support for Israeli expansionism. Huckabee has publicly opposed Palestinian statehood and encouraged Israel to annex West Bank territories. Such a position risks deepening the rift with allies who support a two-state solution, potentially alienating key international partners and compromising longstanding diplomatic strategies in the region.
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The appointment of John Ratcliffe, a former intelligence official with a history of selectively declassifying intelligence for partisan advantage, as CIA Director, raises similar concerns. Ratcliffe’s prior tenure as Director of National Intelligence was marked by decisions that some felt jeopardized the agency’s nonpartisan reputation, such as his release of unverified information tied to Hillary Clinton during the Russia investigation. His return to intelligence could see further politicization, with critical security assessments potentially shaped by partisan agendas rather than objective analysis.
Perhaps most emblematic of the administration’s direction is Trump’s choice of Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Miller, an architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, has been one of the most polarizing figures from Trump’s first term, pushing policies like family separation and strict asylum restrictions. His return signals a potential crackdown on immigration policy that would likely exacerbate tensions and fears among immigrant communities, while also creating strain between the federal government and localities seeking more balanced approaches to immigration.
Taken together, these appointments suggest a presidency with little regard for expertise or experience if it comes at the expense of loyalty. The appointments reflect a push for a government populated by those willing to execute Trump’s agenda uncritically—an agenda focused less on inclusive governance and more on dismantling institutional safeguards that maintain checks and balances. The peaceful transfer of power, a bedrock of American democracy, is not merely a procedural formality but a symbolic act that unites the country around shared principles. In 2020, Trump rejected this gesture. In 2024, his appointments appear set to challenge the very foundations of this tradition, reshaping the nation’s institutions to reflect not American democracy, but personal allegiance to one man.