Global eyeballs are still fixated unblinkingly on President-elect Donald Trump’s every move as he picks his new cabinet, gleefully choosing loyalty over expertise. It is like being transfixed by a cobra raising its hood swaying from left to right, (mostly right in Donald’s case)ready to strike!
A whimsical egotist , Trump can reshuffle the pack of cards in every which way with his disruptive thinking. His unexpected trifecta sweep of the House of Representatives, Senate and the popular vote has left the world wondering what’s ailing the land of the free and the brave.
Analysts the world over are flummoxed how a country can elect a convicted felon to such an exalted post. They forget that Trump is a confidence trickster. Despite his riches, he cast himself as an Everyman, an Aam Aadmi, whose heart bleeds for the common man. Some voters saw in Trump a guy who is unfiltered --- a political Wysiwyg (what you see is what you get).He sold them a pup! They couldn’t be more wrong. And Harris, in a curious reversal, the progeny of the real struggling immigrants was made to look elitist.
Trump’s cabinet closet is filling up with fast and furious speed, knocking the socks off the staid establishment. As the host of the reality show ‘The Apprentice’ on Fox television for fourteen seasons, Donald’s oft-used line, “you are fired”, that he uttered with a finger-gun gesture has changed to ‘you are hired’ for his cabinet picks . Gauging from his key cabinet choices, the straws in the wind are clear--- MAGA is gaga over the Trump triumph and Donald believes that the ‘woke’ liberals can awake, arise or be forever trodden.
Trump’s burgeoning bromance with the tech-baron Elon Musk was there for all to see since campaign days. He gave him a stellar status by hailing Elon on stage as a “new star”. Musk’s deep wallet and vigorous online and off-line support for Trump has led to the anointment of the mercurial Musk as a co-collaborator with Vivek Ramaswamy for the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency(D.O.G.E.) The association of the abbreviation with Musk’s favourite dogecoin, the meme crypto-currency is not accidental.
Though this is not a key post, Musk has wormed his way into Trump’s kitchen cabinet and the family at his Mar-a-lago home. He is referred to as the “First Buddy”. Trump, although a volatile Viking of vituperations , has limited lexical latitude. Perhaps, Donald could do online consultations with our word Guru Shashi Tharoor, to lend some gravitas at least to his Inaugural Day speech.
Misogynists and bad losers both , Donald and Elon are trolls who insult their rivals. Musk has threatened to destroy Taylor Swift for opposing him. With his belligerence and arrogance, Musk is riling up Trump’s old advisors already.
The Prez-elect is not overly concerned about matching skills with portfolios . In many of the new picks, Donald’s abiding love for his past avatar as a television anchor that propelled him to fame is evident. There is a vulpine bunch from Fox News and some other television hosts that have been picked.
Pete Hegseth, the tattooed macho pick for defence secretary, is an ex-Fox news presenter with salacious allegations of sexual misconduct against him . Dr. Mehmet Oz, a TV Doc, is the new wizard to oversee health insurance coverage for many Americans. Mike Huckabee, an evangelical host on a Christian outlet, is designated as the US ambassador to Israel.
Sean Duffy, has the slot of transportation secretary and is from the same media pool. Tom Homan , a Fox contributor will be the border czar keeping the bad hombres out from across the border. Perhaps, this opens a possibility for our poster boy Arnab Goswami of Republic TV fame as a gendarme at the Wagah border!
Amongst these disruptors is Tulsi Gabbard ,a Fox News favourite , picked as the top spook as director of national intelligence. This has sent alarm bells ringing in the strategic community because of her pro-Russia tilt. Even Republicans like Nicky Haley are criticising this choice.
Chris Wright slotted for energy secretary echoes Trump in branding climate activists as alarmists. Linda McMohan from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is going to wrestle with education despite no experience in the field.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the Health Secretary, with no medical background , is a vaccine sceptic who spun conspiracy theories about Bill Gates and Fauci being in cahoots to control people’s mind through microchips. He too has allegations of sexual misdeeds which he hasn’t denied.
Marco Rubio, the first Latino to reach the high post of Secretary of State, seems to be a staid choice with bipartisan support. Some of these key posts have to be cleared by the Senate and there is a push back in some instances already. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s first choice for Attorney General is already a fallen angel, who withdrew in the face of allegations of sexual misdeeds.
Putin and Kim un Jong, with their uber machismo are Trump’s current global BFF( best friends forever). Modi could also make it to this buddy list. But, Trump plans to be the bull in the China shop to halt President Xi Jinping in his march to upstage American power. Having voted Trump back for the “Second Coming’ the voters have to deal with their choice.
Is It going to be a deal, raw deal or no deal? Fasten your seat belts America and be prepared for a bumpy ride! Hail to the Chief!
Ushi Kak aka Kashpundit, is an author who revels in wordplay and satire couched in humour. At times she deviates into gravitas. Views expressed are the writer's own.