Trump 2.0's top team may not be interested in restraining him
Unlike the "grown ups" who populated 1.0, his new team will be made up of loyalists.
Team Trump 2.0 will be made up of loyalists who share his views, intend to carry out his campaign pledges regardless of convention or legal restraint, and unlike the “grown ups” who populated 1.0 – may not be interested in restraining him.
The “transition team” analysing and vetting who will be who in the new administration has been at work for months, frequently operating out of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago complex. Women and men nominated to be cabinet secretaries will need to be confined by the Senate, but the 4,000 or so other picks are not. Those involved in sifting through the choices include Linda McMahon who led the Small Business Administration in Trump’s first term, and billionaire Howard Lutnick. They are supported by, among others, Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr, and VP-elect JD Vance. Trump will get involved when it comes to the high-profile appointments.
Foreign policy will be driven by “America First”. The senior candidates for cabinet posts are a mix of people who served in Trump’s first administration, national politicians, and a smattering of less well-known names from the security world. The President-elect is known for mercurial and often surprising decisions, but here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of names from which its probable some of the foreign policy/security teams will be assembled.