Trump picks surprise Cabinet members without outside input
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Since Trump’s Election Day victory, his transition team has maintained a consistent response to media inquiries about presidential appointments, repeatedly using the same statement through their spokesperson Karoline Leavitt: “President-Elect Trump will begin making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration soon. Those decisions will be announced when they are made.”
This standardized response underscores a reality that many Washington insiders find difficult to accept: Trump alone controls the appointment process, independent of advisers or outside organizations.
John Bolton hates Trump’s cabinet picks. That means they are the best cabinet picks that ever were made. 😂 pic.twitter.com/102qnPPbF2
— SULLY (@SULLY10X) November 14, 2024
When Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notable vaccine skeptic, entered Trump’s circle, it marked a significant shift. After ending his own presidential bid, Kennedy backed Trump’s campaign, providing a crucial endorsement. Tucker Carlson noted this unusual alliance, stating, “It is a realignment. It is unbelievable.”
Kennedy’s background seemed at odds with typical Republican appointees – an environmental lawyer supporting climate action, a Catholic liberal backing abortion rights, and an outspoken critic of large corporations. Initially, transition co-chair Howard Lutnick explicitly ruled out Kennedy for HHS Secretary, telling CNN’s Kaitlin Collins that Kennedy would “not getting a job for HHS.”
Yet Trump defied expectations by announcing Kennedy as his HHS nominee. Kennedy responded: “I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth.”
The announcement sparked market reactions and political responses, with Democrats expressing outrage while Republicans remained largely silent. Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune notably declined to comment.
Trump’s other selections included some conventional choices like Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, alongside more controversial picks such as former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. Matt Gaetz’s nomination for Attorney General, following a hasty resignation amid ethics investigations, exemplified Trump’s independent decision-making style.
This appointment process reveals a more hands-on Trump compared to his first term, often making decisions without full consultation with his transition team. A former White House official noted that Lutnick’s role was merely preparatory, with Trump maintaining final authority over appointments.
Democrats: I’m worried about some of Trump’s cabinets picks
Also Democrats: pic.twitter.com/wRhDAhkvsy
— Jillian Anderson (@Jillie_Alexis) November 14, 2024
Despite Lutnick’s previous statement about Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 affiliates being “radioactive,” several individuals connected to the project received key positions, including Tom Homan as “border czar.”
While the transition process involves filling thousands of positions, Trump’s close advisers acknowledge his ultimate authority in decision-making. At a Mar-a-Lago event for the America First Policy Institute, Trump celebrated his unconventional choices, particularly praising Kennedy’s potential impact at HHS.
This cabinet formation reflects Trump’s promised political realignment, even if it contradicts traditional Washington expectations, demonstrating his singular control over the selection process.
