President of the United States Donald Trump’s a new team is starting to come together.
There are controversial names in the group, and not all of them may make it to the ministerial post. The Senate must approve Trump’s nominees for his cabinet.
Investigator Maria Lindén The foreign policy institute says that loyalty is emphasized in Trump’s choices.
– They are people loyal to Trump who have shown him their support in various bad places over the years. That seems to be the dominant selection criterion, Lindén tells by phone.
– It is logical that Trump acts this way. In the previous administration, ministers were chosen on different grounds, and he crossed paths with these people. Now he wants to approach the matter in a different way.
Lindén: Choices are jeez people
It means that Trump wants people in his administration who are willing to do the things that Trump wants.
– He chooses jeez people who jump when he tells them to. From that point of view, these have been exactly the kind of appointments I myself expected, says Maria Lindén.
Although some of the appointments are still controversial, the most controversial is the one Trump wants as his attorney general Matt Gaetz has already withdrawn from the race. Gaetz has been suspected of illegally buying sex and having sex with a minor, although no charges have been filed against him.
According to researcher Lindén, also nominated by Trump as defense minister Pete Hegseth is an unexpected choice.
– Hegseth may not please all Republicans either. After Trump’s appointment, there has been an uproar and a scandal about him, Lindén mentions.
See below who are Trump’s main candidates for ministers.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Trump wants the Florida senator to be his closest foreign policy adviser.
Marco Rubio is known for its strict attitude towards China. He supports Trump’s idea of quick peace talks with Ukraine. He supports Israel’s support.
Rubio has extensive experience in foreign policy and national security. He is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The 53-year-old Rubio would become the first Latino US Secretary of State.
In 2016, Rubio ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
See what Trump himself has said about his future foreign policy in the video below.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump nominates Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. He is best known as the host of the conservative Fox News channel.
Hegseth is a reserve captain. He has served in the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Guantanamo military base, but has no experience in leading foreign or security policy.
After Trump announced Hegseth’s appointment, it became clear that the 44-year-old Hegseth has been the subject of a sexual violence investigation. He was never arrested or charged and has denied the allegation.
Minister of Finance: Scott Bessent
A respected investment fund professional and connoisseur of economic history Scott Bessent is the most conventional of Trump’s appointments.
Bessent may act as a balancing factor in Trump’s efforts to push through the very aggressive customs policy he promoted in his election campaign.
Bessent has taught economic history at Yale University and worked, among other things, under major investor George Soros. He has previously financially supported several Democratic presidential candidates.
Attorney General: Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and former attorney general of the state of Florida.
– Pam worked as a prosecutor for almost 20 years, and her grip on violent crimes was tough. Thanks to him, the streets of Florida became safe for families, Trump wrote on his social media channel, Truth Social.
Bondi worked on Trump’s defense team during his impeachment trial in 2020. Last spring, he was part of the Republican group that supported Trump in the so-called impeachment trial.
Minister of National Security: Kristi Noem
Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem has been appointed to a key position where his responsibilities include national security, border security, cyber threats and terrorism.
In the ministry employs thousands of people and has a budget of around 60 billion euros.
52-year-old Noem is known as Trump’s loyal ally.