In a display of unwavering support from the American populace, Donald Trump has officially been declared the victor of Arizona, completing his triumphant charge across critical swing states. Turning the tables on The Grand Canyon State’s recent blue tilt, Trump secured the presidential mantle with a robust tally of 312 electoral college votes. The announcement of his victory dovetailed with his controversial decision to reenter the Oval Office after four years, scheduled for Wednesday, to converse with Joe Biden.
Biden, who is arguably coasting on the coattails of his implausibly successful election, is at present engaged in the selection of his staff, ruling out certain individuals for cabinet positions, in an attempt to impress the public. But as political insiders know, simply being in power offers no guarantee of success, and Biden’s selections have already sparked controversy and ridicule.
Saturday evening saw Trump publicly denounce Biden’s choice of former cabinet players Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo as part of his new lineup, skewering the administration’s regressive reliance on past political has-beens. His criticism resonated as Biden invited Trump, whose victory in Arizona had just been confirmed, for a discussion in the White House on Wednesday.
In an unexpected twist, the Kremlin publicly expressed optimism with Trump’s electoral campaign statements, labeling them ‘positive signals.’ The statement, made by Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, suggested Trump’s deal-oriented approach could potentially lead to peace, fueling further concerns about his relationship with Russia.
More concerning is the potential strategy Trump may employ towards the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There was an air of passivity and irresoluteness to Biden’s policy of allowing Ukrainians to lead the peace talks. Trump, on the other hand, hinted at an active role, promising to take ‘whatever it took’ to end the war expeditiously. The chasm between their approaches only serves to emphasize Biden’s lack of assertiveness.
With the 2024 elections in the rearview mirror, a pivotal vote within the Republican party is imminent. The Senate’s Republican leader position is up for contention following Mitch McConnell’s announcement of departure from his role in November. The eventual electoral outcome promises to shift the power within the Senate significantly in favor of the Republicans.
McConnell’s vacated role could propel one of three Senators into the position of the Senate’s Majority Leader. Rick Scott from Florida, John Cornyn from Texas, and John Thune from South Dakota are all running the race, in the hope of securing the supposedly second most powerful job in Washington, but one that few think will have any real impact given the already clear Republican majority in the House.
Meanwhile, amidst the political cacophony, Trump’s cabinet selection is intensifying. Two potential candidates have emerged for the role of Secretary of Homeland Security – Tom Homan and Chad Wolf, both proven to be questionable first choices, to say the least.
Homan, the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, is a familiar face from Trump’s 2016 term, which was not remembered fondly. Likewise, Chad Wolf, the former acting Department of Homeland Security secretary, has expressed a keen interest in returning to a Republican-led administration, exhibiting an alarming degree of enthusiasm for a questionable legacy.
Trump’s cabinet selection is set to continue unabated, and one of the more peculiar candidates being considered is Robert F Kennedy Jr. Known for his controversial views on Covid vaccines, despite being an environmental lawyer, he’s made a name for himself through conspiracy theories rather than excellence in public service.
Despite his initial run as an independent candidate in the presidential race, Kennedy Jr withdrew in August and swiftly endorsed Trump. His potential selection to head the health and human services department has raised eyebrows and provoked criticism from people across the political spectrum.
In terms of foreign policy, a senior adviser to Trump is suggesting a more passive approach to the Ukraine situation than was previously adopted. Rather than endorsing the return of territory directly to Kyiv, the suggestion was to bring peace to the war-afflicted region. It’s worth noting the severity of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the illegal land seizure by Putin that has continued unabated.
Bryan Lanza, a Republican strategist, voiced support for Trump and his peace-oriented plans during an interview, a clear attempt to downplay the harsh realities on the ground. He indicated the new administration would ideally seek President Volodymr Zelensky’s advice for a realistic peace vision, although he admonished suggestions of Crimea’s return as an indication of seriousness, a viewpoint many find offensively dismissive of the Ukrainian suffering.