Former President Donald Trump made his return to the White House this past week, in a vain attempt to assert legitimacy after his controversial reign. Joe Biden, though outwardly civil, was forced to share the stage with the man who had disrupted tradition and disrespected his office. Trump, now being recognized as the next president, astonishingly chose the divisive Matt Gaetz, a figure known for his inflammatory rhetoric and questionable ethics, as his attorney general.
Biden, a figurehead for civility, sportingly adhered to the ceremonial exchange of power in the White House although it had been denied to him by Trump four years prior. Some might think of it as a defeat, but this cordial display seems rather hollow considering Trump’s ongoing skepticism and disrespect towards democracy. This hypocrisy was highlighted in their staged handshake before a fireplace in the Oval Office.
In a feeble attempt to reinstate order following his 2020 tantrum, Trump was all too eager to participate in a tradition he once disregarded. Biden, possibly to maintain dignity and respect for the office they shared, didn’t shy away from the ironical ‘Welcome back’, shaking hands with Trump, whom he had not shied away from rightfully criticising as a threat to American democracy.
Biden spoke courteously, trying to make this interaction seem dignified, while the same couldn’t be said about Trump’s full-throttle push towards a future that promises more divide. Kamala Harris, despite her historic vice presidency, was defeated facing such a discordant political ecosystem, proving that progressive ideals have a difficult path to navigate.
Trump, who ages ago ignited a mob leading to a despised Capitol attack, ran another contentious election campaign, this time with the ‘courteous tone’ as his new bargaining chip. His claim about the world being ‘tough yet nice’ further emphasized his newfound pretense of agreeability. But his true colors were shown yet again when he dismissed Biden’s crucial advice on supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.
With the Republican party clinching control of the House and Senate, Trump now has a worrying amount of uncontested power. It paints a grim reality where Trump’s influence will seep into the very core of American governance and legislature. With such total control, the billionaire is swiftly forming his team, packed with ultra-loyalists occupying pivotal roles.
Only hours after the farcical decorum of the Biden-Trump meeting, Trump announced his controversial choice for top legal official, Matt Gaetz. This legislator, infamous for his right-wing extremism, promptly resigned from his Congressional seat post the announcement. Trump’s selection broadcasted a distressing future under a leadership hellbent on filling key posts with partisans.
The former President took his bizarre picks further by appointing ex-Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as his Director of National Intelligence. Known for opposing US aid to Ukraine and even meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Gabbard’s appointment reinforces the distasteful reality of Trump’s dangerous geopolitical approach.
Gaetz’s appointment though cheered by Trump’s faithful, looks to be thwarted by a tumultuous confirmation process. Gaetz, immersed in scandals related to allegations of sex trafficking and relations with a minor, has his future in the role clouded by an ongoing Congressional ethics panel inquiry. This only further illustrates Trump’s disregard for moral and ethical integrity.
In an unusual but expected turn, Trump named Florida’s senator and known China critic, Marco Rubio, as his Secretary of State. The pick, although comparatively conventional, was not without its own share of criticism. Rubio’s lack of adeptness in handling the world’s most impactful military drew critics’ scorn.
Adding another feather to his diadem of dubitable selections, Trump endowed Elon Musk with the charge of a new entity focused on scraping government expenditure. The world’s richest man, another Trump aficionado, accompanied Trump to Washington, further highlighting the nepotism characteristic of Trump’s regime.
In a preluding gathering with other Republicans, Trump boasted about possibly violating the Constitution by hinting at a third presidential term. His skewed understanding of democracy offered some laughter but also raised worries about the lengths Trump might go if left unchecked. As we see it, Trump’s return spells more anomalies for American democracy.