Trump’s election triumph in the run-up to the presidency resulted in some divisive picks for his cabinet, showcasing an unsettling emphasis on wealth rather than qualifications. High on the list was billionaire and wrestling mogul Linda McMahon, whom Trump selected for the role of secretary of the Department of Education. Despite promises of dismantling the same department she was meant to lead, her limited experience in the education sector significantly threw the legitimacy of her appointment into question. McMahon had a brief stint at the Connecticut Board of Education in 2009 and served on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University.
McMahon’s corporate history, albeit successful, was not in educational pedagogy but business, providing another questionable layer to her appointment. She led the Small Business Administration in Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2019 and made two futile attempts to secure a seat in the US Senate. Interestingly, she presented herself as an advocate for charter schools and school choice, positions that conveniently aligned with the conservative right’s educational ethos.
In Trump’s statement signaling her appointment, the dialogue seemed to place education and business as mutually inclusive, considering McMahon’s ‘experience’ and ‘deep understanding’ as an advantage for the next generation. The idea that an individual with limited education credentials could ’empower the next generation of American students’ and make America ‘#1 in education’ came across as nothing more than empty political rhetoric. Given McMahon’s role as chairman of the pro-Trump America First Action SuperPAC, bias and political motivation couldn’t be discounted from the equation.
Her spouse, Vince McMahon, notoriously stepped down from his position as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment in 2022 whilst embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of sexual battery and trafficking. His subsequent resignation from TKO Group Holdings further tainted the McMahon reputation, casting doubt over Linda’s capacity to responsibly assume the role of Secretary of Education. Nevertheless, her task, if confirmed by the Senate, was to implement Trump’s vision of education, an agenda that leaned heavily towards questionable ‘right-wing’ indoctrination.
Trump’s approach to education tended towards radical and controversial stances. He premised his narrative on the need to expel ‘left-wing indoctrination’ and opposed diversity initiatives. His strategies included cutting federal finances for schools promoting ‘Critical Race Theory’ and ‘transgender insanity’, tactics that raised serious concerns about his perspective on equality and inclusivity. Trump also threatened penalties for colleges, vowing to ‘fine them up to the entire amount of their endowment’ if they did not fall in line with his philosophies.
Another controversial appointment was that of Dr. Mehmet Oz for the task of heading the agency in charge of health insurance for millions of Americans. His duties included overseeing Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, all critical programs that over half the nation relied on. Interestingly, Oz’s notoriety was not rooted in his medical expertise but his time as a television talk show host.
Though he had been an outspoken Trump supporter, his failed bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania in 2022 raised queries around his image and aptitude. Nevertheless, Oz assumed the role of leader and advocate for Disease Prevention, allegedly aiming to ‘get the best results in the world’. His role also comprised of eliminating waste and fraud from the nation’s most expensive government agency, a promise often echoed by politicians but rarely realized.
Trump’s plans to overhaul the Affordable Care Act were again alarming due to a conspicuous lack of detail. He presented vague ‘concepts of a plan’, stopping short of elaborating further. Despite Trump’s repeated efforts to discard the program during his previous term, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson still pledged healthcare reform as a crucial aspect of Trump’s future agenda.
In contradiction to the rhetoric surrounding the elimination of government waste, Oz’s Senate campaign featured promises to expand Medicare Advantage, a variation of Medicare notorious for its association with widespread fraud. These inconsistencies weren’t the only worries, as Oz’s ostensible wealth (as per his own assessment) between $100 million to $315 million raised further questions regarding vested interests.
Adding to this perplexing mix was the appointment of Wall Street Executive, Howard Lutnick, as the leader of the Commerce Department. Despite Lutnick’s enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies and his entrepreneurial success, the commercial sector’s subtleties were nuanced and required more than just business acumen. His role would be integral in implementing Trump’s aggressive tariff plan, hinting at a protectionist economic policy.
One of Trump’s key proposals was the introduction of a 60% tariff on goods from China, along with a 20% tariff on other imported products. The move, though celebrated by Trump and Lutnick, was met with skepticism from mainstream economists. They claimed tariffs became an inefficient way for governments to generate revenue and stirred unrest in global economic relations.
Lutnick’s appointment marked another instance where personal connections trumped executive requirements. Despite a CV that included high-ranking positions in firms like Cantor Fitzgerald, the influence of his relationship with Trump was impossible to deny. His fidelity to tariffs, reflected in his statements to CNBC, mirrored Trump’s contentious policy, again sidelining economic expertise in favor of personal conviction.
Maintaining his tryst with controversial narratives, Trump made his announcement on his social media platform. As he declared Lutnick in charge of the ‘Tariff and Trade agenda’, it was not lost on observers how his nominations were steadily creating a government heavy on wealth, light on experience and vociferously favoring personal allegiances.
From directing financial technology company BGC Group Inc. to leading commercial real estate services firm Newmark Group Inc., Lutnick displayed business acumen but showed little experience in handling a convoluted governmental department. Having grown from a member to the president and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald showed Lutnick’s ability to climb corporate ladders, but his skills in steering a national economic wheel remained debatable.
In conclusion, Trump’s cabinet picks bristled with controversy and provoked suspicion about the authenticity of their appointments. The emphasis on personal allegiance over experience, wealth over qualification, and divisive policy views over inclusive ideologies were all highly problematic. Yet this was the reality Americans were left to contend with, a grim scenario of a government short on skills needed for good governance.