Trump picks key figures for upcoming administration, including Elon Musk
Incoming US president Donald Trump has announced his picks for key positions in his Cabinet, news outlets Forbes and Associated Press (AP) reported.
Among his most controversial choices are businessman and X owner Elon Musk, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth.
Musk, alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
Source: Bloomberg
Forbes noted that Musk, who backed Trump’s presidential campaign, previously pitched the department and seemingly named it after the cryptocurrency “dogecoin”, which was inspired by a meme.
Meanwhile, Hegseth, who lacks senior military or national security experience, will take on the role during major crises including conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.
Source: RND
President-elect’s Cabinet picks lack experience
Besides Musk and Hegseth, Trump selected a few other names which AP noted lacked experience in the duties they are about to take on.
The president-elect announced real estate investor Steven Witkoff, whom AP noted as Trump’s golf partner, as a special envoy to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, New York Representative Lee Zeldin will be head of the Environmental Protection Agency, despite his lack of experience in environmental issues.
Zeldin wrote on X about his plans for the role:
We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.
Appointees provide a glimpse into second Trump administration
Following these announcements, top news outlets speculated what Trump’s appointees would mean for the US and the rest of the world during his second term as president.
The BBC said that with the appointment of Trump adviser Stephen Miller as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan as “immigration czar”, mass deportation and stricter immigration policies are to be expected.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Trump’s foreign policy team is also slated to be filled with China critics, including Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, and possibly Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Meanwhile, the nomination of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel, provides a glimpse of what is to happen in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” stated Trump, who previously promised to align US foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests.
Also read: Commentary: Trump 2.0 won’t be that bad for S’pore
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Featured image adapted from Wikimedia Commons, Fox News on YouTube
