After shocking the world by winning the U.S. presidential election a little over two weeks ago, President-elect Donald Trump has been filling important cabinet positions. But some of his picks for top positions haven’t exactly received a passing grade, if you will.
For the position of chief political strategist, Trump tapped Breitbart CEO and campaign strategist Steve Bannon, a man who is known to lead the alt-right movement, and has been condemned as a racist and as anti-semitic. His appointment doesn’t exactly send a good message to several groups of minorities that he’s offended.
Trump campaigned on a promise to “drain the swamp,” in reference to Washington’s brokenness, and to separate himself from his businesses, something he has so far failed to do. He’s surrounded himself with campaign loyalists and known Washington insiders such as RNC Chairman Reince Preibus, who he appointed as his chief of staff.
Rudy Guiliani, who has no foreign policy experience whatsoever, is under serious consideration for secretary of state.
Throughout the campaign, Trump repeatedly said that he wouldn’t have any conflicts of interest, yet he has struggled to separate himself from his businesses. He met with three Indian businessmen in New York to talk about projects in India. He let his daughter, Ivanka Trump, sit in on a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe. In his congratulatory phone call with Argentine President Mauricio Macri, he reportedly urged him to speed up construction on one of his projects there.
He vowed to put his assets in a blind trust run by his children, but many experts are warning that it doesn’t actually constitute a blind trust.
One of Trump’s main appeals during the campaign was that he was an outsider, someone who would shake up Washington and change it. Only time will tell if he intends to keep his word, but if we know anything about Donald Trump, it’s that he has repeatedly failed to keep his promises in the past. So far, it’s not looking too good.
Another appointment that has raised alarm bells is that of retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, a key loyalist throughout the campaign. Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is known for his military experience and Islamophobia. He once called Islam a “cancer.”
Who you surround yourself with says a lot about who you are and what you intend to do. So far, Trump has surrounded himself with key campaign loyalists and people who have caused a tremendous amount of controversy. It says a lot about how he intends to run his administration.
The only appointment that would bring any form of comfort is Mitt Romney as secretary of state, who is believed to be a top contender. Romney and Trump feuded throughout the campaign but seem willing to bury the hatchet, which I think is a positive sign. Just the fact that Trump is even considering Romney brings me a glimmer of hope for the next four years.
I hope for the best but am preparing for the worst. And if these cabinet appointments are any indication, America is in for a rough road ahead.
Jon Lofquist is a columnist for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at news@dailylobo.com.
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