As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his incoming administration, his selection process marks a clear departure from traditional practices. Trump has prioritized appointing individuals he has personal ties with, many of whom have become familiar faces at his rallies, regular visitors to his Mar-a-Lago resort, or prominent figures who have defended him on television. This strategy signals a stark contrast to his first term in office, where he chose individuals for key positions with whom he had little personal connection and little trust.
In Trump’s second attempt at forming an administration, the president-elect appears to be favoring loyalists over experienced professionals. His picks for high-profile roles include Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality with no administrative background, tapped to oversee the Pentagon; Matt Gaetz, a conservative provocateur and Trump ally, nominated for attorney general despite lacking experience in law enforcement; and Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, who is slated to head the Department of Homeland Security, even though she has no direct experience in national security. Additionally, Trump has enlisted billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy—two figures closely associated with his rallies—to help streamline the federal bureaucracy, despite neither having held a government position before.
This approach underscores Trump’s tendency to favor those who align with his political agenda and resonate with his base, even if they lack the qualifications typically required for such high-level positions. A key element of this strategy seems to be selecting individuals who excel at presenting a strong public image, particularly in the media. Political observers note that Trump is particularly attuned to how his appointees perform in defending him on television, with a focus on how well they articulate his positions and bolster his public narrative. According to some reports, Trump and his team have been reviewing TV clips of prospective appointees, with an emphasis on how they have stood up for him in public debates.
Trump’s decision to surround himself with allies he knows personally contrasts with the approach he took during his first term, when he brought in figures like Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil, to lead the State Department, and General James Mattis to head the Pentagon. While those individuals were initially seen as qualified, Trump grew frustrated with their independent stances and ultimately replaced them. His decision to avoid similar missteps in his second term reflects lessons learned from his first experience, as he aims to build a team with whom he shares a more personal and trusting relationship.
This shift is also reflected in the swift appointments he has made so far. Trump quickly named Susie Wiles, his trusted co-campaign manager, as his chief of staff, and Tom Homan, who led U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term, as his "border czar." The picks suggest that Trump is keen on streamlining his administration in a more organized manner than he did during his first term, with less of the chaos that defined his early staffing decisions.
Moreover, Trump’s most recent appointees include individuals who have aligned themselves with his policies in the past. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a former presidential rival with a deep understanding of foreign policy and intelligence matters, was announced as Trump’s choice for Secretary of State. Despite his past disagreements with Trump, Rubio has softened his stance over the years to align more closely with Trump’s views. Additionally, Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman with a growing conservative following, has been selected as Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence. Although Gabbard has no direct intelligence experience, her rise to prominence on conservative media outlets makes her a natural fit for the role in Trump’s eyes, where she is expected to continue defending him in public forums.
Overall, Trump’s strategy reflects a clear emphasis on loyalty, media visibility, and alignment with his political agenda as he builds his second administration, even if it means selecting individuals with little to no relevant experience in their respective fields. While some critics may question the qualifications of these appointees, Trump seems focused on reinforcing his base and pursuing his bold political goals.
