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John O’Connor examines Trump’s new cabinet, and the one qualification that chains them all together: Loyalty
It is becoming alarmingly evident that under Donald Trump, a politician’s platform is swiftly transformed into an altar. Now more than ever, politicians must be held accountable and criticised. However, in Trump’s second term we are now seeing some of the loudest and most controversial members of the Republican party being elevated to the highest positions in American government simply because of their loyalty to Trump, ultimately leading to their deification by Trump’s supporters and allowing them to occupy a platform to spread false information and sow further division in an already politically divided and seemingly broken country.
Trump’s secretary picks have faced extensive questioning by senators since the 14th of January, as part of the process that sees potential cabinet members approved or rejected. They have been questioned on their knowledge of domestic and foreign policy, their ability to successfully carry out the position they are about to enter, and where their loyalties lie; to Trump or the American people. Here are some of the most controversial figures— a mix of misinformed voices, national disruptors, billionaires, and even TV stars— now in Trump's cabinet, many of whom are just as surprised as we are to find themselves in positions within Trump's cabinet, where they now influence the lives of millions of Americans daily.
Pete Hegseth - Defence Secretary
The Senate narrowly voted to confirm former FOX news anchor, Pete Hegseth, as secretary of the Department of Defence. Vice President JD Vance cast the 51-50 tie breaking vote to confirm Hegseth, the first major decision passed by Vance to cement Trump’s new America. The nominee had divided Republicans and Democrats alike due to inexperience and multiple sexual assault and drinking claims, to which Hegseth simply replied, “I’m not perfect.”
Hegseth was questioned by Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts on his views regarding women in the military. Sen. Warren reminded Hegseth of his previous comments, quoting his words in a June 2024 podcast: “Women should not be in combat at all.” The Senator then noted that last November, after 12 years of prejudiced views against women in military service, Hegseth had changed his mind and declared that “Some of our greatest warriors are women.” Warren replied with “That is a very, very big [turn around] in a very short period of time, [...]what extraordinary event happened in that 32-day period that made you change the core values you had expressed for the preceding 12 years?”
The only significant event that transpired during this period was Trump's nomination of Hegseth. Hegseth’s appointment as Secretary of Defence was essentially a trade-off, securing the position in exchange for his dropping of more controversial views and unwavering loyalty.
Hegseth was also questioned by Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois. Upon being asked how many nations are a part of ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the agreements America has with these countries, Hegseth replied, “I couldn’t tell you the amount of nations in that. But, I know we have allies in South Korea, Japan, and Australia.”
The Senator reminded Hegseth that none of the countries he had named were in ACEAN and suggested for him to “do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations” which are vital to the position of Defence Secretary. Despite holding a Politics degree from Princeton, Hegseth has consistently demonstrated a surprising lack of knowledge when it comes to both domestic and foreign policy.
One of Sen. Duckworth’s main concerns was Hegseth’s claim that he had led previous audits which he would also have to carry out as Defence Secretary. When Hegseth refused to answer the question, she asked, “What are you so afraid of?” The question was met with a mumbling of words, lacking any real substance or honesty. The unspoken answer? Trump.
Pam Bondi - Attorney General
Former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, is among the more qualified—though still contentious—candidates to be confirmed, positioning a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of the Justice Department. Bondi was the replacement for the Attorney General position after Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination following a House ethics investigation into sexual misconduct. Trump chose to nominate two men accused of sexual assault, both Hegseth and Gaetz, after he himself had been found guilty by a jury of sexual misconduct. When discussing these new secretaries, especially in relation to Trump, it is vital to analyse their character. Bondi’s character can be largely defined by her steadfast loyalty to Trump.
Bondi’s confirmation sailed through the Senate with strong bipartisan support, passing in a 92-8 vote. Bondi’s past experience as Florida’s Attorney General and history as a tough-on-crime prosecutor helped secure backing from both sides of the aisle.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “President Trump has made it clear that Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice will operate independently from the White House.” Bondi’s close ties to Trump and unwavering loyalty begs to question the credibility of the White House’s claim.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Secretary of Health and Human Services
Another member of the Kennedy family has entered public office as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., longtime anti-vaccine activist and one of the loudest critics of America's healthcare system, has been confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sen. Bernie Sanders continued his line of questioning with RKF Jr. by asking if healthcare should join “every other major country on earth and guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right” similar to the importance that America places on free speech, to which RFK Jr. replied “I can’t give you a yes or no answer to that question [...] I would say it’s different because free speech doesn't cost anybody anything, in healthcare if you smoke cigarettes for 20 years and get cancer, you are now taking from the pool [of resources available].”
RFK Jr.’s nomination and subsequent confirmation was met with heavy criticism, including his own cousin Caroline Kennedy who, just days before his confirmation hearing, characterised him in a letter to senators as a “predator” and stated that the American people deserve a “stable, moral and ethical person at the helm” and “deserve better than Bobby Kennedy.”
RFK Jr.’s claims stretch from Covid-19 being a genetically engineered bio-weapon that targets Black and white people but spared Ashkanezi Jews and Chinese people, to Lyme's disease being a highly likely military engineered bio-weapon, and exposure to pesticides causing children to become transgender. Sen. Michael Bennet reminded RFK Jr.’s of a statement he had previously made in favour of abortion rights: “I wouldn't leave it, abortion, to the States. My belief is we should leave it to the woman. We shouldn't have the government involved even it’s full term.” When Sen. Bennet reminded RFK Jr. of this statement, RFK Jr. relayed his change of heart, and said he no longer believes this and says that “every abortion is a tragedy.” Much like Hegseth, his "change of heart" is really just a change in circumstance, occurring only after Trump selected him for the nomination.
These are only 3 of the 22 newly appointed cabinet members of Trump’s cabinet. These controversial appointments will head key departments such as Defence, Education, Energy, and Homeland Security, influencing every facet of American life—from what children are taught in schools, and the cost of goods and services, to immigration policies, clean energy, and the quality of the air that the American people breathe. No aspect of life will be left untouched from the loyal hands of Trump’s new cabinet, and they wouldn’t dare bite the hand that feeds them.