The day after the exit of Matt Gaetz, initially nominated as Attorney General, Donald Trump kicked off a flurry of new appointments and designations regarding his administration.
The president-elect has also shown no signs of relenting about his choice of former Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary or other decisions that have generated more than one controversy. However, his team is taking a different approach with the Senate, a more conciliatory one, after initially calling for waiver appointments.
“President Trump appreciates the advice and consent of Senators on Capitol Hill, but ultimately this is his administration,” said Steven Cheung, the next White House communications director, “Voters gave President Trump a mandate to choose Cabinet nominees that reflect the will of the American people and he will continue to do so.” The Senate, for its part, welcomed the replacement of Gaetz, who retired over the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of him, with Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General.
That of the new Attorney General is just one of several names announced by the tycoon in recent hours. On Friday, in fact, the MAGA leader chose Scott Bessent as the next Treasury Secretary after days of discussion.
Trump also announced that he will bring back to the White House his first-term budget director, Russell Vought, a key author of the conservative Project 2025 plan, which advocated unilaterally rejecting congressionally authorized spending, firing federal workers and taking control of independent regulators.
Also returning to Washington will be controversial Sebastian Gorka, former deputy assistant to the President in the first Trump administration, serving as an adviser. Alex Wong, a former representative for North Korea and a State Department adviser, was named to return as the principal deputy to the national security adviser, a position expected to be filled by Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican.
Trump’s advisers also said that the choice of Gaetz was not a complicated move to soften up the Senate for other possible controversial choices. According to the sources, Trump did not pressure Gaetz to withdraw. With the latter’s exit, Pete Hegseth has become the most “troubling” name within the transition team as details continue to emerge about a 2017 sexual assault allegation against him. The former Fox host, who was chosen by Trump to be secretary of defense, has denied wrongdoing.
However, many individuals close to MAGA circles say Hegseth’s choice will not be challenged by the Senate. “President Trump will continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again”, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.
