BALTIMORE – President-elect Donald Trump is sending a clear message with his meteoric round of political appointments: he knows who his friends are.
From his recent appointment of Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, Trump has rewarded those who supported him when it was unpopular.
But after a resounding political comeback, and with Republicans about to have a trifecta in Washington, D.C., there’s no shortage of old friends resurfacing in the nation’s capital.
Here are some takeaways from Trump’s recent moves.
First stability, then shock waves
When Trump chose Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, it meant two big things: He valued loyalty, and he chose someone who has earned the respect of many Republicans and even some Democrats. The successful architect of his 2024 campaign achieved his biggest political victory, and she has worked for other respected Republicans such as Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and Jon Huntsman Jr. She started working for Trump at one of the most strenuous times in his life. as he faced multiple lawsuits and a runoff presidential election against President Joe Biden, who defeated him in 2020. While some Republicans distanced themselves or chose not to support him until the primaries ended, Wiles was a constant on his side.
But soon after Trump appointed Wiles, the shockwaves began when he made some unexpected Cabinet picks that included more loyalists: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, Army veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Gaetz as Attorney General -general. Of some of Trump’s recent appointments, these have generated the most surprising and strongest reactions – including from senators who will have to confirm these appointments.
“He’s really squeezing the new Senate majority and immediately testing whether they’ll just go along with what he wants,” said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.
Elon Musk: from campaign surrogate to top advisor
As Trump campaigned across the country and tried to appeal to working-class voters, he often had a special guest with him: the richest man in the world. Musk, the billionaire businessman often called a genius, was on the campaign trail with Trump after the election and at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Trump recently tapped Musk and entrepreneur Ramaswamy to head a new government Efficiency Department.
But Musk, after showing some loyalty to Trump, seems to be gaining his trust, and he’s showing up in some unexpected places. He reportedly accompanied Trump on a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and joined Trump in a meeting with House Republicans on Wednesday.
‘A Beautiful World’ in the White House
Trump and Biden put years of mudslinging behind them on Wednesday as the sitting president welcomed the newly elected president to the White House. It is a tradition that shows the country and the world that the US will have a peaceful transfer of power in January, although it was skipped four years ago when Trump refused to concede his loss to Biden.
“Politics are tough,” Trump said. “And in many cases it is not a beautiful world, but today it is a beautiful world.”
Throughout the campaign, even after the incumbent president ended his bid and Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, Biden and Trump were political enemies. They called each other names, and doubted each other’s mental fitness and moral character. But Wednesday it was all smiles and handshakes.
“Congratulations and I look forward to, as we said, a smooth transition,” Biden said.
“It’s going to go as smoothly as possible, and I really appreciate that, Joe,” Trump said.
Former and future First Lady Melania Trump broke with tradition on Wednesday when she declined an invitation from First Lady Jill Biden.
Leadership race between Trump and the Senate
For the first time in 18 years, Senate Republicans elected a new leader: Senator John Thune of South Dakota.
Some analysts called it Trump’s first loss because Thune was not the favorite of Trump’s inner circle. From Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump to Musk and other supporters, Florida Sen. Rick Scott was seen as the MAGA candidate in a race to become the next Republican leader in the Senate.
Trump did not get involved in the battle, which was decided by secret ballot among Republicans.
As he secured the role, which will become more important as the Senate transitions to a Republican majority, Thune said he was “extremely honored” and that Senate Republicans “stand united behind President Trump’s agenda.”
GOP gains full control of Congress
Trump now has the best chance to fulfill a promise he made to Americans eight years ago.
With CNN projecting that Republicans will win the House of Representatives and completely capture both chambers of Congress, Trump has his best chance to push his agenda to “Make America Great Again,” as his campaign slogan goes.
Not everyone agrees with his plans on taxes, immigration and foreign policy, but a majority of the country does. He is the first Republican in decades to win the Electoral College and the popular vote.
The biggest question is: what will he do with all this new power?
We’ll know after his inauguration on January 20.
