Trump’s Cabinet Picks: Who, Why, and How.
While we are aware of President Trump and his background, what we know less about, is Trump’s cabinet, and even who they are, or what they have done.
Marco Rubio (Sec. of State)
Background
Born in Miami on 1971, Marco Rubio is a Cuban-American who has been a Senator of Florida from 2011 until he took office as Secretary of State this year. Rubio also fought against Trump back when he first ran in 2016, fetching third place behind Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. During his Senate tenure, he was socially somewhat bipartisan, issuing pathways for immigration. However, like most Republicans, he opposes military cuts and was a heavy critic of Barack Obama’s national security, and later agreed with most of Trump’s policies on national security. So far, Rubio has agreed with Trump’s foreign policy proposals, such as freezing USAID, sending foreign criminals to El Salvador, and the transfer of ownership of Gaza to the United States.
What Does The Secretary of State Do?
The Secretary of State leads the Department of State, which leads foreign policy under the executive branch. The Secretary of State is also the primary advisor to the president in terms of national security. The Secretary of State also represents the United States in various foreign affairs including United Nations committees, foreign negotiations, and governing foreign aid operations.
Scott Bessent (Sec. of Treasury)
Background
Scott Bessent is a hedge fund manager and an owner of a macro-investment firm. Born in 1962, he is the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ member of the federal government in U.S. history. Bessent is among Trump’s highest donors in both of his winning campaigns, fundraising $7 million in one month alone and hosting a campaign that fundraised $50 million. So far in his current tenure, he has been an ally with Trump in tariff policy, stating, “every country”: “do not retaliate, sit back, take it in, let’s see how it goes, because, if you retaliate, there will be escalation.”
What Does The Secretary of Treasury Do?
The Secretary of Treasury is the leader of the Department of Treasury, which commands finance and tax laws, alongside supervising federal finances, government accounts, currency, and the public debt.
Pete Hegseth (Sec. of Defense)
Background
Born in Minnesota in the summer of 1980, Pete Hegseth is an Iraq war veteran and news host for Fox for seven years. Hegseth does face sexual assault allegations that are currently under investigation. Currently, his tenure has also been quite controversial, as he has fired various top Pentagon officials, and has been amidst a scandal of a group chat leak, which displayed sensitive information on plans to air strike Yemen.
What Does The Secretary of Defense Do?
The Secretary of Defense is the chief executive of The Department of Defense, which partially manages domestic security, and the control of military forces and funds in war.
