After sweeping the elections on November 5, President-elect Donald Trump has started picking his cabinet. So far, his cabinet and staff nominations contain a mix of popular faces, new members, and members from his earlier tenure. The Social Talks interviewed a few voters to know their reactions to Trump Team 2.
Giving his insights on the issue, Mathew Warakomski, a journalism student at DePaul University in Chicago, said that he is torn at the use of Elon Musk and Robert F Kennedy JR as Department of Human Efficiency and Secretary of Health and Human Services respectively in Trump's cabinet. He went on to say that he is “skeptical of Elon as putting him in a position of power would be a major conflict of interest. From what I have read, giving him control of how certain government departments spend and operate would allow him to make favorable decisions for his company. We must also remember that the federal government has stood in his way, especially with rocket testing. Look it up”, he continues, “his SpaceX facility sits close to a green space, and rocket fuel is known to be toxic among other hazardous materials involved in rocket testing.”
“As for RFK Jr, his questionable views on medical science turn me off to him; plus, he has shown himself to be an opportunist. He opposed Trump until he was driven off the ballot, and now he supports him,” observed Warakomski. He said it makes him feel like RFK Jr only looks out for himself. “Given the importance of healthcare, I think he is unqualified and will do more harm than good. But I could be wrong,” he adds.
Another voter, a business major student at DePaul University, who did not wish to be identified and go on record, said in a telephonic interview that he supported Trump, saying, “I thought he would bring prosperity to businesses. But seeing his cabinet, I have regrets. I am mostly unhappy with his attorney's choice. The first was Matt Gaetz; I am glad that he is out. And now, who?” Matt Gaetz, former Florida Representative, was nominated by Trump as attorney general. However, following a week of turmoil and questioning within the Republican Party over his investigation by the House Ethics Committee, Gaetz withdrew from his nomination, and thereafter, Trump named Pam Bondi as his replacement. Pamela Jo Bondi is an American Attorney, politician, and lobbyist.
“If you look at Pam Bondi's profile, she is a designated bad prosecutor. Her entire career has been embroiled in controversies. Tell me how will she become an attorney general and serve justice? I am uncertain what the future holds,” observed a retired Texan businessman who wanted to remain anonymous. Trump’s close ally Bondi was the attorney general in Florida from 2011 to 2019. She previously worked on a Trump Commission focused on ending the opioid crisis and combating drug addiction.
For a political enthusiast who did not want his identity to be disclosed, Trump’s picks are more like an army that he is going to use as ‘scapegoats’ to accomplish his different tasks. The voter said he is particularly concerned about Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk heading the Department of Efficiency. “I am trying to make sense of how the two men – one with conspiracy theories and the other with zero knowledge of politics are going to run the important department of government.” Vivek Ramaswamy is well known for his conspiracy theories. In his campaign speeches and Republican primary debates, he has often promoted and discussed right wing conspiracy theories.
“I doubt if Trump was even looking at the bio of his cabinet before assigning them. I trust Trump, and I wish his picks stand to make the trust he has put in them. The whole cabinet got the wrong departments. Robert F Kennedy, who is anti-vaccine, is health secretary. I do not know how just that choice is, but I hope he can be flexible with his notion,” said a retired hotelier based in Chicago on the condition of anonymity.
“Well, this is something worse than Trump’s last time tenure. For me, the entire team is now out of the syllabus. I just want to add that, as an immigrant who came to this country by all legal channels, I do not want to see other immigrants go away. Whatever channel we come through, everyone does work to survive here, and only after going through a process do we get citizenship. So, hands crossed, I hope Tom Homan knows the immigration law and handles the border justly,” said Aqueel, who is in his 40s and a tech engineer working in the Bay Area. Tom Homan, a former acting director of US immigration and customs enforcement, detailed the priorities for the mass deportation operation, speaking to the Center Square Website on November 25.
“To be honest, one cabinet pick which has both shocked and confused me is Linda McMahon because, being the co-founder of WWE, how can she contribute to the educational system of my country? I agree that she has been associated with the administration of small businesses as a politician, but education is not a form of business. It helps to shape the future Americans who will lead the nation. Hence, I doubt she will be able to lead the department because no matter what happens, one cannot shape a child's future if they do not get the facilities they deserve,” said Brinda Sanyal, an Indian American student now based in Kolkata (Calcutta), India.
Linda Marie McMahon is an American politician, business executive, and a retired professional wrestling performer. Recently, questions have been raised about her education degree. According to a report in USA Today, She incorrectly claimed in a vetting questionnaire before being nominated to serve on the State Board of Education in early 2009 that she had earned a degree in education from East Carolina University in 1969 when the degree was instead in French.
For an Indian American citizen, the whole cabinet choice is a mess. “This is exactly what happens when you choose a convicted felon to run the country,” observes Gandhi, an Indian immigrant and a Chicago-based physician. “It's chaos, and people will only have an idea of what our country is going to be in the next four years, only after his six months into office. For me, I do not understand how a tech-savvy person (Elon Musk) can head the efficiency department,” questions Gandhi.
“The troublesome picks are Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel. Rubio and Huckabee are both ardent supporters of the State of Israel. One can expect the same policies as the previous administration, if not worse. Even though Trump had support from a large section of Arab and Muslim voters, his choice of people reflects his disregard for the Muslim voters,” said Maseeh Mohammad, a retired businessman from Minnesota. According to a report in CBS News, the Michigan Arab American voters are concerned about Trump’s picks for these key roles. President Joe Biden's support for Israel in its war with Gaza and Lebanon has led Arab Americans who were traditionally Democrats to turn to Trump for a change as they felt Trump would work to end the Gaza war.
“Already, there is a storm in the teacup of Republicans, who are showing their disapproval of Trump’s choice of candidates. We will see what happens in the future. Trump may be impeached,” he added. “Ok, let us come to this pick, John Ratcliffe. The choice is ok, as he has been the Director of Intelligence. Compared to other nominees, I feel a little confident about him. Others, I cannot say. Let us see for ourselves,” said a University of Illinois Chicago political science student. From among his various positions, Ratcliffe, as an attorney, served as the director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021. “The potential vice-presidential candidate will be the director of national intelligence,” said an American Indian software engineer who works in a tech company in Chicago, who did not want his identity to be revealed.
When referring to Tulsi Gabbard, the interviewee went on to say, “The cabinet is Trump's favorite people. The woman who was a Democrat is now a famous Republican and is taking the role of intelligence. National intelligence requires someone committed and willing to die for the country. As military personnel, she can have that quality commitment to the country, but what about her ideologies?” He questioned. A former Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard served as US Representative for Hawaii’s second Congressional District from 2013 to 2021. She was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries but left the party in 2022 to become an Independent. In 2024, she joined the Republican Party.
“The tough times just started; all the people who voted for Trump in this election are going to bear how bad he is. Why should we bear this? See for yourself; Each of Trump’s nominees is mired in controversies in their fields and are assigned opposite positions. If they do not even qualify for it, then how will they assume the office like a pro?” Asked another citizen who is a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago who spoke to TheSocialTalks on the condition of anonymity. "Will Pete Hegseth now experiment with defense? If not profession, but at least a decent profile could have worked out,” he added. Peter Brian Hegseth is an American television presenter, author, and former Army National Guard officer. He has been a political commentator for Fox News since 2014 and weekend co-host of Fox & Friends from 2017 to 2024. Hegseth is nominated for secretary of defense.
“Trump is a businessman and he is a shrewd and smart leader. He knows what he is doing; he did not pick the cabinet just like that. He has done his homework. It is people who need to understand his math, not him. Why are people not talking about Karolina Leavitt and William McGinley?” said Malik, a graduate student from Loyola University. Karoline Claire Leavitt is an American political aide who served as the national press secretary for Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. She previously served as an assistant press secretary and presidential writer during the first Donald Trump administration.
William McGinley, a lawyer by profession, was also a White House Cabinet secretary in the first administration of US President Donald Trump. “The Trump cabinet pick is just a joke for the whole of America; what else can we expect? Our leader is against us. Look at Kristi Noem; what will she do for homeland security? I am scratching my head to think of what the cabinet and their offices are going to be like,” said another retired businessman based in Chicago.
According to her bio, Noem is a politician who has served as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota and is both a farmer and an author. With most voters concerned about Trump’s intentions with his cabinet picks, it has left many fearing what this may mean for life in America.
Despite this trepidation, Trump, along with his cabinet, will take office in January. The Oversight Committees in the Senate will commence confirmation hearings before the Inauguration Day on January 20.