Every successful president in American history has surrounded themselves with capable, qualified workers in their cabinet and staff to ensure that they execute the plans that they wanted to as well as possible. As Donald Trump's presidency and inauguration loom in the near future, analyzing who he has picked as a part of his staff so far, as well as the people he is linked to can help paint a clear picture of his vision for America in the future.
Nominated: Nikki Haley, Wilbur Ross and Betsy DeVos
These are just a few of people Trump has already selected for certain positions in his cabinet. Nikki Haley is likely to become the American Ambassador to the United Nations, while Wilbur Ross is likely to become the Secretary of Commerce and Betsy DeVos is likely to become the Secretary of Education.
Nikki Haley has little to no experience in foreign affairs, as her time as a South Carolina Legislator and eventual governor didn't give her much of an opportunity to work internationally. Thus, Trump's decision to place someone as inexperienced as Haley as one of the main voices for America on the global stage shows his disdain for the overexertion of American power internationally. Trump also selected Haley in an attempt to diversify his cabinet, but since many people see this appointment as a throw-away, the gravity of this nomination was lesser.
Ross, a billionaire, made his living from risky investments, which didn't always work out for him. Although Ross is very experienced economically, he lacks some of the political knowledge that might be necessary to properly function in an administration.
Lastly, DeVos, another billionaire, has spent a large amount of her life campaigning education reform, so she is clearly capable and experienced enough to properly do her job. However, her plan to expand charter schools and voucher private schools could heavily impact public education in America, as is the view of many members of the teacher's union.
Contention: Secretary of State
One of the positions that is currently being hotly contested among Republicans and Donald Trump's advisers is Secretary of State. Some think Trump should nominate former Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, while others believe Trump should nominate the former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani. Although both lack major foreign policy experience, those in favor of Giuliani appreciate his more conservative views, and the fact that he has been a vehement Trump supporter for a fairly long time, while others see Romney as the better option, since he would be a slightly less divisive figure around the world.
Regardless of who Trump selects for his cabinet later, it has already become clear that Trump's ideas of populism and movement away from the establishment have been short-lived. With the appointment of two multi-billionaires and many established politicians, Trump's cabinet has moved away from what many of his voters would have wanted, but only time will tell if it can execute what they wanted.