“Well, I didn’t see that coming” has been a somewhat common refrain on Capitol Hill this week as President-elect Donald Trump announces his picks to lead his forthcoming administration.
Trump has built his brand on breaking the mold of politics and continues the trend with his Cabinet appointments.
Not every choice has been a surprise. Susie Wiles has long been on Trump’s short list to be his chief of staff, given her years of loyalty to the president and her success in managing Trump’s reelection campaign. Wiles will make history as the first female chief of a president’s staff.
And Tom Homan’s experience in Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, coupled with his positive relationship with Trump, made him an obvious choice for “border czar.”
But some of Trump’s picks were unexpected, though not necessarily in a bad way.
Pete Hegseth
Amid a slew of cabinet announcements Tuesday, Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to serve as secretary of defense.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice.”
Hegseth is a veteran and served in the Army National Guard at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and had tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has a Combat Infantryman Badge and two Bronze Stars for service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On his website, Hegseth describes himself as a “husband, father, patriot, and a Christian.” He became a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekend” in 2017.
The veteran is a vocal opponent of the woke agenda that has seeped into the U.S. military and has called for an overhaul of Defense Department leadership.
“No one has been as consistently well-informed & on target as Pete Hegseth,” Jim Hanson, former Special Forces warrior and chief editor for the Middle East Forum, wrote on X. “He will bring back a warrior mentality where it is desperately needed.”
Matt Gaetz
In a surprise to the political left and right alike, Trump nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to serve as attorney general in his administration.
“Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump wrote on social media Wednesday afternoon.
In 2023, Gaetz led the effort to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker of the House.
Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. He has denied the allegations and in September announced he would no longer voluntarily cooperate with the investigation.
Marco Rubio
After rumors began spreading Monday, Trump formally announced Wednesday that Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is his choice for secretary of the Department of State.
“He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump wrote in the announcement.
Rubio was born in Miami to parents who immigrated to America from Cuba. He has served in the Senate since 2010.
Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and Trump announced Wednesday that she will serve as director of national intelligence in his administration.
A former members of Congress, she left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent and more recently became a Republican.
“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength,” Trump wrote on social media.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
It’s not surprising that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will have a critical role in Trump’s forthcoming administration, but few thought the two entrepreneurs would be working side by side.
Trump has appointed Musk and Ramaswamy to lead his fledgling Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
The department’s mission is to cut wasteful government spending and “ensure your tax dollars will be spent wisely,” according to the department’s X account.
Musk has promised a “leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining.”
Kristi Noem
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has built her brand on advancing economic freedom and traditional values, and on standing against the threat China and other adversaries pose to America.
Trump appointed Noem to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In his announcement, Trump praised Noem for her support of securing America’s borders.
“She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times,” Trump said, adding that Noem will work closely with Homan to secure the border.
On this week’s edition of “Problematic Women,” we discuss Trump’s Cabinet picks and why some are so surprising.
