A wall of screens, files on the table: A special room has been set up at Mar-a-Lago, in Donald Trump's Florida residence, to form his next administration as quickly as possible. Banker Howard Lutnick is leading the recruitment on Trump's instructions, in coordination with Susie Wiles, who will head Donald Trump's White House cabinet after his inauguration as president on January 20, 2025. Their goal: to deliver on the promise of a radical break with the past, launch an offensive against the federal state and place loyalists at the head of strategic departments and agencies. The manner in which power is exercised, the perimeter of government and the reputation of the US could be turned upside down, breaking with decades of bipartisan institutional culture.
The selection criteria are classic in the Trumpist world. First, loyalty to the leader. Second, television presence and, third, ideological compatibility. Far more than competence, these were the three points that played in favor of the new secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, whose nomination was announced on Tuesday, November 12. An army veteran in the National Guard, this Princeton graduate is best known as a weekend talk show host on the conservative Fox News channel. In March, this passionate Christian, whose arms are covered in tattoos representing his faith, America and his weapons, organized a live prayer service. Many Republican congressional leaders gasped at the news of Trump's choice.
The author of The War on Warriors, a book on the penetration of "wokism" and the supposed ravages of diversity in the military – which has become a favorite theme in the Trumpist world – Hegseth has no expertise in military matters, security issues or current crises involving the Pentagon. He opposes the promotion of women in the army to combat positions. His is a staggering appointment.
Hegseth's book "reveals the left-wing betrayal of our Warriors and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability and excellence," Trump said in a statement about the appointment on Tuesday. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Trump team is reportedly working on a draft executive order setting up a disciplinary board, external to the Pentagon, to hunt down Army generals who lack the "requisite leadership qualities." The targeted executives would be forced into retirement. Purge promised, purge in sight.
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