To understand why he has picked Pete Hegseth as the secretary of defense, Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence, Matt Gaetz as the attorney general and Robert F Kennedy Jr as the secretary of health and human services, go back to Trump's perceived experiences with these institutions. Add to it the American electorate's views on these institutions -- partly due to Trump's rhetoric but partly due to real lived experiences -- and then juxtapose it with an election mandate that has given his insurgent political movement the authority to cause systemic rupture.
It is these three features that explain why Trump has made a range of extraordinarily controversial and, from the point of view of many Americans, even dangerous choices. Examine this in the context of the broad areas of defense, intelligence and legal system, and public health.
The world of defense It is ironic that a leader who projects himself as a fierce American nationalist and who comes from the far-right tradition of American politics is so deeply contemptuous of the civilian bureaucracy and military leadership at Pentagon.
This contempt stems from Trump's perception that this constituency was not personally loyal to him during his first term. It also stems from Trump's belief that the military establishment is responsible for pushing America into unnecessary wars and was nudging him in the same direction, despite his personal resistance and his movement's fierce opposition to these external entanglements.
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 16, 2024 de Hindustan Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
This crash course on India's freedom struggle tests your patience - in a good way
We are living in unpredictable times, more so because we have become unpredictable ourselves. Attention spans are now a few seconds, which explains why Reels or short videos are all the rage.
After Kamala Harris' election defeat, Eva Longoria reveals she no longer stays in US
Actor Eva Longoria, 49, who endorsed US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election, reveals that her family no longer lives in the United States and she is splitting time between Mexico and Spain.
KANIKA DHILLON CLARIFIES DO PATTI IS 'NOT ABOUT TAKING LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS'
Kriti Sanon-starrer doesn't promote vigilantism, says Kanika Dhillon on chatter over film's plot
As a Punjabi, I feel immense pride in doing a film in my mother tongue: Nikitin Dheer
Having done films in Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, actor Nikitin Dheer is now looking forward to doing a Punjabi film.
'IT'S TIME FOR THE INDUSTRY TO LOOK WITHIN'
Actor Huma Qureshi talks to us about how Bollywood needs to understand the audience's pulse better to reconnect with them
Delhiites bag cash prizes worth ₹50 lakh at Electronics Mart's festive lucky draw
Electronics Mart raised the festive spirit at its Rajouri Garden store in Delhi with the much-anticipated event titled India's Biggest Festive Offer ₹50 lakh Cashprize Lucky Draw.
A brand-new restaurant reinventing South Indian cuisine
Credited with taking Indian cuisine onto the global stage, ITC Hotels present their pioneering brand in reinvented South Indian cuisine from the ITC stable: Avartana at the ITC Maurya.
Vikrant Massey is effective in this decent recreation of the 2002 Godhra train burning, from the media's POV
Actor Vikrant Massey, after delivering the brilliant 12th Fail, is back to zero — Ground Zero — as he mentions in The Sabarmati Report. It is based on the horrific Godhra train burning incident that took place on February 27, 2002, in which dozens of people were charred to death.
Developing 16-year-old Dhamne still a work in progress
Last month after Indian teen Manas Dhamne had a hit with world No.1 Jannik Sinner his fellow former Piatti Tennis Centre trainee in Monte Carlo, Sinner's coach Darren Cahill had something to say.
How Manisha made it: Cricket mat 'jugaad' and the drag-flick
Midfielder is central to India chief coach Harendra's plan of building a sturdy group of drag-flickers
