
The shutters are down, the curtains are open, and Donald Trump's opulent waterfront palace of intrigue is open for business once more. A succession of ambitious, ultra-loyal subjects have paraded through, vying for attention and seeking favors from the throne. Servants fall over themselves to indulge their master's every whim. And then there are the jesters...
Given this week's extraordinary developments at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, as he builds the cabinet with which he will govern in January, it is difficult to escape the notion that the operation is being run something akin to a royal court.
Trump certainly gives the appearance of acting as America's first monarch since the official end of the Revolutionary War in 1783, plotting, scheming and playing favorites, and setting individuals against each other as his courtiers are assembled.
His unexpected nomination for attorney general of the Mar-a-Lago regular Matt Gaetz, the controversial Florida congressman under investigation for sexual misconduct, was a power move that wrong-footed even his closest advisers, and threw a gauntlet to Republicans in the US Senate who must confirm the appointment.
It followed Trump's equally astonishing choice a day earlier of a weekend presenter from the rightwing TV station Fox News to be the US defense secretary in charge of the world's largest and most potent military: Pete Hegseth, the ultimate entertainer who caught the eye of the king.
This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

Child deaths surge amid 'Gazafication' of West Bank, says human rights group
Israel has brought the military tactics of its war in Gaza to the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians face mass forced displacements, a surge in airstrikes and a sharp rise in attacks on children and other civilians, a Palestinian-Israeli human rights group has said.
Ten Hag and Ashworth were errors. I apologise for that
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho would represent 100% profit under profitability and sustainability rules. But Ratcliffe denied they and other academy players would be sold to generate funds. \"No. We won't be selling players because of the state we are in financially.\"

Only our best will be enough to beat PSG, warns Slot
Arne Slot believes Liverpool must produce their best performance of the season to finish off \"a complete\" Paris Saint-Germain team that gave him sleepless nights after the Champions League encounter last week.

Number of jobless 'indefensible', says PM amid criticism over cuts
Britain's benefits system is the \"worst of all worlds\", with the numbers out of work or training \"indefensible and unfair\", the prime minister has said as he prepares for deep cuts to disability payments.
Eriksen: United under 'massive' pressure to win
Christian Eriksen has admitted that there is \"massive pressure\" on Manchester United to beat Real Sociedad on Thursday and keep alive their hopes of playing European football next season.

Brighterdaysahead could light up Champion Hurdle
Constitution Hill has seen off every challenge with ease in winning all 10 of his races to date, but he could be facing his sternest opponent so far in the Champion Hurdle today and Brighterdaysahead (4.00) can also boast the strongest recent piece of form in the field.

Smart, smooth, calm in a crisis What can the world expect from Canada's new PM?
Smart, smooth, tough and a liberal globalist to the ends of his fingertips. That was how Mark Carney came across in his near seven-year stint as governor of the Bank of England.

Kursk region Russian forces speed up counteroffensive
Russian forces are trying to cross the border and gain a foothold in Ukraine's Sumy province as they press ahead with a counteroffensive aiming to eliminate the last of Kyiv's positions in the Russian Kursk region.

'I'd never seen someone coach that way. Mikel was the one. He inspired me'
Jack Wilshere talks role models, marathon running and Arsenal as he revels in his new role as a budding coach

'We were kids and it was out of our control. But we got on with it'
The big interview Harry Skelton Jockey and brother of likely champion trainer Dan talks about past trauma, his hopes for Cheltenham and dealing with high expectations