Donald Trump has built a cabinet fueled by billionaires, corporate interests, lobbying ties and questionable commentary. After multiple members were confirmed, some have expressed confusion as to how these picks are helping “drain the swamp.”
Trump has nominated 13 people with corporate ties, 12 people who were major campaign donors to either Trump or the Republican party and 14 people with ties to lobbying, according to Time.
Nominees with corporate ties include Rex Tillerson, Steve Mnunchin, Ryan Zinke, James Mattis, Ben Carson, Betsy DeVos, Elaine Chao, Rick Perry, Wilbur Ross, David Shulkin, Mike Pompeo, Linda McMahon and Tom Price, according to Time.
Nominees who are campaign donors include Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Ryan Zinke, Steve Mnunchin, Ben Carson, Betsy DeVos, Elaine Chao, Rick Perry, Wilbur Ross, Reince Priebus, Mike Pompeo and Linda McMahon.
Mike Flynn, former national security adviser, stepped down from his position less than a month after starting because of his ties to and communication with Russian officials, according to The New York Times.
“I inadvertently briefed the vice president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador,” Flynn said in his resignation letter.
However, when the news story broke, Trump stood by Flynn and blamed the media for the controversy at a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 16.
While standing up for the Trump administration is completely expected of the new president, blatantly lying to a room full of journalists is obvious and not well thought out.
His recent firing of former Attorney General Sally Yates shows his intolerance to any other viewpoints but his own. Yates refused to enforce Trump’s travel ban and was, as a result, fired.
Both human rights and decency are at question by the travel ban, which targets citizens specifically from countries where the dominant religion is Islam. Additionally, the ban gives priority admission to Christian refugees, which directly violates the tradition of separation of church and state.
Betsy DeVos, one of the most recent appointees, was hotly debated because of her lack of experience in education. DeVos has never attended nor sent her children to public school and she has never taken out or had her children take out any student loans. Her job requires her to be competent on both of these issues. Additionally, many of the Republicans who backed DeVos have received donations from her family.
DeVos’s appointment only makes sense in the twisted reality Trump has created of “alternative facts” and “fake news.”
To put it softly, Trump’s cabinet members are a shame to the U.S. because of how how elitist and smeared with corporate greed the cabinet members are.
