Democratic strategist David Axelrod argued President-elect Trump’s second administration has a “wholly different feel” than his first team.
“Say what you will about the direction he wants to take the country but this is a wholly different feel from 2016. Trump is stocking his admin with seasoned loyalists who will not guide, but rather BE guided, by HIM,” Axelrod posted to the social platform X.
“People wanted to shake up Washington. For better or worse, they’re [going] to get what they asked for,” he said.
Trump’s former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, also noted Trump’s transition back to the Oval Office will not look “anything like it did in 2017.”
The president-elect has quickly begun to fill out his cabinet and top advisors for his second term in the days after the election.
He must nominate leaders for 15 different government agencies and other top administration jobs that require Senate confirmation, as well as appoint his senior staff.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), seen as a foreign policy hawk, has been chosen as Secretary of State. Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), an outspoken defender of Trump during his first impeachment trial, has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
House GOP conference chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a staunch ally of Israel, is Trump’s pick for United Nations ambassador. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), another loyal Trump ally, was chosen as the Homeland Security secretary.
For his White House team, Trump chose Susie Wiles to be his chief of staff after she spent two years running his campaign. Stephen Miller, who served as a top adviser during Trump’s first term, will return to serve as deputy chief of staff for policy. Former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan has been chosen to serve was a “border czar” and push Trump’s immigration agenda.
The Hill has reached out to a Trump spokesperson for comment.
