Americans Approve of Trump’s Cabinet Picks

Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump made a host of new cabinet picks. After a chaotic week of news coverage over his selection of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) for Attorney General, Gaetz finally withdrew his name from consideration. And having resigned from his seat, Gaetz will no longer be a member of Congress. Many speculate that the content of the House ethics report into him will be damning.

To replace Gaetz, Trump selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom the president-elect praised as “very tough on violent criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida families.”

After the Bondi selection, Trump filled most of the remaining major roles in his upcoming administration:

Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary. Bessent is a billionaire hedge fund manager who was previously George Soros’ chief investment officer. Trump claimed that he is “widely respected as one of the world’s foremost international investors and geopolitical and economic strategists.”
Brooke Rollins for Agriculture Secretary. Rollins was involved in several key roles in the first Trump administration.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) for Labor Secretary. Chavez-DeRemer is considered to be pro-union and pro-working class, and the head of the Teamsters Union celebrated her selection.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as the US Surgeon General. Some conservatives are not happy with this pick because of her past stances during the COVID-19 pandemic of supporting masking kids in schools and having praised social media companies for censoring anti-vaccine posts. Trump has promised that his administration will fight online censorship.
Dr. Dave Weldon as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a member of Congress, Weldon was vocal about the need for further research into the links between vaccines and autism. Trump called Weldon a “respective conservative leader on fiscal and social issues” and said that he would help to improve trust in the CDC.
Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Makary of Johns Hopkins University was very outspoken during the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing back against many of the mask and vaccine mandates, and took seriously the dangers of the vaccine to young men.
Sebastian Gorka as the Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism. The popular media personality and former White House adviser will serve as a close confidante to the president on national security.

A CBS/YouGov poll was released over the weekend, showing the extent to which Americans approve of Trump’s cabinet selections. The pick with the highest approval was Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for Secretary of State with a +19 percent approval. After him was RFK Jr. as health secretary with a +14 percent approval. Tulsi Gabbard has a +9 percent approval, and Pete Hegseth has a +5 percent approval.

Overall, 59 percent of Americans said that they approve of how Trump has handled the presidential transition, despite media articles portraying his nominees as scandalous or unqualified.

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Ernest Sidlo2 years ago

It's not a swamp; it's a septic tank that needs pumping out, then sanitized, and sealed up.... If you do not support 'America first'..... you are gone.... and President Trump knows how to fire non-supporters of the common sense agenda....

Jeff Paine2 years ago

Bondi already making comments about going on political witch hunts (Pelosi). COME ON MAN!!! Grow up. Be a bigger person than the DemoRats. Focus on Justice and prosecution of the BIG ISSUES that plague large portions of Americans!! Do your political crap on your own time (weekends?)

Laney B2 years ago

I never understood why Sebastian Gorka disappeared from Fox News, but when hearing him now, I'm reminded of how much I liked him.

Bob Tasker2 years ago

The high positive polling of Trump's overall picks seems to be a good measure of the public's approval of these appointments. Must be driving the dems crazy. Not sure about the accuracy of the pre election pooling, though. I suspect we were seeing some "man bites dog" manipulation to capture audiences. Bob Tasker

Jim Davis2 years ago

The proof will be in the pudding; Not in the poles!

We get our input about yet-to-be-decided events predominantly from the media (news, social, etc.). As a result, the poles are primarily reporting the relative "success" of the media's impact on what we think (i.e. as a marketing feedback tool). In this light, the media's use of pole results to claim what Americans think seems to be somewhat circular - if not manipulative.

While we, the public at large, can't help trying to guess what might be best or what will happen, life experience (and subsequently the historian – not any prognosticator), will provide a far truer assessment of America's successes and failures than public opinion poles might seem to imply.

However, we can hold our elected representatives accountable to be diligent in every aspect of their constitutional responsibilities and decisions. They have access to, or can obtain, all of the many and various facts necessary to make well-considered decisions.

Rich Henke2 years ago

Looking forward to a temporary increase in unemployment as Trump’s cabinet picks start draining the swamp. Maybe those members of the “deep state” who find themselves unemployed can find work at McDonalds or maybe hauling trash. I suspect that government employees who actually do their job and do it without favoritism will flourish!

Doug Ebbecke2 years ago

DJE Seems a few contradict each other on several things. Maybe a good thing, maybe not. Time will tell how it works out in the big picture.