Donald Trump News: Cabinet Appointees Fail To Inspire Confidence In Trump’s Swamp Draining Abilities
During the final months of Donald Trump’s campaign, Trump used the phrase “drain the swamp” so often that it became a bit of a running theme in the news. From rally speeches to late night tweets, Trump promised the American people that, if elected, he would drain the political swamp of Washington insiders and lobbyists.
We are winning and the press is refusing to report it. Don’t let them fool you- get out and vote! #DrainTheSwamp on November 8th!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2016
However, news about Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks thus far have indicted that he might be reconsidering his promise to clean up the system. Considering the array of familiar Washington faces, billionaires, and Wall Street insiders who have already been selected for top Cabinet positions, it’s remains unclear how exactly Donald Trump intends to shake up Washington. With news that the latest consideration for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is former half-term Alaskan Governor and onetime VP hopeful Sarah Palin, Donald Trump isn’t exactly inspiring confidence in his ability to drain the swamp.
In news earlier this week, the Chicago Tribune claimed that “Trump is putting together what will be the wealthiest administration in modern American history.”
“His announced nominees for top positions include several multimillionaires, an heir to a family mega-fortune and two Forbes-certified billionaires. Rumored candidates for other positions suggest that Trump could add more ultra-rich appointees soon.
“Many of the Trump appointees were born wealthy, attended elite schools and went on to amass even larger fortunes as adults. As a group, they have much more experience funding political candidates than they do running government agencies.”
working ppls cabinet…
1) Betsy Devos – $5.1B
2) Wilbur Ross – $2.9B
3) Steve Mnuchin -$40M
4) Tom Price – $13.6M
5) Elaine Chao – >$22M— Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) November 30, 2016
Here’s a quick look at Donald Trump’s well-connected Cabinet picks:
Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce: Known as the “king of bankruptcy“, this billionaire first worked with Donald Trump in the early 1990’s.
#Trump sells out again. Wilber Ross, a Vulture Capitalist who makes money by killing jobs, picked for … #MAGA https://t.co/drlNpUZ4Ux
— Verble Gherulous (@VerbleGherulous) November 30, 2016
Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury: A former hedge fund banker at Goldman Sachs, Mnuchin was the chief fundraiser for the Donald Trump campaign. According to Vox, Mnuchin’s only qualification is that he raised millions for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Sherrod Brown (D-OH), on Steve Mnuchin being named to the Treasury: “This isn’t draining the swamp – its stocking it with alligators.”
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) November 30, 2016
Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation: As former labor secretary under George W. Bush, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and former deputy secretary of transportation under George H.W. Bush, Chao is quite the establishment choice for an “outsider” like Donald Trump.
We need a Transportation Secretary committed to rebuilding our national infrastructure, not a perennial Washington insider in Elaine Chao.
— Green Party US (@GreenPartyUS) December 1, 2016
Nikki Haley, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: Current Governor of South Carolina.
Most of us accepted Nikki Haley with same enthusiasm of drinking moldy milk….. NOT going to just swallow ARCH ENEMY Romney #NeverRomney
— DefendingtheUSA (@DefendingtheUSA) November 25, 2016
Betsy DeVos, Secretary of the Department of Education: Billionaire advocate for taxpayer-funded, for-profit charter schools. Married to Dick DeVos, heir to the Amway fortune, and sister of Blackwater founder Erik Prince. Opposed by the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers who claim her work promoting charter schools undercuts funding for public education.
5 reasons Trump pick #BetsyDeVos is wrong for Secretary of Education: https://t.co/eQBAQx5Jci pic.twitter.com/bJAafya2UB
— Education Votes (@edvotes) November 30, 2016
Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services: Current six-term congressman, orthopedic surgeon.
Nominating Tom Price as secretary of health and human services will jeopardize the health of millions of women. My statement: pic.twitter.com/hW25Vxjb8p
— Stephanie Schriock (@Schriock1) November 29, 2016
Jeff Sessions, Attorney General: Current Alabama senator, current Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Immigration.
This is what you need to know about Jeff Sessions, nominee for U.S. Attorney General https://t.co/uJHvU2ZgpO pic.twitter.com/xpNmznOI4m
— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) November 25, 2016
#DrainTheSwamp with Sarah Palin, Stephen Bannon, Jeff Sessions, Steven Mnuchin & Wilbur Ross? BUT THEY ARE THE SWAMP! #NotMyPresidentpic.twitter.com/J2JHov6pdc
— #NotMyPresident (@France4Hillary) December 1, 2016
Whether or not Sarah Palin is chosen as Secretary of Veterans Affairs is yet to be seen. However, judging by Donald Trump’s cabinet picks so far, it appears the swamp isn’t in danger of being drained any time soon. Instead, much to the dismay of many voters, it’s more likely business in Washington will continue as usual, and in the end, it’ll be the working class left holding the bill.
[Featured Image by andykatz/iStock]
