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While not all of the cabinet positions have yet been confirmed by the Senate, a core is evident in key departments like Defense, State, Interior, and Justice, and a distinct pattern appears to be emerging.

His critics have often portrayed Trump as a self-centered egomaniac who has to be the center of attention at all times. Usually, such personalities will hire people who are no threat to them and can easily be eclipsed. In politics, that often means hiring people of low intellect, poor communication skills, and low ambition.  Think of the Biden Administration. To put the lie to such an interpretation, look at Trump’s most essential appointees.

If Trump’s inner circle has any common characteristics, they are often very attractive, highly intelligent, verbally superior, and highly motivated. These people would likely attract attention away from Trump, yet he shows no indication that he fears their talents one bit.

Let’s look at a few of them. We will start with one of the most important choices, J.D. Vance as Vice President. If Trump indeed was a weak narcissist who feels threatened by talent, he surely picked the wrong man. Vance can write and speak with the best of them, and he has a super attractive young family. His recent address to allies in Europe has to be one of the most profound and impactful addresses ever delivered by a Vice President. He seems to have been given a significant portfolio.  And this is for a position often considered a political exile. Former Vice President John Nance Garner once called the Vice Presidency,  “not worth a bucket of warm piss.”

Speaking of intellect, it is hard to underestimate Stephen Miller’s importance to the President. Highly intelligent and dedicated, he literally destroyed a CNN anchor this week. A bulldog attorney with a lightning quick mind, he does not strike one as any toady to President Trump.  A few months ago, when the main accuser of the Duke LaCrosse Team publically admitted she made up all the charges, it surfaced that ONLY ONE student rose to the team’s defense at the time, when the entire machine of Duke University and the national press was “believing the woman” and accusing their students of heinous crimes. That solitary student was Stephen Miller. Now, he has twice been a senior advisor to the President of the United States. Miller has always had courage; it has never been an act.

Alina Habba has been the President’s lawyer through some tough times. Again, we have a beautiful woman, a mother, and a brilliant legal mind. She does not strike one as a patsy for an egomaniac.

Or, let’s take Marco Rubio. Remember when, during the 2016 primaries, Trump called him “little Marco”? To the credit of both men, they did not take the epithet seriously as painful as it was at the time. Rubio seems to have evolved a bit in his foreign policy positions, and his personal family story has hardened him against both Marxism and dictatorships. He, too, is uncommonly attractive and articulate and knows how to handle hostile press.

At the Department of Justice, Pam Bondi. For a woman who is reportedly 59, she looks 20 years younger. Tough and very experienced, she seems like a far better choice than the initial selection of  Matt Gaetz. We wonder if Trump did not have a plan for all that. Again, like Rubio, she may have even higher political aspirations. If so, Trump seems to feel it benefits him rather than viewing it as a threat.

While Tom Homan, as “Border Czar,” is hardly attractive, he does appear to be a tough cop who was chosen right out of central casting. He is blunt, strong, and experienced.

Then there is Kristi Noem, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Again, some were political opponents once, but Trump wants to build MAGA into an ecumenical movement. Again, each selection finds a very attractive, highly articulate, and principled person. Each one has a strong personality, but Trump does not exhibit any fears.

Then, there is Pete Hegseth in Defense and Sean Duffy in Transportation. Trump seems to have gone out of his way to recruit talent from Fox News, where good looks and an articulate presentation are required. Media stars are not known for being shy and compliant.

One of the criticisms one could make of much of the Republican Party is that they never seem to be able to articulate ideas very well and stand toe-to-toe with the press. Often, as aides or allies of a President, they got roughed up badly. We can think of Dan Quayle, Sarah Palin, or John McCain debating Obama. While they had their qualities, they didn’t seem as tough and articulate as Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, or Marco Rubio.

You get the feeling, with many of these choices, that Trump wants MAGA to survive him and is building a very talented bench that could serve the GOP for years.

Kash Patel at the FBI is another outstanding choice. Highly experienced, very articulate, and very wise as to the ways of Washington.

The press has not made much comment, but Trump seems to go out of his way to find articulate and attractive women for high positions of authority, and he does not hesitate to go to “people of color” if he thinks they are best for the job. Yet, we are constantly told he is misogynistic, homophobic, and racist.

In a world where the media is the message, Trump has probably recruited American history’s most attractive and articulate administration. And they are not all lovely faces and empty heads. Each one of them is tough and bright as they come.

While this is not a complete survey of the cabinet or aides, one has to mention Elon Musk. Musk has some awkward body movements, and his personal life is unconventional. Trump knows all that, of course. But that Musk is a genius cannot be denied, and a very successful one at that. Musk has also demonstrated that, as quirky as he is, he is very compassionate with his funds and companies. He has gone out of his way to help the sick and those ravaged by storms and fires. He also put billions on the line in a risky proposition with Twitter for a high principle: free speech’s importance. Now he has the onerous task of DOGE. History is littered with failed commissions and other attempts to cut wasteful spending. Does anyone remember Simpson-Bowles, The Grace Commission, or the Gang of Six?

In just a few weeks, DOGE has already done more to change the discussion of waste, fraud, and abuse than we have seen before. Moreover, they have uncovered how the international Left funds their worldwide revolutionary activities. 

Finally, while space does not permit a complete survey of all positions, look at his Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, a beautiful young mother of just 27. She has already opened the national press briefings to new forms of journalism, breaking the monopoly of the networks and a few liberal urban newspapers. She does not spend most of the time equivocating or looking into her briefing book. When confronted by a hostile press, she holds her ground amazingly well.

Once again, Trump seems to be recruiting the best, and their origins, age, ethnicity, sex, or bedroom habits don’t seem to concern him. He is interested in what they can do for him and MAGA and hardly seems concerned that they may attract attention away from him.

History will tell us how all this will work out. However, Trump knows what he is up against, and to his credit, he has chosen an amazingly talented, attractive, and articulate team to follow him into battle. What a striking contrast to the Biden Administration!

We don’t mean to harp on appearance. While physical appearance is not usually a measure of competence, one can’t help but be struck by the different look of the Trump administration compared to that of Joe Biden. However, talent and good looks coming as a package are even rarer commodities. It is sort of the same thing one sees in the difference between Fox and MSNBC. Just as an aside, Rachel Maddow looks increasingly like Ron Reagan. Is there something about modern liberalism that makes people ugly? If not, what is the explanation?

Despite recruiting all these talented and beautiful people,  there seems to be no doubt about who is the boss and what the mission is.

This is going to be fun to watch.

*****

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore