Donald Trump’s flurry of cabinet appointments has been an early example of how mainstream media outlets contort language usually designed to cover conventional politics.
Trump has made “several contentious hires” according to the BBC, while “some” of his picks “may be controversial” warns CBS. Trump’s team has taken an “unorthodox approach”, says The Washington Post, noting a tendency to choose “people with controversial backgrounds and little relevant policy experience”.
This language has come in response to, say, accused sex trafficker Matt Gaetz’s nomination as attorney-general, or anti-vaxxer and literal and figurative brain-worm sufferer Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s assignment heading public health.
So, yeah. Pretty worrying. But looking back at Trump’s last presidency and his picks for these cabinet roles will give us an indication of just how concerned we should be.
Jeff Sessions, attorney-general
What Trump said when he nominated him: “Jeff has been a highly respected member of the US Senate for 20 years. He is a world-class legal mind and considered a truly great attorney-general and US attorney in the state of Alabama. Jeff is greatly admired by legal scholars and virtually everyone who knows him.”
What they said about each other later: Trump subjected Sessions to relentless abuse for the near-entirety of his tenure, calling him: “disgraceful“, “scared stiff and Missing in Action”, “BLANK“, “VERY weak” and allegedly an “idiot” who should resign. Later, he told Alabama voters “do not trust” him.
Sessions, an immigration hardliner and the first senator to endorse Trump in 2016, has more or less taken it without complaint.
How long the tenure lasted: 22 months.
Rex Tillerson, secretary of state
What Trump said when he nominated him: “Rex knows how to manage a global enterprise, which is crucial to running a successful State Department, and his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none. I can think of no-one more prepared, and no-one more dedicated, to serve as secretary of state at this critical time in our history.”
What they said about each other later: “Rex Tillerson, a man who is ‘dumb as a rock’ and totally ill prepared and ill equipped [sic] to be secretary of state, made up a story (he got fired) that I was out-prepared by Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Hamburg, Germany,” said Trump.
Tillerson has called Trump “undisciplined — doesn’t like to read, doesn’t read briefing reports”, and has said Trump’s “understanding of global events, his understanding of US history was really limited”.
How long the tenure lasted: 13 months.
James Mattis, secretary of defense
What Trump said when he nominated him: “General James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis, who is being considered for secretary of defense, was very impressive yesterday. A true General’s General!” Trump tweeted.
What they said about each other later: “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated general. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was ‘Chaos’, which I didn’t like, & changed it to ‘Mad Dog'”, said Trump.
In 2020, Mattis issued a long statement excoriating Trump’s handling of the aftermath of the death of George Floyd: “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.”
How long the tenure lasted: 23 months.
Tom Price, health secretary
What Trump said when he nominated him: “Chairman Price, a renowned physician, has earned a reputation for being a tireless problem solver and the go-to expert on healthcare policy, making him the ideal choice to serve in this capacity. He is exceptionally qualified to shepherd our commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare and bring affordable and accessible healthcare to every American. I am proud to nominate him as secretary of health and human services.”
What they said about each other later: Price resigned in, by Trump administration standards, fairly straightforward circumstances. After it was revealed Price had spent more than US$400,000 of public money on private flights, Trump told reporters, “I was looking into it, and I will look into it, and I will tell you personally I’m not happy about it. I am not happy about it”. Price soon resigned.
How long the tenure lasted: 8 months.
John Kelly, secretary of Homeland Security, chief of staff
What Trump said when he nominated him: “He is a Great American and a Great Leader,” Trump tweeted when Kelly shifted from Homeland Security to become his chief of staff after Reince Priebus was ousted. “John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration.”
What they said about each other later: In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Kelly said Trump fitted “into the general definition of fascist” who “certainly prefers the dictator approach to government”. Trump responded that Kelly was “a degenerate … who made up a story out of pure Trump Derangement Syndrome Hatred. This guy had two qualities, which don’t work well together. He was tough and dumb. John Kelly is a low life.”
How long the tenure lasted: 18 months.
