Donald Trump's vow to "drain the swamp" has been ridiculed after he appointed his billionaire pal Elon Musk to his White House team.
With little more than two months before the president-elect returns to the White House, he has been ensconced in Mar-A-Lago, assembling his government. However, his early picks have led to criticism amid accusations that he is placing personal loyalty above professional qualifications.
His highest-profile appointment has seen Telsa and X owner Musk charged with leading the newly formed "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The acronym "DOGE" is a nod to the Space X founder's favourite cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. The two billionaires have been tasked with slashing government regulations, cutting wasteful expenditures, and restructuring federal agencies.
While Trump has positioned himself as an anti-establishment figure, Musk's selection has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. With vast business interests in sectors ranging from space exploration to electric vehicles, there are fears that his new role could significantly benefit his own companies. Critics argue that the position could serve more to consolidate Musk's influence over policy decisions that directly impact his business empire rather than delivering the government efficiency Trump has promised.
Trump said in a statement that the two billionaires will work outside the government to offer the White House "advice and guidance" and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to "drive large-scale structural reform and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before." He added that the move would shock government systems.
It's unclear how DOGE will operate, but it could fall under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which dictates how external groups advising the government must operate and be accountable to the public. Federal employees are generally required to disclose their assets and entanglements to ward off potential conflicts of interest and divest significant holdings related to their work.
Because Musk and Ramaswamy would not be formal federal workers, they would not face those requirements or ethical limitations. Musk posted on X: "Department of Government Efficiency. The merch will be (fire emojis)." Later, he added: "Threat to democracy? Nope, threat to BUREAUCRACY!!!" Musk has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election.
At one point, he suggested he could find more than £1.57 trillion in savings — nearly a third of total annual government spending. Trump had made clear that Musk would likely not hold a full-time position, given his other commitments. "I don't think I can get him full-time because he's a little bit busy sending rockets up and all the things he does," Trump said at a rally in Michigan in September. "He said the waste in this country is crazy. And we're going to get Elon Musk to be our cost cutter."
Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. In his statement, Trump said the two will "pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies."
Trump's decision to appoint former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defence has also generated considerable criticism. The former National Guard officer, who gained notoriety for his unwavering support of Trump on Fox's Fox & Friends, has no significant experience in military leadership or defence policy. His background as a veteran of the Iraq War has left critics, including many Republicans, saying he does not qualify to lead the world's biggest military.
Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News colleague, expressed her bewilderment at the nomination, noting that Hegseth's career had been built on media appearances rather than policy expertise. Republican lawmakers also voiced surprise at the choice. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska remarked that Hegseth was not among the names she had heard for the position, while Senator Bill Cassidy simply asked, "Who?"
Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren quickly denounced the appointment, calling it a dangerous move that would ultimately make the country "less safe." "A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defence," she wrote on X. "I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our service members. Donald Trump's pick will make us less safe and must be rejected."
Hegseth's selection represents a worrying trend already shown by the president-elect. Trump's prioritisation of loyalty over competence in choosing key figures for his administration has prompted concerns about the long-term impact on national security and military strategy. Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump's controversial immigration policies, has been tapped to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration.
Known for his extreme views on immigration, Miller's presence in the administration signals Trump remains committed to the hardline policies that dominated his first term. Similarly, South Dakota Governor and confessed dog killer Kristi Noem, who has attracted attention for her stance against public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, is another example of Trump's preference for loyal supporters.Her support for her boss, particularly during the pandemic, has ensured her a place of favour as Trump's pick as Head of Homeland Security.
Elsewhere, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's appointment to serve as US Ambassador to the United Nations also reflects the loyalist trend. Stefanik, who vehemently attacked Trump during the 2016 election, has undergone a dramatic shift in her political alignment, becoming one of his most vocal supporters. Her rapid transformation has raised eyebrows, with critics accusing her of prioritising political survival over principle.
And former New York congressman Lee Zeldin has been announced to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump said in a statement that the Republican who mounted a failed bid for governor of New York in 2022 will "ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted to unleash the power of American businesses. " The president-elect also said Zeldin will maintain "the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet."
Trump's statement misidentified the name of the agency Zeldin was picked to lead, labelling it the Environmental Protective Agency.
Zeldin, who left Congress in January 2023, was a surprising pick for the role. His public appearances, both in his own campaigns and on behalf of Trump, often had him speaking about issues such as the military, national security, antisemitism, US-Israel relations, immigration and crime. He was among the Republicans in Congress who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.
In the 2022 governor's race, Zeldin vowed to reverse a fracking ban imposed by Democrats. Trump is clearly trying to mitigate the previous problems he experienced in his first term, which saw a constant revolving door of departures from his team. Figures like former Secretary of Defence James Mattis and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions left under acrimonious circumstances, often citing disagreements over policy or Trump's leadership style.
Such conflicts appear to have reinforced Trump's belief that disloyalty, rather than policy differences, represents the greatest threat to his administration's stability. With figures like Hegseth and Miller, whose views often conflict with mainstream Republican positions, Trump's administration risks becoming more about consolidating his personal power than advancing a broader political agenda.
While the president-elect promised to focus on reforming Washington and challenging the hard-core elites, his MAGA loyalist appointments suggest that he has shifted his focus.
Rather than draining the swamp, Trump is filling it with loyalists, ensuring that his administration is staffed with individuals who align with his political views and execute his will without question. As Trump's second term begins to take shape, questions about the competence and independence of his cabinet will remain.