According to a report from Politico, Donald Trump's decision to nominate a slate of high-profile conservatives to fill out his Cabinet has the potential to create an excess of drama at the White House as they position themselves to remain close to him with an eye on their own political futures.
Unlike Trump's first administration, the president-elect has stocked his second one with multiple GOP lawmakers who likely would like to assume the MAGA mantle from him after four years and they will have to walk a tightrope to stay in his good favor –– a major problem for some first term conservatives who were in and quickly out of the first Trump White House.
As former Trump administration official Matthew Bartlett put it, "This has the potential to turn right back into a New York City soap opera. With all these personalities, there’s an opportunity to remake some of the workings of government and make it work better for the people — but that’s not necessarily a given with everyone’s different perspectives and how they came to be.”
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According to Politico's Megan Messerly, "The memories of Trump’s first term — and what happened when Cabinet officials tried to go against the president — should be fresh enough that incoming Cabinet officials are clear-eyed about what they’re getting into. Or have outsized hope that round two may be different from round one," with the report noting that Elon Musk may already be pushing his luck by constantly being by Trump's side.
"Most people figure out over time, the more time you spend with the president usually works to your disadvantage," one Trump transition official pointed out.
Noting Trump's nominees may have their own agendas, Messely wrote, "That sets up a potential for clashes, particularly as those within the Cabinet work to define themselves within the contours of Trump’s vision as they eye their own future political aspirations. [J.D.] Vance, Rubio, Doug Burgum, Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik and Vivek Ramaswamy are all among the list of possible 2028 hopefuls."
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