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The Politics Shed- A Free Text Book for all students of Politics.
'Proper bonkers'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February 2025, has a history of promoting health views that many in the medical and scientific communities consider eccentric or medically unfounded.
COVID-19 "Ethnicity" Theory: In 2023, he suggested that COVID-19 might have been "biologically targeted" to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people, a claim widely rejected as offensive and scientifically inaccurate.
"Deadliest Vaccine": He has described the COVID-19 vaccine as the "deadliest vaccine ever made," disregarding data showing it is overwhelmingly safe and has saved millions of lives.
HIV/AIDS Denialism: Kennedy has repeatedly questioned the scientific fact that HIV causes AIDS, suggesting instead that "poppers" (recreational drugs) or environmental toxins may be the true culprits.
After his re-election in November 2024, Trump assembled his new cabinet. The speed with which it was assembled led to a significant error when one of his first nominees, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, was tapped to head the Department of Justice. Gaetz was forced to withdraw less than three weeks after the election due to serious ethics concerns from his time in the House of Representatives, primarily allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls. He was also unpopular with most Republicans, nearly all Democrats, and generally disliked across the country. Other Trump picks were just as controversial, especially Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, who had a long history as a vaccine skeptic and was known to many for his unusual health views.
Generally loathed
Substantial Evidence of Misconduct: The committee found "substantial evidence" that Gaetz violated House rules, state laws, and federal standards regarding prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, and obstruction.
January 2026, the members of President Donald Trump’s second-term cabinet and key cabinet-rank officials are:
Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury, Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior, and Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture. Howard Lutnick for Commerce, Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services, and Scott Turner for Housing and Urban Development. Sean Duffy and Chris Wright Transportation and Energy, respectively, while Linda McMahon is noted for Education and Doug Collins for Veterans Affairs. Kristi Noem is listed for Homeland Security. Key cabinet-rank officials listed include Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff, Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe as Director of the CIA, and Lee Zeldin as EPA Administrator. Russell Vought is listed for the Office of Management and Budget, Kelly Loeffler for the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Thomas Homan as Border Czar.
Senate hearings were highly partisan (mostly)
Typically, each cabinet nominee first appears before the Senate Standing Committee for several days of hearings, facing questions from both parties. Senators from the president’s side usually toss easy questions, while the opposition tends to ask tougher ones aimed at putting the nominee on the spot. The committee then votes on whether to advance the nomination to the full Senate for debate and a final vote. A simple majority is needed for confirmation, and the committee’s vote often signals how smooth or rocky the process will be. The lone exception was Marco Rubio’s unanimous approval as Secretary of State; otherwise, votes reflected sharp partisanship, with Republicans mostly in favor and Democrats opposed. In floor votes for Hegseth at Defence, Pam Bondi at Attorney General, Kennedy at HHS, Lutnick at Commerce, and Linda McMahon at Education, not a single Democrat supported them. By March 10—just seven weeks after inauguration—Trump’s entire cabinet was confirmed, a much quicker pace than his first term, showing he’d grown more seasoned and avoided earlier missteps.
Fewer adults, more Trump loyalists
Cabinet, in many ways, mirrors Trump in experience and background. Unlike his first term, when observers noted he had surrounded himself with “adults” and seasoned figures, this time the focus seems to be on loyalty. Picks include former hedge fund manager Scott Percent for Secretary of the Treasury; former Microsoft Business Solutions vice president Doug Burgum for Secretary of the Interior; Chris Wright, former CEO of Pinnacle Technologies, a fracking company, as Secretary of Energy; Wall Street broker Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce; Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment with no background in education, as Secretary of Education; and Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter, as Secretary of Defense.
Diversity reflected the election.
Trump’s second-term Cabinet had an average age of 60, with 77-year-old Linda McMahon as Education Secretary and 45-year-old Pete Hegseth at Defense. While Cabinets often aim to reflect America’s diversity, it was President Lyndon Johnson in 1966 who appointed the first Black American to the Cabinet—Robert Weaver as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Since then, presidents have generally sought to diversify their selections, including Black and Latino members. In 2025, Trump appointed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Lori Chavez-DeRemer to Labor, both with Hispanic backgrounds, possibly reflecting increased support from Latino voters in the election.
Gender representation, but to Trump's liking.
Gerald Ford was the first modern-day president to appoint a woman to his cabinet, naming Carla Hills as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1975. In his second term, Donald Trump appointed five women to his cabinet, which some suggested reflected his increased share of the female vote in the election. However, it was also noted that many of the women in Trump’s administration, including those in the cabinet, shared a curious physical resemblance, sometimes described as the “Mar-a-Lago face.”
“I never liked the MAGA Mar-a-Lago sexualization. I believe how women in leadership present themselves sends a message to younger women.” She continued: “I have two daughters, and I’ve always been uncomfortable with how those women puff up their lips and enlarge their breasts. I’ve never spoken about it publicly, but I’ve been planning to.” Marjorie Taylor Greene
Choosing experienced politicians who currently or formerly served in Congress can be tricky. Those still in Congress must resign before joining the administration, unlike in the United Kingdom, where most of the cabinet must be in the House of Commons. Former members of Congress often prefer to continue their lucrative lobbying careers, which is common for many retirees from politics. Still, eight members of Trump’s 2025 cabinet had held elected office, with two—Marco Rubio, senator from Florida, and Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota—having to step down to take their roles.
Well, UK cabinets meet every week. In the United States, cabinets meet mostly every few weeks. And generally, cabinet meetings become. Further apart in a president's second term. For the first year of Trump, second term. He maintained the same. Frequency of cabinet meetings as his first term. About every six weeks.
In the UK cabinets confer collective responsibility and are key to maintaining party unity in the House of Commons and Parliament. While policy discussions in UK cabinets have declined, regular meetings remain important. In the United States, cabinets meet to build team spirit, share information, debate policy, offer advice to the president, and track legislative progress. Cabinet members often have specific responsibilities for certain legislation, and meetings help set the government’s overall mission, giving the impression of a consultative and cooperative administration. Under Trump, however, the focus seemed heavily on presentation, with meetings often starting with public flattery, declarations of loyalty, and praise for the president. While such displays may have existed before, they became a distinctive feature of his cabinets, serving a prominent role in sustaining his personality cult.
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