NYT: Trump Is Selecting His Nominees “On A Whim”

The New York Times reports:

President-elect Donald J. Trump chose his attorney general almost on a whim, in the sky between Washington and Palm Beach, Fla. He scoffed at a candidate for the Department of Homeland Security, then abruptly changed his mind. His defense secretary pick was a snap judgment during a slide presentation at Mar-a-Lago. Much of the action has taken place under the chandelier in the tearoom at Mar-a-Lago, where Mr. Trump surveys his potential Cabinet nominees on giant video screens.

He flicks through shortlists that his transition team, led by the billionaire Howard Lutnick, has drafted over the past months. If Mr. Trump shows an interest in a candidate, the presentation is designed to allow him to immediately watch videos of the potential nominee’s TV appearances — essential for any would-be Trump cabinet official. The president-elect is picking people he considers true loyalists, with little regard for whether they can pass Senate confirmation.

Read the full article.

“When Trump’s not running through personnel, he has been spotted in the tearoom beneath the gold-canopied roof, or out on the Mar-a-Lago patio, picking out music on his iPad and blasting Pavarotti” https://t.co/LP5S0gnILy via @NYTimes

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) November 16, 2024