BY CHRISTIAN SARKAR
Trump 2.0 can be described as a kakistocracy – a state or society governed by its least suitable or competent citizens.
Let’s process that.
Donald Trump and the Republican Party have made dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives a core part of their political platform, claiming these programs undermine merit and lower standards. Yet, when it comes to their own appointments, qualifications and competence take a backseat to blind loyalty and political convenience. WTF?
The contradiction couldn’t be clearer: while they rail against DEI as a threat to excellence, they openly embrace mediocrity when it serves their own interests.
Trump’s first term was a case study in this hypocrisy. He repeatedly filled key government positions with individuals who had no business being there. Betsy DeVos, a billionaire donor with no experience in public education, was put in charge of the Department of Education. Rick Perry, who once pledged to eliminate the Department of Energy, was placed in charge of it—only to later admit he didn’t fully understand its function. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon with no background in housing policy, was appointed to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The problem wasn’t just incompetence—it was an intentional disregard for expertise in favor of ideological alignment. Trump sought appointees who would be loyal to him personally, rather than those who had the knowledge and skills to effectively lead their respective departments. This trend continued in his judicial appointments, where qualifications took a backseat to political allegiance, resulting in the nomination of judges deemed unqualified by the American Bar Association.
Now, for Trump 2.0, his potential cabinet picks reveal the same troubling pattern:
- Marco Rubio, Secretary of State – A career politician with no foreign policy leadership experience. Lacks deep diplomatic experience; more of a legislator than a negotiator.
- Kash Patel, F.B.I. Director – Has never served in a senior law enforcement position or led a large investigative agency. Mr. Patel is a right-wing operative who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on Mr. Trump’s adversaries.
- Pam Bondi, Attorney General – A former Florida attorney general with ties to Trump’s legal battles. Faced scrutiny for dropping a Trump University fraud investigation after receiving a $25,000 donation from Trump’s foundation.
- Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary – A Fox News host with military experience but no Pentagon leadership background. Unlike past Defense Secretaries, he has never held a senior military or civilian leadership role in the Department of Defense.
- Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary – A governor with no direct national security experience.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary – A former congresswoman with limited labor policy experience.
- John Ratcliffe, CIA Director – A former congressman with a history of politicizing intelligence.
- Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence – A former Democratic congresswoman with a controversial record on foreign policy.
- Mehmet Oz, Medicare and Medicaid Administrator – A TV doctor known for promoting dubious medical treatments.
- Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator – A politician with a record of voting against environmental protections.
- Elise Stefanik, UN Ambassador – A Trump loyalist with little foreign policy experience.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary – A vaccine skeptic with no public health credentials.
- Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary – A governor with strong fossil fuel industry ties.
- Doug Collins, Veterans Affairs Secretary – A former congressman with military chaplain experience but no VA leadership background.
- Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary – A hedge fund billionaire with financial conflicts of interest.
- Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary – A conservative think tank executive with no agricultural policy background.
- Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary – A Wall Street executive facing potential conflicts of interest.
- Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary – A reality TV star turned congressman with no transportation policy experience.
The lineup underscores the blatant hypocrisy at play. The GOP’s claim that DEI threatens meritocracy is a smokescreen for their real objective: consolidating power and rewarding loyalty over competence. If Republicans were truly concerned about merit, they would demand expertise in governance—not just fealty to Trump.
You got played, MAGA. You elected the Keystone cops – the gang that couldn’t shoot straight!