Trump is breaking records with his appointment pace, but that doesn’t mean the transition is going smoothly

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — In the two weeks since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump has been breaking records with the pace of his appointments. incoming management. However, speed should not be confused with organization.

Trump has made more than two dozen appointments and nominations, including 16 to Cabinet-level positions. The selection process, which takes place in a converted conference room and gilded private jet of the Mar-a-Lago club, risks repeating some of the mistakes of his first term and making some new ones.

Elections at the same time manifestation It’s a return to the chaotic era of governance that Trump promised voters would be a disruptive force in the country and his first four years in the Oval Office.

“Last time they were slow and disorganized, this time they’re fast and disorganized,” said David Marchick, dean of American University’s Kogod School of Business and co-author of “Peaceful Transition of Power,” a book on the presidency. transitions.

He said Trump was putting his cabinet in place at least four times faster than his modern predecessors, but added: “They’re moving quickly, but they’re making new mistakes.”

“It’s going at an extremely dangerous speed because there’s no inspection.”

Despite questions arising about the qualifications and backgrounds of some of his nominees, Trump has shown no signs of regret about his personnel choices.

Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, a Trump ally, said: “The president deserves to appoint people who will do the job he campaigned for, who will disrupt the order, and those people probably should be appointed.” .”

But as the president-elect seeks to fulfill his promise to dramatically reshape Washington and allies say they are using their own processes to prepare for the administration, Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said Trump’s team is missing a critical point. element of the process.

“Transition is not about change,” he said, “it is about finding the right change agent.”

Trump’s transition team did not sign the agreement necessary agreements He cooperated with the White House and Justice Department to allow government control of his potential appointees and nominees. The process is taking place at Trump’s private club and former campaign offices, not at government facilities in Washington; because the president-elect has so far chosen not to cooperate with Trump. Biden administration as he prepares for himself.

“President Trump was re-elected on the strong mandate of the American people to change the status quo in Washington,” said transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, the new White House press secretary. “That’s why he has chosen bright and highly respected outsiders to serve his administration, and he will continue to stand behind them as they fight against those who want to derail his MAGA agenda.”

Many Trump aides said they were surprised to learn of sexual assault allegations against Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who was chosen to head the Pentagon. Hegseth denied the allegations, but his attorney acknowledged that Hegseth paid the accuser a hush price. Vetting and background check surveys are designed in part to uncover such history before the election.

The scattered appearance of some announcements indicates that there is no orderly process for the elections. Some of the picks were announced by Trump’s official transition team via email, while others were announced via posts on the Truth Social platform. Trump’s choice of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence came from an ad by outside stalwart Roger Stone.

The selection of Matt Gaetz as attorney general nominee was shocking not because of his well-known personal baggage among Republicans, including many in his own party in Congress who despised him, but because of Trump’s decision to choose him anyway. prioritizes loyalty For those under new management. The House Ethics Committee will meet Wednesday to decide whether to issue a report on the allegations, including that Gaetz had sex with an underage woman. Senate Democrats are aiming to get lawmakers records from the now-closed Justice Department’s criminal investigation.

Asked by reporters Tuesday if he was considering withdrawing Gaetz’s candidacy, Trump said, “No.”

Gabbard’s history of praising dictators like Bashar al-Assad in Syria is also well documented; Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin’s limited experience with environmental issues did not prevent him from being nominated to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

The elections suggest that Trump rewards vocal supporters and seeks picks that excite his base; especially when their views are seen as subversive and alarming to Washington, academia, or other experts—such as selecting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. State Department. Health and Human Services. Trump also appears to embrace some of Kennedy’s views, including his vaccine skepticism.

None of this may matter with Republicans poised to secure a 53-47 majority in the Senate, which typically must confirm their picks. Trump also vowed to try to use recess appointments to push his candidates out of the normal process.

Trump has yet to establish a comprehensive operation to support his nominees, from public relations experts to help protect them from attacks or guides to guide them through the Senate confirmation process. The vice president-elect, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, has taken a primary role in lobbying his colleagues on behalf of Trump’s picks, and Trump himself has advocated on their behalf. But Trump’s allies have acknowledged publicly that the blowback could undo some of Trump’s choices.

Donald Trump Jr. “We have backup plans,” he told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday. “But I think we will go with the strongest candidates first.” The president’s son has been privately and publicly lobbying for figures in Trump’s orbit to serve in the administration and is particularly close to Vance.

Meanwhile, the debate over who will fill the top job that still awaits a candidate, namely treasury secretary, continues with a poll from billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk to his followers on how Trump should decide among the top candidates, including Howard. It turned into a public debate. Lutnick was the transition co-chair appointed Tuesday to lead the Commerce Department.

“Moving fast isn’t a very good strategy if you’re not moving well – And they’re not moving well either,” Stier said. “This is done quickly but without the due diligence that is normally done to ensure no mistakes are made.”

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AP writers Michele L. Price in New York and Steven Groves in Washington contributed.