The Trump Cabinet
Though the full-scaled dawn of the Trump administration era is slowly taking shape, but as they say, if the coming events cast their shadows before: the newly elected America’s 47th President Donald J. Trump is being an exquisite planner and an astute builder. He is moving adroitly and astutely assembling his administrative and ministerial personnel, his cabinet and supporting staff, to work with him for the next four years, until 2029. Though for appointing to senior-level administration, political positions, Trump’s only criteria is being faithful and true loyalist.
The President-elect 78-year-old, Mr. Donald J. Trump, has constructed his cabinet, some of the most striking features of his choice seem to be identifying well-known but controversial Republican Party supporters and followers. But right now, among his already identified top-level officials, the most pleasant and pleasing highlight is picking up of two India-origin and one American-woman Hindus: And among them perhaps is the choice of Mr. Kashyap Patel as Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The 44-year-old Gujarati, Gujju, Trump-loyalist, Patel, also popularly known as Kash Patel, is a polemic political figure. Kash Patel ‘is seen as a consummate staunch Trump-man, who would do anything for him.’ Kash is on record having served among senior staff during the Trump-01 Administration. Kash's memoir, ‘Government’s Gangsters’ has been adopted for a movie for which he also played a role. He’s still said to be involved in moviemaking. Kash’s appointment will largely depend upon the official appointment procedure. Subject to this approval, he is likely to replace the current FBI director, Christopher Wray. Incidentally, a large number of the Republican Party President-elect’s supporters are not in favour of pitching Kash crucial position in the Trump-2 administration.
Besides, the two other India-origin, Hindu nominees are: Tamilian meridian millionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy, 39, who will share the responsibility of heading the newly established, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with Elon Musk, billionaire Tesla car maker. Vivek, a Yale-Havard Law graduate, self-made rich entrepreneur, is married to Apoorva Tewari, a medical doctor.
Probably the third prominent Hindu in the Trump Cabinet is a U.S. army, lieutenant-colonel, veteran woman Hindu-convert, Hawaii-born, member of the House of Representative, Tulsi Gabbard, 43, has an ‘eclectic political background’.
Mrs. Gabbard will take over as the Director of National Intelligence. The most noteworthy and distinguishing characteristic about Tulsi are that she is the first Hindu elected to the US Congress; she has been tremendously praised about her Hindu faith and this has immensely endeared her among the Hindu faith communities in the US. Often, she is frequently seen chanting Hare-Krishna-Hare-Rama bhajana prayers. According to a post on US Who’s Who, Tulsi immersed in the Hare-Krishan teachings from an early age. She calls it a Maha Mantra of the ISKON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) movement.
Tulsi Gabbard also often discusses how the teachings have influenced her life and politics. She often publicly speaks at length about the basic principles of karma and seva – one’s deeds and social service. Of course, Tulsi is not India-origin. Being unsatisfied and critical of the Democratic Party policies toward the Ukraine-Rusia war, she quit the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party not long ago. Incidentally, she has been the Fox TV news contributor, and for Moscow’s Kremlin media machine, the R T (Russia Today).
Meanwhile, in the past, Tulsi Gabbard has been ‘sharply criticizing America and NATO policies and blamed US for provoking the war by ignoring Russia’s security concerns,’ as reported The New York Times. Gabbard’s such statement caused utter resentments in Washington, and she ‘was accused of parroting the anti-American propaganda. Trump’s Gabbard’s choice ‘to oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and debarments…raised alarms among national security officials…’ Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment conferment is also likely to face lot of opposition. It’s being stated that Trump might ignore all the official appointments procedures for hiring his staff.
The third India-origin Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy along with Elon Musk, both highly experienced and tremendously successful businessmen, will advise the Trump-2 to streamline and reshape the responsibilities and administrative and raison d’ ere. It may be stated that Vivek Rammaswamy and his wife have candidly addressed their Hindu faith and background. While Vivek Ramaswamy identifies as culturally Hindu, he often ‘emphasizes all the universal principles over specific religious doctrines.’
Finally, President-elect’s Trump’s vice-president-elect running mate, J.D. Vance’s Hindu, Yale-educated wife, Pushpa Chilukuri’s personal and family influence will stand in good stead in the couple’s presence in the Trump Oval Office and Trump White House…
With such an emerging political scenario in Washington, D.C., and with a high-octane Trump’s unstoppable anti-previous regime’s opprobrium-laced, questioningly dubious woven political conundrums, national and international issues with no holds barred, the world too waits for interesting times ahead, beginning from January 20, 2025, the Day One of the four-year upcoming Trump Era.
- R. Dua, former professor-head, journalism department, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, and an ex-faculty Journalism, California State University, US.
