Now that the shape of Donald Trump’s administration is clear, dumbfounded pessimism among saner policy establishments around the world following the billionaire realtor’s victory in the US presidential elections is giving way to serious misgiving. Flickering hopes of sober counsel that arose from the president-elect’s unexpectedly reconciliatory acceptance speech in November have been extinguished by a singularly unusual assemblage of personalities who will influence the course of global politics for at least the next four years. Among unabashed Islamophobes, racists, pro-lifers, climate change deniers, big business representatives and several with flexible notions of ethics, Mr Trump’s Cabinet selection has managed to accentuate and contradict his obnoxious campaign rhetoric at the same time.
Most choices will not surprise Hispanics, African-Americans and other minorities, advocates of gender and civil rights, and environmental activists. But Mr Trump’s core support base of unemployed white voters, who were exhorted to defeat Hillary Clinton because of her closeness to “corrupt” big business and Wall Street, may be puzzled by the inclusion of no less than three alumni of the most blue-blooded representative of high finance, Goldman Sachs, in key positions of Treasury Secretary, head of the National Economic Council and Senior Advisor — not to forget private equity investor Wilbur Ross as Commerce Secretary and Rex Tillerson, CEO of America’s largest corporation ExxonMobil, as Secretary of State, the most senior Cabinet position. Mr Tillerson’s proximity to Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a time when Russia is suspected to have meddled with the US presidential elections, could be a matter of concern. Administrative experience will, in fact, come at a premium. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, for instance, is another who cannot claim this qualification, even if his questionable dealings during the 2008 home loan crisis are ignored.
It says something about the nature of this administration that one of its relatively sound representatives goes by the nickname of “Mad Dog”. James Mattis, who will be Secretary of Defense, is a former marine with experience in Afghanistan and Iraq and commander of Central Command. Mr Mattis shows an understanding of the distinction between political Islam and the religion, is notably not a fan of Russia, and sees some merit in the Iran nuclear deal. Not that he is uncontroversial; his style is so abrasive that he was fired by the Obama administration. Mr Trump’s penchant for surrounding himself with generals is reflected in his choice of National Security Advisor, a former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency who was fired for his brash Islamophobia and may be remembered for leading the unedifying chants of “Lock Her Up” against Mrs Clinton. Another former marine, John F Kelley, as Secretary of Homeland Security, who believes that allowing women in combat roles will lower standards in the military. Just as questionable is the appointment of Jeff Sessions, who is unabashedly racist, as the Attorney General.
One of the saner appointments is that of Nikki Haley as United Nations Ambassador. The daughter of Indian immigrants, she had criticised Mr Trump’s anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rants as “un-American” and, as the former governor of South Carolina, has been sensitive to African-American sentiments. Outside of Mr Trump’s White House staff, most appointments require Senate confirmation. Hope now shifts to the Senate to curb Mr Trump’s wilder excesses.