Trump 2.0: Cronyism and Corruption

On the need to define the change candidate as "more of the same"

It’s been two weeks, and the broad outlines of a second Trump presidency are already beginning to take shape.

Guess what?

It’s as bad as we predicted and perhaps a bit worse.

Trump’s cabinet appointments are akin to a Saturday Night Live skit about the worst fears of MSNBC hosts and The Atlantic writers. The drip, drip, drip of the policies being formed in the transition process are as cruel and counter-productive as the last time around. But now, they could be carried out with ruthless efficiency. Trump is barrelling forward without regard for norms, ethics, or laws.

Much like Trump 1.0, the early days of round two are filled with a neverending torrent of bad news. For Democrats trying to fight back, there are too many pitches to swing at.

The challenge of running against Trump is weaving together his many flaws into one coherent, consistent story. It’s too early to know for sure what our message will be in 2025, let alone the absolutely essential 2026 midterms. However, two common themes in Trump’s early moves could be the foundation for our anti-Trump message going forward — corruption and cronyism.

Cabinet Cronyism

There are so many angles to take when discussing Trump’s major cabinet appointments. Pete Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault. Matt Gaetz has been accused of sleeping with minors at sex parties. Tulsi Gabbard is so unreliable that our allies may be hesitant to share vital intelligence with the United States. Robert Kennedy Jr., the man who will set vaccine policies for the nation, is a dishonest vaccine skeptic.

There are compelling cases to be made against each of these candidates individually. All of them are morally unfit for such important positions at this critical juncture in our nation’s history. The arguments against each candidate will be litigated during the confirmation process next year (if they all make it that far, which seems unlikely at this point). Trump’s nominees tell a broader story about his approach to government — cronyism, pure and simple.