“Some suggest President Trump is a practical deal maker who they can work with,” Michael Hart, President of AmCham China, told me about one viewpoint held by business and government in Beijing in preparing for the return of Trump.
Trump’s choices underscore that the America First actions will drive Trump 2.0, not deal-making.
“Most American organizations in China are thinking not only about what actions the Trump administration might take to limit their business with China, but also how they might be targeted by China to retaliate for actions taken by the Trump administration,” Hart added.
THE APPOINTMENTS THAT MATTER WILL COME
Over the coming weeks, the Democrats and a few Republicans can play whack-a-mole with Trump’s most outlandish picks, but at the end, he will get what he wants – loyalists.
For positions not inhibiting or checking his presidential power, he selects true believers with sufficient experience and competence to carry out his agenda. Many will sail through Senate confirmation with full Republican support, and even some likely from Democrats.
“He wants to distract the Democrats and cause them to lose focus on a real resistance,” McCurry told me.
Then, when everyone stops focusing on the Cabinet, the appointments of the next level of officials will occur, such as at the assistant secretary level, where much of the implementation of governmental action takes place.
“People focus on the wrong stuff on all these cabinet nominations. The Secretaries are the front people,” added Goelz. “Watch who he appoints under them – then we will know how much Trump 2.0 will really impact government.”
Source: CNA
