Trump's Cabinet Again Includes Only Three People of Color
The recent wave of Secretary appointments by the president-elect bears a striking resemblance to past choices.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump's election signaled a potential shift in the electoral landscape as he made significant inroads with Latino voters and attracted some support from Black men. However, his Cabinet selection ultimately showcases the enduring dominance of white men in Washington.
After a series of appointments last week, the president-elect has appointed just three people of color to secretary positions, replicating his first Cabinet. His choice of Scott Turner, a former Texas state lawmaker and motivational speaker who is Black, for Housing and Urban Development and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is Hispanic, for Labor mirrors his earlier appointments in these roles.
"Those agencies are not viewed as quite as historic. It’s where you historically will put minorities," noted Alberto Gonzales, the former attorney general who was part of George W. Bush’s administration.
Trump made history by nominating Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is likely to become the first-ever Hispanic Secretary of State. If confirmed, Rubio would surpass Gonzales as the highest-ranking Latino in U.S. history, as the role of Secretary of State is higher in the presidential succession line than that of attorney general.
Gonzales expressed satisfaction with Trump's efforts to include more Hispanics in the "big four" roles — State, Treasury, Justice, and Defense. "I'm of the mind that if you can find those people who can help the president achieve what he campaigned on from different … walks of life, different backgrounds,” he emphasized, “I think that's a good thing.”
The president's perceived lack of focus on diversity in his Cabinet could be expected from someone who criticized his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, as a "DEI hire," while also actively courting Black and Hispanic voters during the campaign.
One former Trump transition official highlighted that Susie Wiles, chosen as chief of staff, is historic since it marks the first time a woman has held that position. Additionally, Scott Bessent, selected to lead Treasury, would be the highest-ranking openly gay Cabinet member in history.
"I think that’s where the country is at: we want a Cabinet that is diverse based on many different experiences and backgrounds, be it sexual or racial, economic, or cultural," stated Alex Stroman, a former South Carolina GOP state party executive director. "But the American people don’t want diversity for the sake of diversity."
Trump has also made strides in appointing women to high-profile roles, selecting five for his Cabinet. In addition to Chavez-DeRemer, he named Brooke Rollins at Agriculture; Linda McMahon at Education; Kristi Noem for Homeland Security; and Pam Bondi at Justice. His first Cabinet featured only two women.
However, even these selections have complexities; Bondi was initially the second choice for attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdrew, McMahon shifted to Education from Commerce, and Noem, if confirmed, would preside over an agency primarily influenced by Trump's close aides regarding immigration policy.
Outgoing President Joe Biden emphasized diversity in his appointments, with over half of his Cabinet comprising people of color. Yet, this diverse Cabinet did not translate into electoral success for Democrats, as many voters of color turned to the right, even in large urban areas.
“What the Democrats were talking about and what mainstream media were talking about was pronouns, gender, transgender identity, and an ethnic identity,” remarked Rep. Monica De La Cruz. “They were worried about pronouns while Hispanics were concerned about prosperity.”
Trump's allies assert that his focus remains on selecting individuals who can help realize his vision. This vision aligns with the goals of the Trump-aligned "Department of Government Efficiency," co-led by Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk, who have publicly shared their aim to assist the transition team in hiring a streamlined team focused on reducing federal expenditures.
Other individuals of color have also been appointed to significant roles in Trump's administration, including Tulsi Gabbard, a former Congress member who has become a prominent figure in MAGA circles, for the position of Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard, the first American Samoan and Hindu elected to Congress, was also recognized for her unique background. Additionally, Trump assigned Asian American Alex Wong as his deputy national security adviser.
Democrats have criticized Trump for his lack of diversity, with civil rights activist Al Sharpton labeling his nominees as "troubling" and noting that “it appears that the self-proclaimed ‘best president for Black America since Abraham Lincoln’ has lost interest in us.”
Supporters of the president-elect suggest that he is reviewing candidates of color for undersecretary roles, which they argue are crucial for executing the president’s agenda more than the secretary roles. Others have pointed out significant challenges outside Trump’s control, particularly when it comes to recruiting Black Republicans. “There’s no bench,” one anonymous source remarked regarding the limited pool of candidates available for nomination.
For Deanna Bass Williams, a veteran Republican strategist who collaborated with Ben Carson at HUD in Trump’s first term, her advice to Democrats lamenting the administration's composition is to move past their grievances. “Not everything is about race,” she stated, emphasizing that this group was selected for their commitment to Trump's mission. “This group of Cabinet picks have the guts to actually do it.”
Republicans argue that Trump is moving away from traditional establishment figures or subject-matter experts often favored by past presidents of both parties. Additionally, in a bid to challenge liberal narratives, he is introducing ideological diversity, with figures like Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emerging from previous Democratic affiliations.
“They want former Democrats to say: ‘You guys suck so bad, we took some of your team,’" commented Republican strategist Rina Shah.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
After a series of appointments last week, the president-elect has appointed just three people of color to secretary positions, replicating his first Cabinet. His choice of Scott Turner, a former Texas state lawmaker and motivational speaker who is Black, for Housing and Urban Development and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is Hispanic, for Labor mirrors his earlier appointments in these roles.
"Those agencies are not viewed as quite as historic. It’s where you historically will put minorities," noted Alberto Gonzales, the former attorney general who was part of George W. Bush’s administration.
Trump made history by nominating Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is likely to become the first-ever Hispanic Secretary of State. If confirmed, Rubio would surpass Gonzales as the highest-ranking Latino in U.S. history, as the role of Secretary of State is higher in the presidential succession line than that of attorney general.
Gonzales expressed satisfaction with Trump's efforts to include more Hispanics in the "big four" roles — State, Treasury, Justice, and Defense. "I'm of the mind that if you can find those people who can help the president achieve what he campaigned on from different … walks of life, different backgrounds,” he emphasized, “I think that's a good thing.”
The president's perceived lack of focus on diversity in his Cabinet could be expected from someone who criticized his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, as a "DEI hire," while also actively courting Black and Hispanic voters during the campaign.
One former Trump transition official highlighted that Susie Wiles, chosen as chief of staff, is historic since it marks the first time a woman has held that position. Additionally, Scott Bessent, selected to lead Treasury, would be the highest-ranking openly gay Cabinet member in history.
"I think that’s where the country is at: we want a Cabinet that is diverse based on many different experiences and backgrounds, be it sexual or racial, economic, or cultural," stated Alex Stroman, a former South Carolina GOP state party executive director. "But the American people don’t want diversity for the sake of diversity."
Trump has also made strides in appointing women to high-profile roles, selecting five for his Cabinet. In addition to Chavez-DeRemer, he named Brooke Rollins at Agriculture; Linda McMahon at Education; Kristi Noem for Homeland Security; and Pam Bondi at Justice. His first Cabinet featured only two women.
However, even these selections have complexities; Bondi was initially the second choice for attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdrew, McMahon shifted to Education from Commerce, and Noem, if confirmed, would preside over an agency primarily influenced by Trump's close aides regarding immigration policy.
Outgoing President Joe Biden emphasized diversity in his appointments, with over half of his Cabinet comprising people of color. Yet, this diverse Cabinet did not translate into electoral success for Democrats, as many voters of color turned to the right, even in large urban areas.
“What the Democrats were talking about and what mainstream media were talking about was pronouns, gender, transgender identity, and an ethnic identity,” remarked Rep. Monica De La Cruz. “They were worried about pronouns while Hispanics were concerned about prosperity.”
Trump's allies assert that his focus remains on selecting individuals who can help realize his vision. This vision aligns with the goals of the Trump-aligned "Department of Government Efficiency," co-led by Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk, who have publicly shared their aim to assist the transition team in hiring a streamlined team focused on reducing federal expenditures.
Other individuals of color have also been appointed to significant roles in Trump's administration, including Tulsi Gabbard, a former Congress member who has become a prominent figure in MAGA circles, for the position of Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard, the first American Samoan and Hindu elected to Congress, was also recognized for her unique background. Additionally, Trump assigned Asian American Alex Wong as his deputy national security adviser.
Democrats have criticized Trump for his lack of diversity, with civil rights activist Al Sharpton labeling his nominees as "troubling" and noting that “it appears that the self-proclaimed ‘best president for Black America since Abraham Lincoln’ has lost interest in us.”
Supporters of the president-elect suggest that he is reviewing candidates of color for undersecretary roles, which they argue are crucial for executing the president’s agenda more than the secretary roles. Others have pointed out significant challenges outside Trump’s control, particularly when it comes to recruiting Black Republicans. “There’s no bench,” one anonymous source remarked regarding the limited pool of candidates available for nomination.
For Deanna Bass Williams, a veteran Republican strategist who collaborated with Ben Carson at HUD in Trump’s first term, her advice to Democrats lamenting the administration's composition is to move past their grievances. “Not everything is about race,” she stated, emphasizing that this group was selected for their commitment to Trump's mission. “This group of Cabinet picks have the guts to actually do it.”
Republicans argue that Trump is moving away from traditional establishment figures or subject-matter experts often favored by past presidents of both parties. Additionally, in a bid to challenge liberal narratives, he is introducing ideological diversity, with figures like Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emerging from previous Democratic affiliations.
“They want former Democrats to say: ‘You guys suck so bad, we took some of your team,’" commented Republican strategist Rina Shah.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
