One of the central arguments for Donald Trump’s return — put forward by the more sensible elements of his coalition ahead of the election — was that a second term would be markedly more disciplined and purposeful than his first.
This time, they claimed, Trump had gathered a sharper, steadier brains trust of Wall Street financiers, Silicon Valley renegades and think tank mercenaries, ready to not only implement his vision but also attract the elite human capital that had ditched the Republican Party during the earlier MAGA period.
This may still prove true — Scott Bessent, the hedge fund manager and current favourite for treasury secretary, is a respected figure in market circles, and secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio is a known quantity and a strong supporter of the US-Australia alliance.
But judging by the rest of the rogues’ gallery of Trump’s initial appointments, you’d be forgiven for thinking: is this guy trolling?
