Trump attempts to ‘shock and overwhelm’ system with Cabinet picks

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman suggested that President-elect Trump’s team is trying to “overwhelm” and test political norms with its Cabinet picks.

“I think they’re basically looking to shock and overwhelm the system so that they can maximize what the system will tolerate,” Haberman told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday.

When asked earlier in the interview if she thought there would be more “shocking nominations to come,” Haberman wasted no time answering “yes,” while adding that guess who Trump could choose is “the most useless game”.

“He will change his mind, someone will overturn a staff pick or a Cabinet pick, etc.,” she said. “Things are too smooth with him.”

Tapper and Haberman seemed to agree, however, that all of Trump’s Cabinet picks so far “show loyalty” to the president-elect, with Tapper going so far as to call them “MAGA warriors,” a wink. look at Trump’s “Make America Great Again”. coalition of supporters.

“They are MAGA warriors. They’re in your face,” Tapper said.

Haberman replied: “Correct.”

Haberman later predicted that Trump choosing former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as attorney general “would be a bridge too far for some Republican senators,” but, she added, “we’ll find out.”

Trump’s nomination of Gaetz was an unexpected choice and put the Senate Republican Party on the defensive.

Trump also faced backlash over the surprise picks of Pete Hegseth, a conservative Fox News host, for defense secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard, for director of national intelligence.

But Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R), a staunch Trump ally, warned his fellow Republicans on Thursday that “we’re going to try to run you out of the Senate” if they oppose the legislative choices and agenda of Trump.

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