President-elect Donald Trump is already demonstrating significant authority, indicating a potential effort to undermine the established checks and balances in Washington, while foreign leaders are left attempting to navigate the implications of his electoral success.
Initial indications from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida estate where Trump is assembling his new administration, suggest that upon his return to the White House in January, empowered by a decisive victory and a democratic mandate, he intends to operate with considerable assertiveness.
Trump has utilized social media to direct Senate Republicans participating in this week’s majority leader election to support recess appointments for his Cabinet nominees, with all three candidates promptly indicating their willingness to comply.
This behavior suggests his intention to govern with an unchallenged authority over a Republican-dominated power structure—assuming Republicans secure control of the House, a projection that BBC has yet to confirm. He appears to regard Congress as merely a formality rather than an independent, co-equal branch of government.
The president-elect’s choices signal the emergence of an administration characterized by outsider populism, in contrast to traditional power brokers.
For instance, he has excluded Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley from Cabinet positions, both of whom held significant foreign policy roles previously.
Recently, he proposed the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to New York Representative Elise Stefanik, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Furthermore, his decision to include billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—an opportunity typically reserved for senior foreign policy officials—illustrates how Trump’s unconventional approach will challenge established governance norms. The long-term consequences of Trump’s victory are becoming increasingly apparent.
Speculation surrounding future Supreme Court vacancies and potential retirements underscores the next president’s ability to further entrench the ultra-conservative majority he has cultivated, potentially extending its influence well into the future.
Federal employees are increasingly apprehensive about a potential purge of career bureaucrats by allies of Trump, who are eager to appoint political figures willing to execute directives that could undermine the regulatory framework and diminish the authority of the central government.
Additionally, BBC reported last week on deliberations within the Pentagon regarding the military’s response to any orders to act against American citizens, following Trump’s campaign assertions that he might disregard traditional constraints on the use of force within the United States.
Another pressing question arises: to what extent will Trump pursue the retribution he has vowed to exact on his political adversaries in light of the impeachments, indictments, and a single conviction that have become central to his campaign narrative? Upcoming cabinet nominations, particularly for the position of attorney general, will provide insight into the extent of his desire for vengeance.
Meanwhile, Democrats are grappling with the significant repercussions of their inability to prevent Trump’s resurgence, as they descend into self-blame.
They currently lack a definitive leader to rejuvenate their message or a robust platform should Republicans maintain control of the House, which will only bolster Trump’s position in the forthcoming weeks.
Internationally, Trump’s election is prompting a substantial reevaluation of geopolitical strategies. Leaders from Europe to Taiwan, and from Iran to Russia, are strategizing on how to navigate the uncertainties associated with Trump’s return. Some are hastily attempting to curry favor with the president-elect, while others are preparing for potential backlash.
The escalating sense of urgent reorganization and reassessment both domestically and internationally highlights that Trump is poised to return to office with greater power than during his initial term, benefiting from reduced constraints.
His victories in all seven battleground states—Arizona being confirmed by a BBC projection on Saturday—afford him popular legitimacy. Furthermore, his unprecedented achievement of becoming only the second president to secure a non-consecutive term positions him as a historical figure rather than a mere anomaly.
This new political landscape in Washington will be evident on Wednesday when Trump makes his return to the White House for a luncheon with President Joe Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 election. However, Biden’s influence appears to diminish as Trump consolidates his own power.
Trump’s resolve to assert unparalleled authority is manifesting across various dimensions
In terms of staffing, Trump’s rapid decision to appoint his campaign co-chair, Susie Wiles, as the first female chief of staff indicates his desire for an expedited start.
His dismissal of Pompeo and Haley conveys a significant message. Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state, was previously viewed as a loyal ally during Trump’s first term.
However, he has recently been labeled a member of the “Deep State” by Trump advisor Roger Stone. Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, criticized Trump during her primary campaign, and he subsequently disregarded her offer of assistance on the campaign trail.
The implication is clear: only those who are staunchly loyal to MAGA will be considered for positions in the new administration. Stefanik, who currently serves as the House GOP conference chair, began her congressional career as a moderate Republican from upstate New York but has ascended in leadership by consistently supporting Trump.
In terms of asserting control over Washington Republicans, Trump has largely remained out of the public eye since his victory rally last week. Nevertheless, his social media communications are gaining significant traction.
On Sunday, he indicated his intention to influence more than one branch of government by setting conditions for candidates vying for leadership roles within the Senate Republican hierarchy.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump stated on X. Historically, past presidents have utilized recess appointments as a final strategy to secure Cabinet nominees despite facing opposition.
Trump may seek to broaden the application of temporary appointments to secure multiple year-long positions for nominees deemed too extreme or unqualified by certain senators, potentially including members of his own party.
However, Democrats could resort to filibustering any resolutions aimed at recess. Tony Carrk, the executive director of Accountable.US, a nonpartisan oversight organization, cautioned in a statement that “President-Elect Trump is attempting to undermine our checks and balances and centralize authority by urging Senate Republicans to disregard their constitutional responsibilities and appoint his nominees without public oversight.”
Florida Senator Rick Scott, who is receiving support for the majority leader position from prominent MAGA figures such as Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, quickly committed to supporting this initiative.
South Dakota Senator John Thune and Texas Senator John Cornyn, both established members of the Senate, also indicated their willingness to consider this approach, foreshadowing the delicate balance they would need to maintain with Trump as president.
Thune, the current minority whip, stated on X that all options, including recess appointments, were under consideration. Cornyn also expressed on X that Republicans would remain in session to counter any Democratic attempts to obstruct Trump’s nominees, asserting: “Furthermore, the Constitution explicitly grants the President the authority to make recess appointments.”
Retribution: Washington is anxiously anticipating whether Trump will act on his promise to leverage his newfound authority against his adversaries. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan asserted on BBC “State of the Union” on Sunday: “I don’t believe any of that will occur.”
The Ohio Republican told Dana Bash, “We are the party that opposes political persecution. We stand against using legal means to target opponents.” Nevertheless, Jordan has already formally advised special counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen federal criminal investigations into Trump, to preserve relevant records.
Musk’s Role in Government: A recent incident highlighted the likelihood that Trump’s second term will be even more unconventional than the first.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, participated in a call between Trump and Zelensky the day after the election, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by BBC.
While a president-elect has the authority to include anyone on a call, Musk’s significant contracts with the U.S. government raise concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
His presence alongside Trump—whom he actively supported and promoted on X, the platform he owns—underscores this issue. Additionally, Musk’s Starlink internet service plays a vital role for Ukrainian forces engaged in combat against Russia’s aggressive invasion.
Given Trump’s commitment to ending the conflict and his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Musk’s involvement could be seen as a means of exerting pressure on Zelensky should he resist Trump’s future requests.
More broadly, the friendship between Trump and Musk provides an intriguing insight into the unconventional inner circle that the president-elect is likely to assemble in Washington.
Their relationship not only affirms Trump’s status as a figure of interest to the world’s wealthiest individual but also grants Musk privileged access to the soon-to-be most influential leader.
Both individuals exemplify how outsiders can achieve significant influence through their considerable wealth, now wielding power traditionally held by established political elites.
International leaders are actively seeking to establish rapport with the president-elect, making congratulatory calls while facing domestic scrutiny regarding their approach to his administration.
Trump has indicated a return to the unpredictable foreign policy that characterized his first term, raising concerns that he may disregard NATO’s fundamental principle of mutual defense or jeopardize Taiwan’s security by suggesting that the U.S. would not support the democratic island in the event of a Chinese invasion.
