Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump is on the brink of finalizing a new Cabinet for his upcoming term, with all eyes glued to his yet-to-be-named replacements for key positions. Among the most crucial is the successor for current FBI Director Christopher Wray. The suspense is palpable as speculation swirls around who will take the helm of the FBI and whether it will be someone capable of steering the agency back toward its original mission—serving the American people rather than partisan interests.
The names being tossed around include former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, who had been the favorite until he faced considerable pushback from Trump’s base. It seems that recent history among the MAGA crowd has found Rogers a little too much of a “Washington insider” for their taste. Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, put the nail in that coffin by making it crystal clear that Rogers’s candidacy was a non-starter in the Trump universe.
Latest Pres. Trump's cabinet picks and my last update for the night.
Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General
Dr. Martin A. Makary to lead the FDA
Dr. Dave Weldon, CDC Dir.
Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Sec.
Sebastian Gorka and Alex Wong NSC advisors pic.twitter.com/v6NkS0sPbZ— 🇺🇸SGT_Decker 🇺🇸 (@SGT_Decker) November 23, 2024
With Rogers out of the running, the focus has shifted to firebrand Kash Patel, a man who could easily ruffle the feathers of the D.C. establishment. Patel, a former adviser on the National Security Council, is not shy about his intentions for the Department of Justice as outlined in his book, *Government Gangsters*. However, inviting Patel into the FBI fold may ignite outrage among old guard officials who feel threatened by a fresh approach that calls for accountability and transparency. Andrew McCabe’s loud objections to any possibility of Patel leading the FBI highlight just how sensitive the old guard is about losing their grip on power.
MAGA supporters, however, seem enthusiastic about Patel’s potential. Charlie Kirk, a prominent voice in conservative circles, has touted Patel as a stellar choice for FBI Director. Some insiders suggest that if Trump wants to avoid the inevitable Senate circus that appointing Patel to the FBI would entail, he might consider slipping him into a role at the CIA, where Senate approval isn’t required. This strategy could give Patel significant clout without the drama associated with a confirmation hearing.
Another name to join the mix is Cliff Sims, a member of Trump’s transition team and a seasoned vet in the intelligence game. But it appears there’s some backbiting at play, with claims that Sims is being undermined by Patel’s allies. The positioning of both candidates underscores a broader determination among Trump’s supporters to shake up the status quo in Washington’s law enforcement and intelligence communities.
While Wray still has some time left at the FBI, many speculate he might not last through the administration’s term. Trump is deadly serious about reforming law enforcement, consistently framing his legal issues as a product of “lawfare” waged against him. Those close to Trump believe that any move to appoint either Patel or Sims would signal to his base that the incoming administration is focused on restoring integrity to federal law enforcement. Ultimately, this reshuffling could be just the beginning of a much-needed cleansing in an agency that many believe has forgotten its primary purpose: to protect and serve the American citizenry.
