Staff Reports
The prospect of the incoming administration is buzzing with celebrity hype, as President-elect Donald Trump has taken his affection for the spotlight to the next level. His recent picks are straight out of reality TV, raising a few eyebrows from the experts who lament that charisma doesn’t automatically translate to managing multibillion-dollar agencies. Nevertheless, it seems like the new strategy is perhaps to make America fun again, even if it means pulling from the world of entertainment.
‘Governing with the stars’: Trump taps television celebrities for administrationhttps://t.co/tm0YkR1pwk pic.twitter.com/crK81Ke7W5
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 27, 2024
Leading the pack is Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former talk show host now tasked with overseeing Medicare and Medicaid. One imagines him handing out prescriptions with a smile and a flair for television drama rather than navigating the depths of health care policy. Alongside him is Pete Hegseth, a co-host from “Fox & Friends Weekend,” slated to run the $850 billion Defense Department. With all due respect, running a large military apparatus might involve more than just a hefty dose of charisma and a knack for chatting it up on Sunday mornings.
And it doesn’t stop there. Sean Duffy, a familiar face from Fox Business and a former star of MTV’s “The Real World,” has been chosen to manage the $300 billion Transportation Department. Who knew that being on a reality TV show would qualify someone to handle the nation’s highways and bridges? Duffy will surely bring a dose of drama to the infrastructure debates, but one has to wonder if he has a plan for potholes or if he’s just there for the camera angles.
In the ambassadorial realm, Mike Huckabee, a familiar voice to Fox viewers and former Arkansas governor, will represent the U.S. in Israel. While he may at least have taste for politics, it’s clear that the line between entertainment and governance is getting blurrier. As if that weren’t enough, Linda McMahon, the former WWE CEO who helped build wrestling into a blockbuster, is back in the education arena. Smackdowns in the classroom might take on a whole new meaning with her around.
Critics have raised concerns about the experience of this star-studded cabinet. Just how effective will these freshly minted officials be at running complex systems when their past accolades mostly involve tossing chairs on stage or promoting wellness plans? With many of these picks lacking the requisite government experience, some suspect these mega-celebs might end up being window dressing rather than operational leaders. The fear is that the administration’s priorities could easily devolve into a reality show where perception is prioritized over performance.
While Trump has a knack for picking individuals who can boldly project his MAGA vision, the question remains whether their prior achievements in the limelight will hold up when faced with the severe challenges of governance. After all, managing a sprawling bureaucracy is far more intricate than orchestrating a variety show. Trump surely must know that if any of these celebrity picks don’t play their parts well, he could evict them from the set quicker than a contestant on “The Apprentice.” Hollywood might not have prepared them for the trials by fire awaiting them in the nation’s capital, but at least it promises some entertaining TV moments along the way.
