Trump’s Senior Appointments Are Making Government Great Again › American Greatness
Roger Kimball
Has Donald Trump 2.0 assembled the best circle of advisors in the history of the American republic? George Washington had Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State and Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury. Impressive. But is it any more impressive than having Marco Rubio as Secretary of State or Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury? Jefferson and Hamilton are at the tippy-top, but largely for the same reason that Samuel Johnson said that Homer was the greatest poet: because they came first. As Homer was foundational for the Western poetic tradition, so Hamilton and Jefferson are foundational for America. And of course, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which puts him in a category by himself.
That said, Rubio and Bessent have emerged as among the best cabinet secretaries in history. Watching Rubio school Congress and the obtuse media about serious issues like Venezuela, Iran, and Gaza reminds one of what Horace said about the aim of poetry: it should delight as well as instruct. Rubio has done both. Part of the delight is Rubio’s commanding way with the obstreperous media. He has also been aided by a fermenting internet. At the moment, Rubio is not only Secretary of State but also National Security Advisor and head of the National Archives. For several months, he also ran USAID. The many hats have been a gift to memers who have delighted in lavishing ever more jobs on his shoulders. Starting with a stolid-looking Rubio sitting in the Oval Office, the memes show us “Marco Rubio realizing that he will be the new Governor of Minnesota/President of Venezuela/Governor of Greenland/Supreme Leader of Iran/etc.”
Equally delightful is Scott Bessent, who is not only Secretary of the Treasury but also Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Bessent’s quiet, decorous manner conceals—or, rather, semi-conceals—a biting wit. His recent fencing match with Congress left him the clear victor. His exchanges with Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, and Greg Meeks were classics. Then there was his response to Rep. Stephen Lynch, who kept shouting questions at Bessent: “Could you speak a little louder?” said Bessent. “I can’t hear you.”
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https://amgreatness.com/2026/02/08/trumps-senior-appointments-are-making-government-great-again/
