In true reality show fashion, Trump has been dangling the prospect that he will run again, Teddy Roosevelt (or maybe Grover Cleveland style) to capture an elusive second term.
Election hijinks (or maybe it’s hijinx now) notwithstanding – Trump is both the leader of the Republican Party going into 2024 and his own worst enemy.
He has to account for what failed in his first administration, and it can’t just be “The Swamp was a few leagues deeper than previously thought.”
Here’s how to win.
It’s The Staffing, Stupid
For starters, Trump staffed his administration terribly. That’s forgivable if you’re a political novice, but not if you’re known for your business acumen – ESPECIALLY if you were marketed as the guy from The Apprentice with the *you’re fired!* catchphrase.
Instead, Trump surrounded himself with people who were fine on paper and could do a first interview pretty well, and his firings (reluctantly as they came) almost brought down his administration (thank Jared for the offing Comey disaster).
No More Loser Generals
Most notable was Trump’s choice in generals, all of whom he probably chose based on “Central Casting” looks.
McMaster and Mattis were supposed to be a dynamic duo, the Patton and MacArthur of our times. One was a noted Vietnam scholar, the other the “Warrior Monk” who won us Iraq or Afghanistan or some other useless conflict we ended up losing.
Both turned out to be feckless at best, advocating for war in Syria, Iran, and god knows where else while failing to shore up our existing wars.
Kelly was supposed to be the chief of staff that would keep the White House operational and running smoothly, also known as “the job description”. Instead, by most accounts, he spent his time rolling his eyes at his boss and giving contrary instructions to loyal staff.
And last is Milley, best known for doing John Goodman cosplay on the weekends.
Milley’s legacy is being the guy in fatigues who walked across Lafayette Square Park with Trump (and apologized), the guy who bungled the Afghanistan withdrawal (and did not apologize), the guy who pushes Critical Race Theory in our military (Unapologetic: his debut solo album) and as we now know the guy who usurped the chain of command and acted as a back channel between Nancy Pelosi and the Chinese military to be the final point person for any presidentially-ordered nuclear or non-nuclear strike (for which he’ll never apologize).
Not one of these men is a Patton, a Schwarzkopf, or even a Hawkeye Pierce from M.A.S.H.
Trump has to account for these hires, and “well he looked the part!” just don’t cut it.
Any incoming Trump admin should have a slate of willing and able existing generals and leaders ready to execute their jobs with clear cut plans Day One. Democrats are good at this, which is why current WH Chief of Staff Ronald Klain is effectively President and they’re three deep on the bench in any given government position.
R: the President’s advisor
So who does Trump pick if he wants to do this rodeo one more time?
Immigration, Immigration, Immigration
As we now know, Kristjejn Njiejlsjejn (Jan from the Office) was completely useless on immigration.
It should’ve been Kris Kobach all along (and on top of being effective, he also looks like Central Casting!)
Immigration is still *the* most important issue.
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Beyond immigration, a welcome idea would be a council of job growth leaders, similar (but better than) Trump’s council of CEOs at the beginning of his term who pledged to Hire American.
One from each state – even blue states – would solidify support in each of those areas and provide a full, unifying sounding board for speedy economic recovery dependent less upon what a single multinational corporation does and more on what’s needed at the state level.
Pick Loyal People
Crucially – anyone who was “appalled” by Jan 6 is automatically unqualified to hold a government role in a future Trump administration ever again. With members of his own Cabinet and press secretaries who shouldn’t be trusted behind the wheel placing themselves in positions to be rehired – all their previous comments should be part of a hiring decision. Hiring choices shouldn’t be outsourced to Romney’s niece at the RNC or Trump’s son-in-law – they need a brass balls chief of staff who can move from the campaign to the White House and make sharp personnel choices for the big man at the top of the ticket.
Trump Can Still Screw This Up
Unless Trump just wants to give up, in which case just pick the castoffs from VH1’s “Rock of Love” or every general who likes Wesley Clark.
Right now, Trump is Norm MacDonald on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – too smart for the show but taking the visual cues from the guy across the desk and losing the million dollar prize.
