I haven’t fully supported every one of Trump’s Cabinet choices, but most of his nominations have been confirmed. Many of them are reputable and qualified. Trump’s Cabinet is also diverse—more diverse than his first Cabinet—something the left has claimed to value now for years.
Among Trump’s Cabinet confirmations are men and women, African American and Indian American ethnicities, former Democrats and an Independent. Yet because these Cabinet choices, and other staff, support Trump’s agenda, their collective diversity is not recognized, let alone celebrated. Here are a few examples:
Patel is the first person of Asian and Indian American descent to lead the FBI. Tulsi Gabbard, who was confirmed Feb. 12 for the role of Director of National Intelligence, is of Samoan descent. A former Democrat, she’s changed parties over time and has served in our military honorably. She’s practically a poster child for diversity and inclusivity. Yet the left has excoriated her too.
Trump nominated several other women to his cabinet, many of which have been confirmed, including Pam Bondi for Attorney General (after Florida's former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew), Gov. Kristi Noem for the Director of Homeland Security, Brooke Rollins for the Secretary of Agriculture and Kelly Loeffler for the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Three more women have been nominated but not yet confirmed: These include Linda McMahon, for Secretary of Education, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, for Secretary of Labor, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), for the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt and his Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, are also women. Leavitt is the White House’s youngest press secretary. And she’s a new mom. Talk about diverse. Trump has surrounded himself with strong women, despite claims to the contrary. As a woman and mother myself, I appreciate this. These women aren’t in these positions because they are women, either. They are qualified for these demanding roles.
The diversity continues. Former Florida Senator Marco Rubio is the first Hispanic Secretary of State. He’s doing an incredible job, approaching a difficult position with professionalism, articulating Trump’s point of view on hard topics, including the war in Ukraine. I’ve always liked Rubio and I’m glad to see him get his due. But he’s still not getting any applause from the left.
Scott Bessent was confirmed for the Secretary of the Treasury. He’s the highest ranking openly gay Cabinet member, which is an issue the left has repeatedly said they care about. He’s also a former Democratic party donor.
Here’s what all of these men and women have in common: Trump appointed them and most, though not all, are viewed as Trump loyalists. But this is not out of character for Trump. I’ve appreciated what Trump has done with DOGE but he’s no Abraham Lincoln. He was never going to appoint a lot of folks with a range of ideological diversities, a la Team of Rivals. I’d prefer that, but it’s rare. Even—almost especially—among Democrats.
The Democrat Party has been claiming for years that diversity and inclusivity is a measurement for success. Sometimes, the only measurement of success. If so, why aren’t they giving the Republican Party, or Donald Trump, any kudos for nominating such a diverse Cabinet?
The Democrat party’s incessant criticism of all of these Cabinet members shows that they weren’t really supportive of true diversity. What they really support is “diverse” people who share the same leftist goals. That’s not diversity—that’s just toeing the party line.
