Trump has filled his Cabinet with ‘head-nodders’ who are just there to smile and carry out his whims

A Politico profile of President Donald Trump's relationship with his Cabinet portrays a group of loyalists who mostly agree with him and are frequently handed assignments far from their portfolios, The Independent reports. A senior administration official told Politico that under Trump "Everyone becomes a head-nodder," adding that officials want to keep their jobs and those without prior ties to him cannot speak frankly. Another unnamed senior official described a "strong monarch" surrounded by "weak barons."

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that a problem raised with Trump that belongs to no one else tends to land on the person who raised it. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, for instance, was given the job of repairing the troubled Kennedy Center even though it falls outside his agency's remit. Officials were also blindsided at times: Trump's $5,000 voter check pledge surprised Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, while Trump's decision on ICE traffic stops went against Mullin. Politico likens the second term to a family business, with a small trusted circle ready for any task, unlike a corporate first term.

Spokesperson Davis Ingle pushed back on the monarch imagery, telling Politico that Trump's agenda won the backing of "nearly 80 million people." Control was tight after Trump launched Operation Epic Fury strikes on Iran on February 28; media appearances were canceled, and even Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stayed off the air for several days, with Truth Social the only channel. One source said Trump "likes watching people squirm a little."

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →