On November 5, over 70 million Americans overlooked Trump’s January 6th insurrection, racism, misogyny and 34 felony charges by electing him as President for a second term.
My primary concern with a second Trump administration is the potential absence of guardrails. This time, there will be no John Kelly, Mark Esper, Mark Milley or even William Barr to counsel the President against his most extreme impulses, and it is likely that President-elect Trump is going to staff his administration with people who will carry out his directives without question. This possibility is especially concerning when it comes to our national security and intelligence.
Furthermore, questions regarding America’s reliability as an ally have already prompted serious discussion amongst European leaders. The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has encouraged the European Union to prioritize its own interests following Trump’s victory. The EU is also assembling a rapid reaction force to prepare for a possible trade war with the U.S., informally labeled as the “Trump Task Force.”
At home, three loyalists have emerged as potential candidates for high-ranking intelligence and national security positions: John Ratcliffe, Kash Patel and Richard Grenell. And, like the President-elect, all three have previously been embroiled in controversies.
John Ratcliffe, who served as a Congressman and later as Director of National Intelligence, was found to have misrepresented his role in prosecuting terrorism and immigration cases. As for Kash Patel, during Trump’s first term, he was considered as a potential Deputy Director for either the FBI or the CIA. The Director of the CIA at the time, Gina Haspel, however, threatened to resign if Patel were appointed to the CIA. Attorney General William Barr also publicly opposed the idea of Patel’s promotion, stating, “Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world’s preeminent law enforcement agency.” Finally, Richard Grenell, former Acting Director of National Intelligence and Ambassador to Germany, has faced controversy over his private dealings with foreign leaders and his often sarcastic public demeanor.
President Trump and Republicans have argued that the FBI has been politicized and weaponized against him, claiming he has been targeted for political reasons. They maintain that this began under Director James Comey and has intensified under current Director Christopher Wray. It is notable, however, that both Comey and Wray are Republicans and that there has never been a Democratic FBI Director. Furthermore, President Biden’s son, Hunter, was prosecuted, and Democratic Senator Bob Menendez was indicted and convicted of bribery. For these reasons, I believe that the FBI has followed its mission of “upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the United States” and ensured that no one is above the law, whether they are a senator, a member of the First Family or even a President.
Regarding intelligence, it is concerning that Trump and a group of Loyalists could potentially reshape the structure and mission of the nation’s intelligence apparatus. Former intelligence officials worry that officers could be pressured to tailor their findings to align with the White House’s political agenda. They fear allies might reduce information-sharing, and, in the worst-case scenario, that the intelligence agencies could be repurposed as tools for retribution against President Trump’s political opponents.
It is important to emphasize that these are speculative concerns, and, only after President Trump’s inauguration will we know what will actually happen in his administration.
Despite my strong concerns about a second Trump presidency, I remain confident and optimistic that America’s institutions and democratic principles will remain resilient and ultimately prevail.
Acknowledgement: The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are those of the respective author and do not represent Our National Conversation.
