How many times in the last 2 months have we seen headlines like this one from CNN, Trump assembles an administration of uber-wealthy Cabinet members and advisers, sparking ethics questions? And ethics questions really are bad enough— but that barely even touches the real problems:
Oligarchy: Rule by the few, especially those with wealth or corporate ties. Trump’s appointments of billionaires and corporate executives exemplify a consolidation of power among economic elites.
Plutocracy: Government by the wealthy. These appointments amplify concerns that policy will serve the rich rather than the general population.
Kleptocracy: Governance that prioritizes personal gain. The lack of transparency in separating personal wealth from public office raises alarms.
Kakistocracy: Governance by the least qualified. Many picks lack public service experience, heightening fears of incompetence and prioritization of private interests over public welfare.
More than “ethics questions,” those 4 points are what defines Trump’s cabinet-in-the-making. Historically, wealthy officials have prioritized deregulation, tax cuts, and corporate interests over policies benefiting workers, such as healthcare, labor rights, and education, concentrating power among the rich and exacerbating wealth disparities, reducing economic mobility and access to opportunities for most Americans. And let’s not forget that the kind of privatization and cuts to social programs advocated by the DOGE boys harms communities relying on government support.
In a plutocracy, legislation always favors the rich, neglecting social services and economic support for the general populace. Democratic erosion goes hand-in-hand with the concentration of power as the influence of average citizens continues to dimininish. Just think back to the Gilded Age (late 19th Century), in which industrial magnates wielded near absolute political influence, leading to labor exploitation and minimal regulatory oversight.
Invariably plutocracy leads to both kleptocracy and the exploitation of national resources for personal gain plus kakistocracy, governance by the least qualified or most unscrupulous individuals, the definition of Trump’s administration. Incompetent leadership and poor decision-making leads to ineffective policies and governance failures in which mismanagement results in crises, such as economic downturns and inadequate disaster responses, again, defining the first Trump regime. It also leads to the erosion of meritocracy; qualified individuals are sidelined, leading to a decline in public sector performance. So… ethics challenges are one thing but these governance forms undermine societal well-being, entrench inequality, and erode public trust. Historical precedents illustrate the profound negative impacts on ordinary citizens.
You’ve got to be deaf, blind and dumb to have not noticed that Trump’s return to the White House will intensify the oligarchic, plutocratic, kleptocratic, and kakistocratic tendencies that many observers criticized during his first term. In his first term, Trump assembled one of the wealthiest Cabinets in U.S. history, with appointees like Betsy DeVos (Education), Wilbur Ross (Commerce), and Rex Tillerson (State). These individuals often prioritized policies favorable to their industries or personal wealth, exactly what Trump wanted. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act disproportionately benefited corporations and the wealthy, shifting more of the tax burden to ordinary Americans. Deregulation in sectors like energy and finance benefited large corporations while putting workers and consumers at greater risk. Trump’s continued reliance on billionaires and industry magnates in key positions suggests this trend would persist. The introduction of figures like Elon Musk and Steve Feinberg into his inner circle amplifies concerns that policymaking would prioritize the interests of the ultra-rich over those of ordinary citizens.
Pay-to-play politics is a hallmark of Trumpism and his administration blurred the lines between governance and personal financial gain. His businesses profited from visits by foreign dignitaries and domestic political allies to Trump properties, while he cultivated a donor class of billionaires and corporate elites, many of whom gained access and influence over policy decisions. His appointment of judges sympathetic to corporate interests further cemented plutocratic power, creating a judiciary less inclined to challenge wealth concentration.
Trump’s refusal to divest from his business empire led to non-stop corruption, both with foreign governments and domestic entities. Almost immediately out of the gate, figures like Scott Pruitt (EPA) and Ryan Zinke (Interior) were embroiled in scandals involving misuse of public funds for personal enrichment, while key roles were filled by loyalists and family members. The creation of the DOGE raises red flags, as its vague mission and lack of transparency could provide cover for self-dealing and unaccountability. Musk and Ramaswamy’s business interests further complicate this.
In the first term, Trump’s appointments often lacked experience or qualifications for their roles (e.g., DeVos for Education, Ben Carson for HUD), leading to chaos in governance, high turnover and constant infighting, undermining the effectiveness of agencies. Trump always sidelined or ignored career officials and experts, particularly in areas like science, public health, and foreign policy, a strong policy against expertise. And with him doubling down on loyalty over competence, his second term is going to see even more unqualified individuals in high office. DOGE’s recruitment of software engineers via direct messages on Twitter hints at an unprofessional approach that prioritizes ideology or personal connections over merit.
It’s worth noting that the rise of the American oligarchy isn’t just an offshoot of Trumpism. Biden may have denounced oligarchy in his farewell speech on Wednesday but the richest Americans were the biggest winners during his term. “Biden warned of ‘a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra wealthy people,’ in his speech from the White House on Wednesday. ‘Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.’ During his term, the super-rich grabbed a bigger share of a growing pie. Stock and housing markets boomed during a post-pandemic rebound that outpaced US peers. It left all the income and wealth groups measured by the Fed at least a little better-off— and American households overall some $36 trillion richer, as of September, than when Biden took office… Under both [Trump and Biden], the top US billionaires did far better than almost everyone else. Rigged much?
He's going to start off by raising your living costs, maybe double-digits, with his universal tariffs.
And it's not possible to imagine his admin doing anything at all about price gouging by existing sectors (fuel, other energy, insurance, phrma...).
He (more like bannnon/miller) may be looking forward to public unrest over these and all others so they can declare some form of martial law over their "emergency" and initiate the reich.
But that's what we elected... on purpose... so maybe everyone will be so orgasmic they won't complain.