-
Trump's Coming Administration: A Mix of Celebrities, Business People, and Controversial Figures
-
The new cabinet lineup shows Trump's preference for personal loyalty and ideological alignment over traditional experience in top government positions

President-elect Donald Trump has created an unprecedented government composition, including a former media personality to lead the Pentagon, an anti-vaccine advocate to manage health, and billionaire Elon Musk to rationalize spending.
The "X" platform, Tesla, and SpaceX owner Elon Musk was called to review and reduce public expenditure, in cooperation with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
The world's richest man, a major financial supporter of the Republican campaign, is known for his "strict" management style and boldness in implementing rapid and widespread layoffs, according to AFP.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of late President John Kennedy, was recruited to lead the Department of Health. A former environmental lawyer who embraced COVID-19 vaccine conspiracy theories, he will take on the mission of "restoring health to America," supported by "Dr. Oz," the surgeon and TV star who will manage the massive public health insurance program.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was appointed to head the sensitive Justice Department after Matt Gaetz's withdrawal. She is close to Trump and was a member of his defense team in the 2020 impeachment trial. She will be supported by three of his personal lawyers: Todd Blanche, Emil Bove, and John Sauer, aiming to end what Trump, convicted in May, considers "exploitation" of justice.
Prominent Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio will take the State Department portfolio, becoming the first American of Latin descent to hold this position. He is known for his hardline positions toward China, strong support for Israel, and opposition to Iran.
Another elected official from Florida, Mike Waltz, also hardline toward China and Russia, will serve as National Security Advisor.
Trump chose two of Israel's strongest supporters: Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Tel Aviv and Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador, while Matthew Whitaker was appointed NATO ambassador, tasked with implementing the "America First" principle.
Trump made a surprising move by appointing Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, a former National Guard officer who opposes women's participation in combat forces and has never managed a large institution. He will manage 3.4 million soldiers and civilian employees with an annual budget exceeding $850 billion.
Tulsi Gabbard was appointed to head National Intelligence, a Democratic Party defector and former military officer known for her pro-Moscow positions. After the Ukraine war broke out, she called in a video recording for Russian, Ukrainian, and American leaders to end the conflict.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will play a pivotal role in implementing Trump's electoral promise of mass deportation of irregular immigrants, as she was chosen to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Other appointments included Doug Burgum, close to the oil and gas industry, in a dual position for Federal Lands and the National Energy Council, climate skeptic Chris Wright as Energy Secretary, and former Representative Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
Scott Bessent, founder of K2 Square Group investment company and advocate for political control over the Federal Reserve, was nominated for Treasury Secretary, while Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE, was nominated for the Education portfolio.
Levant-Agencies
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!