(Source: Caixin.com 2024-11-27)
w88 online sports betting’s changes in personnel structure and subversion of the old order have strong implications. The aides he selected for his second term all firmly defend and support the policy concept of “America First”.
On November 16, 2024 local time, w88 online sports betting appeared at the 2024UFC 309 game in New York, USA.
During U.S. President-elect w88 online sports betting’s first term from 2017 to 2021, w88 online sports betting’s private residence “Mar-a-Lago” in Palm Beach, Florida, was frequently used for guests and foreign affairs events, and thus earned the title of “Winter White House.” Now, this luxurious mansion with Mediterranean style facing the sea has become the center of preparation for w88 online sports betting’s new administration team. Since the end of the 2024 U.S. election, w88 online sports betting, who is about to enter the White House again, has held frequent meetings with advisers here to interview candidates for key cabinet and White House positions. In just two weeks after winning the election, w88 online sports betting completed the task of forming a second-term domestic and foreign affairs team.
Compared with when he was first elected president as a "political amateur" in 2016, w88 online sports betting, who has been in power for four years, appears bolder and more trusting in his own instincts when selecting his assistants this time, and believes that he no longer needs to follow the advice of the Washington establishment.
At Mar-a-Lago, the "Hermitage" far away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, w88 online sports betting spends most of his time in the tea room looking through the list of cabinet member candidates drafted by the transition team. If w88 online sports betting expresses interest in a particular candidate, his team immediately broadcasts television footage of the candidate on the big screen, and these "video resumes" are said to be particularly important to the outcome. The core staff surrounding w88 online sports betting to provide advice include professional strategists such as w88 online sports betting's legal adviser Boris Epshteyn and Susie Wiles, who was appointed as the White House chief of staff in the new administration. They also include w88 online sports betting's eldest son Donald w88 online sports betting Jr., whom w88 online sports betting relied heavily on during the campaign, and Tesla CEO Musk, who was appointed by w88 online sports betting to lead the new "Government Efficiency Department."
So far, except for the two cabinet-level positions of Director of the Small Business Administration and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which are still unclear, the personnel arrangements for Trump’s second-term Cabinet have been basically revealed. According to statistics from David Marchick, dean of American University's Colder w88 casino of Business and who studies presidential transition issues, Trump's selection of government members this time is five times faster than the Biden administration and four times faster than Trump's first term. This seems to indicate that Trump, who won both the Electoral College and the popular vote in this election and led the Republican Party to sweep both houses of Congress, is fully prepared for his second and final four-year presidential term and is more confident than he was eight years ago.
Different from having to rely on the opinions of establishment Republicans when he first entered politics, w88 online sports betting, who has made a strong comeback this time, regards loyalty as the main selection criterion, hoping to minimize the constraints on presidential power. Establishment officials appointed by w88 online sports betting during his first term, including former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, eventually left the cabinet due to public conflicts with w88 online sports betting. Many of w88 online sports betting's radical policies were not fully implemented due to constraints from his team and advisers. w88 online sports betting once called personnel issues the "biggest regret" of his first term and complained that he had been betrayed by "traitors" - something that made him particularly resentful, including then-Attorney General Barr and then-Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who all resisted w88 online sports betting's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
In contrast, this time, whether it is nominating a congressman who has been involved in ethics and judicial accusations and has never been exposed to the field of forensics as the attorney general, choosing a climate skeptic and a vaccine skeptic to lead the Environment Agency and the Ministry of Health, or appointing a Fox News host w88 online sports betting is in charge of the Pentagon, and the candidates for core positions announced by w88 online sports betting one after another are not only his loyal allies, who firmly defend and support the policy concept of "America First"; these appointments are more like "depth bombs" thrown at the traditional establishment, with strong implications of changing and subverting the old order. Despite fierce opposition from Congress, w88 online sports betting was still forced to replace the original attorney general nominee; but no one will doubt that w88 online sports betting, who has regained power with huge public authority, has a strong determination to reshape the check and balance structure of power in Washington, and will work hard to ensure that the White House under his leadership has maximum power.
Judging from the layout and pace of the entire personnel layout, w88 online sports betting is expected to prioritize the implementation of campaign promises such as deporting illegal immigrants and border control, boosting the U.S. economy, deregulating and cutting government costs in his second term, and the advancement process will be faster and smoother than in the previous term. Especially with the Republican Party controlling both houses of Congress, the w88 online sports betting administration is expected to have greater initiative and flexibility in policy implementation.
Trump’s diplomatic and national security team has assembled the toughest China hawks in the United States, as well as advisers who are skeptical of U.S. resource investment in the Middle East and Europe. This indicates that the new Trump administration in the future may focus more on countering China and adopt a more confrontational stance in economic, w88 and security policies towards China. However, none of the "new Cold War warriors" including former Secretary of State Pompeo, former deputy national security adviser to the president Matt Pottinger, and former China hawk Congressman Mike Gallagher were selected to join the cabinet this time, which may show that Trump's China policy is at least not intended to challenge the Chinese system.
Compared to the first wave of diplomatic and national security positions that were announced quickly, Trump’s economic and w88 team, especially the highly anticipated Treasury Secretary, was not announced until two weeks after the election. Trump, who threatened to raise tariffs on China to 60% during the campaign, stated on November 26 that he plans to first impose an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods after taking office. This also shows that although there is little doubt about the route to put pressure on China's economy and w88, such as imposing additional tariffs and tightening export controls, there may still be tension within Trump's team over the specific method and pace at which Trump's most important tariff agenda should be implemented.
w88 online sports betting’s assistant recently told the media that w88 online sports betting selected for his cabinet “people who are committed to the American priority agenda” and “people who he believes are best able to implement that agenda”; as for the controversy caused by personnel appointments, w88 online sports betting is “very happy to see that the controversial candidates he has appointed have shaken Washington.” Many analysts believe that as w88 online sports betting puts loyalty considerations above professional abilities, w88 online sports betting's decision-making in the second term may be less constrained than in the first term, and he will also be able to promote a more radical and conservative agenda after taking office in January 2025.
However, compared with when he was first elected as president eight years ago, w88 online sports betting faces a more complex geopolitical environment now, and the outlook for the U.S. economy, which is emerging from an environment of high interest rates and high inflation, is also more uncertain. Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, a political risk research and consulting firm, pointed out that whether it is the two regional wars that are still brewing, the increasing strategic competition with China, the recovering global economy, and disruptive technological challenges such as artificial intelligence, in such a high-risk environment, w88 online sports betting and his domestic and foreign affairs team, who are about to lead the United States to start a new chapter, will face a more severe test of governance and leadership than before.
China hawks gather
In the first week after winning the election, w88 online sports betting selected his foreign and security aides: Florida Republican Representative Mike Waltz, who was selected as the White House National Security Assistant, is regarded as one of the "hawkish" voices on China in the US Congress. He is a member of the so-called "China Working Group" in the House of Representatives. He has introduced draft legislation in Congress to reduce the United States' dependence on China's rare earth energy and strengthen scrutiny of Chinese students and scholars in American universities. Marco Rubio, the Cuban-born U.S. Senator from Florida who was nominated to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State, is known for his extremely tough stance on China. He has repeatedly promoted industrial policies targeting China's economic competition and a large number of sanctions against Chinese companies in the U.S. Congress. He has been repeatedly sanctioned by China for his stance on China-related issues.
Zhao Hai, director of the International Political Research Department of the National Global Strategy Think Tank of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out to Caixin that w88 online sports betting’s first wave of personnel appointments have a strong anti-China flavor, which is a reflection of w88 online sports betting’s personal political will. Compared with the selection of establishment figures for key positions such as Secretary of State and Defense Secretary during his first term, the assistants selected by w88 online sports betting this time are all "loyal not only to him personally, but also to his entire political agenda system." This shows that w88 online sports betting has integrated the "America First" agenda into the entire domestic and foreign affairs system, among which "China will be the highest priority target."
In the view of w88 online sports betting and his supporters, although the Biden administration has also adopted a tough and suppressive stance against China, during Biden's four years in office, the United States' diplomatic and military resources and energy were still largely occupied by the sudden outbreak of conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and Kazakhstan and Israel, and no substantial progress was made in the strategic competition with China. "So they believe that the current threat China poses to U.S. national interests and national security is actually greater, not less," Zhao Hai said.
According to widely cited research by scholars Majda Ruge and Jeremy Shapiro of the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), before and after this election, there are roughly three camps competing for w88 online sports betting’s attention around national security issues within the Republican Party. Among them, both Walz and Rubio, before they came into w88 online sports betting's sight, were regarded as "primalists" in the Republican Party, like Bolton and Pompeo, who were selected as national security adviser and secretary of state in w88 online sports betting's first term, and were sometimes called "neocons". This camp advocates that the United States should continue to pursue a dominant position in geopolitical disputes and on a global scale, maintain this position by ensuring U.S. military superiority, and prepare for potential conflicts with adversaries.
Rubio was once regarded as a textbook "primalist" who advocated using the military power projected by the United States overseas to spread democracy. As early as February 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war first broke out, Rubio, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, praised the United States for providing arms and intelligence support to Ukraine. Walz, who has a military career of nearly 30 years and was once selected as a "Green Hat" member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, has also previously supported the United States in helping Ukraine fight against Russia's invasion, and has criticized the Biden administration's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan hastily.
However, as w88 online sports betting’s “America First” agenda has begun to dominate the Republican Party, both Walz and Rubio have gradually moved closer to w88 online sports betting in their public speeches and interviews in recent years.
In April 2024, both Rubio and Walz, as members of Congress, voted against the Biden administration’s $95 billion Ukraine military aid plan. In an interview with NBC in September 2024, Rubio said that "the reality is that the war in Ukraine will end through peace talks." He also said that both he and w88 online sports betting hope that "the Ukrainian side can have more bargaining chips in this negotiation." In a speech in November 2024, Rubio said that Ukrainians have been "very brave and strong" in fighting Russia, but that the Russia-Ukraine war has now reached a "stalemate" and "this war must end, otherwise this country will go back 100 years."
Wolz, who criticized the Biden administration for insufficient aid to Ukraine at the beginning of the war, also changed his stance in a letter published on Fox News in September 2023. He expressed support for w88 online sports betting’s proposition that the United States should pressure European NATO allies to assume more responsibilities and military expenditures, and should not continue to provide unconditional military aid to Ukraine. He also asked rhetorically in a recent public speech: "When our needs in the Pacific region are so urgent, is it really in the interests of the United States to devote time and resources to the Ukrainian issue?"
Former Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who was nominated by w88 online sports betting to serve as Director of National Intelligence, is also close to w88 online sports betting himself in terms of views. She is seen as belonging to the "restrainers" camp within the Republican Party and is skeptical of the effectiveness of U.S. military intervention abroad and its responsibility to its allies.
Similar to Walz, this w88 online sports betting supporter who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party has many years of experience serving in the war on terror in the Middle East. She has long criticized the Obama administration's deployment of air strikes against "Islamic State" militants in Syria and its deployment of military advisers in the Middle East. However, a series of Gabbard's allegedly "pro-Russian" views have also been questioned by the U.S. intelligence community. She once said on social media at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, "If the Biden administration/NATO recognized Russia's legitimate security concerns, this war and suffering could have been easily avoided." She also criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky as "corrupt" and said that U.S. aid to Ukraine "angered Russia and endangered global security."
In the current governing team formed by w88 online sports betting, J.D. Vance, the 39-year-old Republican “populist rising star” and the first to be confirmed in the cabinet, is a typical “prioritiz”. ers), this camp shares the same concerns as the "primalists": they want to reduce the United States' commitment and investment in Europe and the Middle East, and focus its limited military and political resources on what they identify as the "real threat" - great power competition with China.
Zhao Hai pointed out that although the United States will increase its strategic investment in the "Indo-Pacific region" in the future, including strengthening security cooperation with Japan and the Philippines, and attempting to build the so-called "first island chain" to block China, etc. "An expected action", but the core issue is that "if the United States wants to be so aggressive, it must end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as soon as possible." Whether w88 online sports betting can do this as easily as he claims is still a huge unknown.
Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict that will enter its third year, Vance once proposed the idea of "freezing the conflict" in an interview in September 2024, that is, Russia and Ukraine would set up a non-military zone on both sides of the border, Ukraine would retain its independence and sovereignty, and Russia would obtain a guarantee from Ukraine of permanent neutrality and non-alignment with NATO and other similar alliances. Vance also said that Germany and other European countries should provide funds for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Although there are many anti-China hawks, Trump’s new team does not include Pompeo, Boming, Gallagher and other the most extreme conservatives in the anti-China field who advocate “regime subversion”. Zhao Hai believes that this at least shows that Trump "definitely does not want to subvert China's regime and system." What he wants to do is mainly two things: on the one hand, he establishes deterrence against China by strengthening his own military and security strength, and on the other hand, he weakens China by promoting economic and w88 decoupling.
Dennis Wilder, who served as the China Affairs Director of the White House team in the George W. Bush administration, also believes that w88 online sports betting’s diplomatic concept is “peace through strength”, and its goal is to ultimately avoid war with China by building deterrence and demonstrating determination. He recently pointed out at a forum that w88 online sports betting and his team believe that the "weakness" of the Biden administration is the reason why Russia dares to attack Ukraine and why China is confident in competing with the United States. Therefore, he predicts that after w88 online sports betting takes office, he will significantly expand the U.S. defense budget and enhance the U.S. military's combat readiness; at the same time, he will also seek to maintain military communication and defense dialogue with China to avoid the outbreak of a real conflict.
Rubio once called China "the most powerful adversary the United States has faced in memory" and emphasized that the United States must "remain serious and sober" in the challenges posed by China. As for w88 online sports betting's claim during the campaign that Taiwan should "pay" for U.S. defense protection, Rubio later explained for w88 online sports betting that the "existential crisis" facing Taiwan means that the Taiwan authorities should indeed increase military spending, but at the same time, w88 online sports betting and the United States after his return will still "do everything possible to protect Taiwan."
In his book published in 2024, Waltz listed 5 strategies for how the United States can prevent a conflict with China. He said that the United States should "arm Taiwan" faster, better provide strategic support to allies in the Pacific region, and speed up the modernization of its own fighter jets and warships. Walz also criticized the Biden administration for "not being prepared quickly enough on the Taiwan issue." He said: "The U.S. intelligence community has sounded the alarm for the situation in the next five years. However, the timeline of U.S. preparations to deal with related risks is as long as 10, 15, or 20 years. There is a mismatch here."
In an interview with the Financial Times before the election, Walz said that judging from his contacts with Trump, Trump discussed more about w88 agreements, tariffs and exchange rates with China, rather than what the United States should do in a potential conflict across the Taiwan Strait. He also said that Trump believes that the United States can use its economic strength and at the same time be backed by a strong military presence in the Asia-Pacific region to ultimately achieve the goal of preventing war.
Evan Medeiros, director of Asia affairs at the White House National Security Council during the Obama administration, believes that w88 online sports betting is skeptical about the importance of Taiwan to U.S. interests. Therefore, for w88 online sports betting, the Taiwan issue may become a bargaining chip in making deals with China in the future. Zhao Hai also believes that although w88 online sports betting's recruitment of China hawks into the cabinet may allow some elements advocating for Taiwan independence to see some opportunities, w88 online sports betting himself is not that positive about "arming Taiwan."
David Milne, a professor of modern history who studies the art of American diplomacy, said in an article that no matter who w88 online sports betting nominates as national security assistant, secretary of defense, and secretary of state, it will ultimately be "w88 online sports betting himself who takes on these roles." He recalled that the experience of w88 online sports betting's first term showed that w88 online sports betting would really listen to the advice of his advisers only if it was consistent with their views and intuition. Rush Doshi, who served as senior deputy director for China affairs at the White House National Security Council in the Biden administration from 2021 to March 2024, also believes that although w88 online sports betting’s hawkish team has shown that the new government will adopt more coordinated policy measures to contain China, the person with the final say will still be w88 online sports betting.
Musk’s role
Compared with the hawkish advisers around w88 online sports betting, Musk, who has extensive business interests in China and other places, is increasingly regarded as a potential diplomatic breakthrough in w88 online sports betting's second term. As one of w88 online sports betting’s largest donors in this election, Musk spared no effort to endorse w88 online sports betting’s campaign by providing huge donations, creating a super political action committee, and using social media to build momentum. w88 online sports betting, who ultimately won an overwhelming election victory, did not hesitate to praise Musk in his victory speech on voting night, calling this die-hard business ally a "super genius" and a "rising star."
Since the end of the general election, Musk has become w88 online sports betting’s closest assistant. This high-profile billionaire has participated in almost every interview of w88 online sports betting’s cabinet selection. He also sat in on the interview with w88 online sports betting after he won the election. There were phone calls between President Erdogan of Turkey and President Zelensky of Ukraine, a conversation with Argentine President Miley, the first foreign leader w88 online sports betting met after the election, at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, and he accompanied w88 online sports betting to Congress for his first meeting with Republican lawmakers after the election. w88 online sports betting also went to Texas with Musk and watched the launch of the "Starship" of SpaceX, a space technology company owned by Musk.
The outside world was not surprised when w88 online sports betting announced the appointment of Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the newly established "Department of Government Effectiveness" (DOGE), responsible for cutting U.S. federal government spending. w88 online sports betting once touted Musk as "the greatest cutter" to affirm Musk's drastic means of massive layoffs at Tesla and Company X, which he managed. Musk's defiance of tradition and bold behavior are also consistent with the subversive and anti-establishment spirit of w88 online sports betting, a businessman in politics.
According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal on November 20 by Musik and Raswami, the “Government Effectiveness Department” led by them will work with the Office of Management and Budget. We will work closely with the Office to reform from the three aspects of deregulation, reducing administrative management and saving costs. Specific measures include: with the help of advanced technologies such as AI, determine which ones can be abolished and which have caused "excessive regulation". President w88 online sports betting will then initiate a review and revocation process for the administrative regulations on "supervision"; determine the "minimum number of employees" required for the federal system to perform its duties, cancel the online telecommuting system, which is regarded as a "privilege" for civil servants, and encourage federal employees to voluntarily leave; cut about 500 billion US dollars in federal funding projects that have expired authorized by Congress, mainly covering funding for American public broadcasting companies, various international organizations and non-profit progressive organizations.
Although all walks of life in the United States agree that the United States’ bloated bureaucracy needs to be reformed and the efficiency of the civil service system needs to be improved, critics believe that reducing the number of civil servants will have little significance in changing the budget gap. According to White House statistics, the U.S. federal government spends approximately $305 billion each year on the salaries and benefits of federal employees (excluding military personnel), accounting for approximately 4% of the more than $6 trillion federal budget. Brian Riedel, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a think tank, said that if one-quarter of employees are laid off, federal expenditures will be reduced by about 1% at most; and because employees are laid off, the government still needs to share some functions through contractors, and the actual savings ratio may be even lower.
Observers such as American political scientist Foushan pointed out that rather than layoffs, what Musk needs to do is to fundamentally rethink how the civil service system attracts and retains talents, and empowers these talents so that they can meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
Before w88 online sports betting established the “Department of Government Efficiency”, the Clinton administration launched the “Reinventing Government (REGO)” program in 1993 with the goal of reducing federal government bloat. It ultimately reversed fiscal terms and reduced the number of federal civilian employees by approximately 426,000, making the government the smallest in 30 years. Elaine Kamarck, a researcher at the Brooks Institution who oversaw the plan, recently wrote in an article that she affirmed the efforts of the Musk team to re-examine administrative regulations, but suggested that they should "use a surgical tool rather than an ax", that is, optimize the structure through precise adjustments rather than simply layoffs, in order to achieve the goal of reducing expenses.
The earlier Reagan administration also established the "Grace Commission" (the Grace Commission) in 1982, which was run by business executives in order to improve administrative efficiency. The committee spent 18 months investigating and eventually released a 47-volume report claiming that following its reform recommendations could save the government $424 billion within three years. However, subsequent studies on its report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office stated that due to different accounting standards and other reasons, the savings that could be achieved by 90% of the committee's recommendations were actually only one-third of what they claimed. Moreover, current laws and major policies still need to be modified, including measures such as medical and pension reforms. In the end, most of the committee's recommendations were not implemented because of obstacles in Congress.
Although Musik and Raswami claim that they plan to promote changes mainly through w88 online sports betting’s executive orders rather than through congressional legislation, according to the department’s current According to the plan, the two men only have 18 months to complete this task before the end of their term on July 4, 2026, and even if they do not go through Congress, their actions will be hindered by the Washington bureaucracy.
In addition, just as the Reagan administration’s practice of inviting entrepreneurs to investigate federal employees has been questioned, the conflicts of interest that w88 online sports betting’s special appointment of Musk will cause are also unclear: Musk’s companies not only have a large number of procurement contracts from the federal government, but these companies are also the subject of investigation and supervision by different federal agencies that Musk is trying to streamline.
Regardless of whether Musk’s agenda to reshape the federal government can be implemented, it is undeniable that as w88 online sports betting is about to return to the White House, Musk, who is exerting extraordinary influence during the w88 online sports betting transition period, has become the target of technology company executives striving to meet and win over. The New York Times reported that the entire Silicon Valley is now very interested in serving in the "Government Efficiency Department" led by Musk, and Musk has been lobbying his business allies to take up formal administrative positions. The Wall Street Journal broke the news that TikTok CEO Zhou Shouzi has also quietly contacted Musk to seek advice on the new w88 online sports betting administration and its technology policies.
Although Musk recently publicly clarified that the appointment decisions for w88 online sports betting’s new cabinet are “100% made by the president,” he provided input during w88 online sports betting’s evaluation of various candidates. Musk is also credited with successfully pushing w88 online sports betting to appoint Brendan Carr as the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which oversees media regulation. Carr has a good relationship with Musk and has previously publicly criticized the FCC's decision to cancel federal subsidies for Starlink, a satellite operating network owned by Musk.
Musk, who has investments and important business interests in China, is also viewed by some observers as a potential intermediary in private communications between China and the new w88 online sports betting administration. Although it is still difficult to judge whether Musk himself is interested in this role, and whether w88 online sports betting and his cabinet members will invite Musk to participate in decision-making on China.
Dewardric L., founder of the consulting firm Longview Global and former director of East Asia and China affairs in the Obama administration’s Department of Defense Policy Office. McNeal pointed out to CNBC that as the CEO of a large multinational company, Musk's main obligation is to be responsible to shareholders rather than the national interests of the United States. If the diplomatic work he participates in fails, he may instead be subject to stricter scrutiny due to conflicts of interest caused by his political participation.
In McNeal's view, the unpredictability of Moscow's behavior and his strong, sometimes controversial views "are not necessarily in the diplomatic or strategic interests of either country." Although Musk may open some channels of communication, diplomatic hopes should not be pinned on such a businessman. What's more, all the unofficial communication efforts between China and the United States through the business community during Trump's first term have proven to be ineffective in preventing Trump from launching a "w88 war" against China.
Zhao Hai also pointed out that during w88 online sports betting’s last term, China tried to establish behind-the-scenes contacts with the U.S. government through w88 online sports betting’s son-in-law Kushner, who also has a business background. Such informal diplomatic channels may achieve some political breakthroughs, but they are also likely to be counterproductive and cause greater impact. Moreover, even if China and the United States need to engage in some form of behind-the-scenes diplomacy, they should find lower-profile channels to avoid interference.
In the past three years or so of the Biden administration, China and the United States have used economic, financial, commercial and other working groups and dialogue mechanisms to maintain the stability of bilateral relations to a certain extent. Zhao Hai frankly said that after w88 online sports betting came to power in January 2025, these communication and dialogue channels that were finally restored between China and the United States are likely to be "cleared" overnight, but China has expected this. He also believes that if the w88 online sports betting administration's pressure on China fails to achieve the expected results of the United States in the future, the United States will still find ways to re-establish communication channels with China. "For China, our door is always open. Whether we want to fight or talk, we are prepared in all aspects."
Tariff traders are in place
In the third week after the election, w88 online sports betting suddenly announced that he would impose a 25% tariff on all goods entering the United States from Mexico and Canada, the two main trading partners of the United States, in an executive order issued on his first day in office on January 20, 2025; he also responded by cracking down on fentanyl. On the grounds that it is harmful to drugs, it has been announced that it will impose an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese goods entering the United States. For observers from various countries who are nervously waiting for w88 online sports betting to take office, the question is not when w88 online sports betting’s tariff stick will fall, but who will implement his tariff plan in the future and how.
On November 22, Trump selected financier Scott Bessent as Secretary of the Treasury after careful consideration. This is one of the latest economic and w88 positions to be announced in the entire cabinet list, and it is also the highest-ranking administrative position in the U.S. economic field. If confirmed, Sente will be responsible for implementing tax policy, managing the national debt, leading financial regulators, issuing sanctions and conducting economic diplomacy.
Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of the financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald, who was originally interested in the financial position and was closer to w88 online sports betting, was surprisingly nominated by w88 online sports betting as Secretary of Commerce on November 19. In this general election, Lutnick serves as the co-chairman of w88 online sports betting's transition team and has led the personnel arrangements of w88 online sports betting's transition team so far. Therefore, he is regarded by the outside world as a core member of w88 online sports betting's close circle.
On November 26, Trump announced the nomination of Jamieson Greer, chief of staff to former U.S. w88 Representative Robert Lighthizer (Robert Lighthizer), whom he relied on during his first presidential term, as the new U.S. w88 Representative. At this point, the key economic and w88 positions in Trump’s new administration have basically been settled. Lighthizer, who is considered to have shaped Trump's tariff and w88 policies in his first term and was previously expected to serve as Treasury Secretary, Secretary of Commerce or Chief Economic Advisor, has not received any clear appointment from Trump so far.
The outside world generally believes that the finance nominee Sent is more traditional and stable, and closer to the mainstream opinions of Wall Street; the Commerce Secretary nominee Lutnick is more radical and impulsive. If we refer to Musk's statement before the announcement of the finance minister's selection that Lutnick, whom he supports, is more inclined to "real change," the appointment of Lutnick to lead the Department of Commerce may also convey some of w88 online sports betting's determination to implement his tariff plan to the end. For the Treasury Department, which is related to the U.S. tax and financial systems, w88 online sports betting may be more willing to send a signal of stability.
Unlike all of w88 online sports betting’s other choices for office, Sent is not a pick who could “destroy” the field he is about to lead. This veteran investor, who has worked for financial giant George Soros for a long time, is regarded as a "reassurance" for Wall Street. He has worked in the financial and investment fields for many years and has accurately predicted the trend of the British pound after Brexit. He is considered one of the top experts in the international currency market. He is also familiar with the global economic and geopolitical situation. After leaving Soros' industry, Sent founded his own hedge fund. Although the performance of his fund has fluctuated greatly since its establishment, and the income has not been impressive, but now, he has just made a big bet - President-elect w88 online sports betting himself.
Compared to other cabinet candidates who maintained a close relationship with w88 online sports betting even before 2016, Sent did not have direct contact with w88 online sports betting for the first time until the 2024 campaign. Only recently did the two sides begin discussions on economic and fiscal policies. However, Sente was a close friend of w88 online sports betting's late brother Robert. Sent undoubtedly agrees with w88 online sports betting on many issues. He is also one of the few people on Wall Street who has publicly supported w88 online sports betting from the beginning. In columns published in major media outlets in the past six months, Sente expressed support for tariffs, called for immediate measures to reduce debt, defended w88 online sports betting, and criticized Biden's economic policies.
But in previous interviews, Sente mentioned that Trump’s idea of imposing a 15% tax rate on companies producing products in the United States may violate international w88 laws. Unlike Lighthizer's insistence that "tariffs are never a means of negotiation," Chisenter once described Trump's comprehensive tariff plan as an "extremist" negotiation strategy. He made it clear that tariffs are "a tool for negotiation with trading partners" and suggested that they be implemented in phases to give markets time to adjust.
“I recommend gradually imposing tariffs,” Sent, who was already rumored to be the finance minister, said in an interview with CNBC after the current election. But he also added that he believes w88 online sports betting's full economic plan will keep U.S. inflation "at or below the 2% target" because it also includes reducing regulations and lowering energy costs. He said, "The last thing w88 online sports betting wants to see is trigger inflation."
Chicent once stated in an opinion article published by Fox News on November 15 that raising tariffs will not necessarily trigger inflation. The argument is that U.S. inflation did not rise during w88 online sports betting’s first term of imposing tariffs. On the contrary, its main indicators declined. Similar arguments have been used many times by the w88 online sports betting camp. Sente also concluded that “if tariffs are used strategically, they can increase state treasury revenue, encourage companies to resume production, and reduce the dependence of our industrial production on strategic competitors.”
Whether this judgment is correct or not still needs to be answered based on reality, but most economists are currently more inclined to believe that considering objective external reasons such as supply chain restructuring, geopolitical conflicts, and increased climate uncertainty, the economic fundamentals facing the United States are fundamentally different from those faced during w88 online sports betting's first term. The real question that will test Sente is how he will respond if raising tariffs and controlling inflation are not compatible at the same time - w88 online sports betting may believe that controlling inflation levels is the responsibility of the Treasury Secretary.
In his first media interview after being appointed as Treasury Secretary, Sente has stated that his priority will be to fulfill w88 online sports betting's various promises on tax cuts, focusing on advancing tariff policies and cutting government spending, while "maintaining the U.S. dollar's status as the global reserve currency." Previously, Sente had proposed a "3-3-3" plan, which would reduce the U.S. budget to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2028; stimulate U.S. GDP growth to 3% through deregulation; and the U.S. to produce an additional 3 million barrels of oil or its energy equivalent per day.
The United States is currently facing heavy debt pressure. The total debt scale in fiscal year 2024 has reached 35.46 trillion US dollars, setting a record high in history. The debt-to-GDP ratio has reached 123%, more than twice that at the beginning of this century. One of the direct causes of this situation is the high interest payments caused by the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes amid high inflation. In order to pay government bills, the U.S. Treasury Department raised more than $2 trillion through the bond market in 2024. The debt ceiling, which was announced to be suspended during the debt ceiling crisis in 2023, will come back into effect on January 2, 2025.
Centre has publicly viewed the debt issue as a national security crisis and demanded an immediate resolution. After taking office, he will immediately face the task of pushing Congress to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. In the longer term, it may be difficult to avoid conflict between w88 online sports betting’s signature tax cut plan and Sente’s debt reduction goals, because tax cuts will inevitably lead to an expansion of fiscal terms.
In addition, Trump’s tariff agenda and large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants may have a negative impact on economic growth. Economic growth achieved through tax cuts and loosened industrial regulations may cause the dollar to appreciate, thereby increasing the w88 deficit. In the future, Sente may have to choose between these policy goals, and it will not be easy to always be consistent with Trump.
During his first term, w88 online sports betting was extremely enthusiastic about the performance of the U.S. stock market and U.S. economic data, and even directly linked the performance of the U.S. stock market to his performance in office. To some extent, this will ensure that the Minister of Finance retains a considerable degree of say. Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury during w88 online sports betting’s first term, was one of the very few cabinet members who did not have a direct conflict with w88 online sports betting during his term and served four years in office.
Senter, who also comes from the financial world, reminds many people of Mnuchin’s four-year term. The New York Times suggested that during Trump's first term, Mnuchin often tried to dissuade Trump from imposing new tariffs and tried to calm the market when w88 tensions increased, and Mnuchin may do the same. "Washington Post" columnist Heather Long wrote that Sente "looks a lot like Mnuchin." The most critical thing is that in the next four years, what the United States may need is a Treasury Secretary who can step forward in a timely manner in a crisis.
Tu Xinquan, President of China WTO Research Institute, w88 casinotold Caixin that Mnuchin always played the role of "stepping on the brakes" during Trump's previous term, so that Sino-US relations, which were trapped in w88 frictions, would not deteriorate too much. As for whether the new tycoon Center can play a similar role in Trump's second term, it depends on "how deeply he is bound to Wall Street's interests."Tu Xinquanbelieves that Trump cannot ignore the opinions of Wall Street, while Wall Street does not advocate decoupling and has a relatively mild attitude towards Sino-US economic and w88 exchanges.
Unlike Mnuchin, who is a close friend of w88 online sports betting, Sente does not have a particularly deep personal relationship with w88 online sports betting himself, which could be a potential obstacle for both parties in managing their differences in the future. On the other hand, Sente’s relationship with others in w88 online sports betting’s close circle is equally weak. Before announcing his nomination for the nomination, Musk publicly supported another potential candidate, Lutnick, which was seen as a rift in the relationship between the two parties. Sent also had many political disagreements with key figures, including Lighthizer.
Overall, Sente is viewed by most observers as a more prudent candidate who can hold the line, ensure fiscal discipline is enforced, and properly manage U.S. financial resources. He finally "qualified" in the fierce competition for the financial position, which is therefore regarded as a reflection that w88 online sports betting still retains a certain degree of political dissociation. But this may also indicate that there may be a certain natural gap between Sente and most of his future cabinet colleagues.
In contrast, Lutnick, who was elected by Trump as Secretary of Commerce, has repeatedly stated his support for additional tariffs and responded to Trump’s statement by claiming that tariffs should be used to completely replace income tax. According to Trump’s statement during the campaign, he is considering charging 10% or 20% tariffs on all imported goods from the United States, and increasing tariffs on Chinese goods by at least 60%. Eventually, tariffs will completely replace domestic income taxes to fill fiscal gaps, support U.S. fiscal revenue, reverse w88 deficits, and protect U.S. domestic industries. At Trump's campaign rally in New York's Madison Square Garden in October 2024, Lutnick responded to Trump's stance by saying that the United States was most prosperous in the early 20th century, when "there was no income tax, only tariffs."
However, Lutnick also stated many times before voting in the general election that the purpose of tariffs is to serve as a weight in negotiating w88 agreements and to "negotiate strategically." This is still inconsistent with the view of using tariffs as a source of long-term revenue for the government, because if tariffs are used as a negotiation tool, it will be difficult to achieve sustainable long-term revenue.
As a member of the Cabinet, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s responsibilities include promoting the development of U.S. enterprises and promoting U.S. domestic and foreign w88. The Secretary of Commerce also frequently participates in w88 negotiations between the United States and other countries. During Trump’s first term, then-U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross was deeply involved in the formulation of w88 policy toward China and was one of the main promoters of the U.S.’s imposition of additional tariffs against China. In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce also has the authority to implement export controls on sensitive technologies and investigate anti-dumping and countervailing cases. In recent years, as the U.S. Department of Commerce has repeatedly introduced export control measures and implemented anti-dumping investigations against China, its w88 powers have become the focus of Sino-U.S. w88 disputes.
The position of U.S. w88 Representative, who played a core role in Trump’s first term, was not announced until November 26. Greer, Trump's new w88 representative, is Lighthizer's main assistant and has participated in the negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada w88 Agreement (USMCA) and the formulation of other tariff-related policies. Previously, the Office of the U.S. w88 Representative was not part of the U.S. Department of Commerce; the person in charge of the U.S. w88 Representative’s Office was the U.S. w88 Representative, a cabinet member-level official of the U.S. government, rather than the Secretary of Commerce. But when Trump announced the nomination of Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce, he wrote: "He will lead our tariff and w88 agenda and be directly responsible for the Office of the U.S. w88 Representative." Whether this means an adjustment in the administrative structure and scope of authority of the two agencies remains to be seen.
Zhao Hai believes that Trump’s move to combine the agenda of foreign w88 agreement negotiations with the policy tools of the Ministry of Commerce will further enhance the authority of the Ministry of Commerce, which already has both the development of w88 relations and the adoption of export control measures. Based on this, he deduced that if China and the United States hold a new round of economic and w88 negotiations in the future, the main dialogue leaders between China and the United States may be Chinese Vice Premier He Fengfeng and Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce of the new Trump administration.
Tu Xinquanpointed out that from past experience, the w88 Representative is responsible for formulating policies, while the Minister of Commerce is more responsible for implementing policies. In this sense, the role of the w88 Representative is more important than the role of the Minister of Commerce. However, the status of cabinet-level officials in the U.S. government is inconclusive. Who can play a greater role mainly depends on the degree of trust of the president. Judging from the current personnel arrangements alone, Lutnick, who was elected as Secretary of Commerce, may be more relied on by Trump, and the status and influence of the w88 representative may be relatively weak.
Checks and balancing forces still exist
In the ruling team that w88 online sports betting quickly formed, many candidates have no experience in relevant fields or are extremely "anti-establishment", but they are all extremely loyal to w88 online sports betting. Pete Hegseth, w88 online sports betting's choice for Secretary of Defense, is a former TV star who opposes the military's diversity policy. When he retired from the US military in 2021, he was considered an "extremist" by the military. After being nominated, he was exposed to a sexual assault scandal. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who was nominated by w88 online sports betting as Secretary of Health, not only does not have a relevant degree in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, or public health, but has also publicly supported a number of medical rumors, including multiple conspiracy theories about the new crown vaccine. Matt Gaetz, the former head of the Department of Justice who caused the most controversy, became the first candidate to give up his nomination one week after being nominated.
On November 21, Gates voluntarily announced that he would give up his nomination for the Department of Justice. He has been accused of multiple misconducts, including being involved in child sex trafficking, drug abuse, etc. Therefore, his nomination is almost certain to be unable to be confirmed by the Senate. On November 20, before he withdrew, Vice President-elect Vance went to Congress with Gates to try to persuade Senate Republicans to support the nomination of Gates. But according to CNN, citing people familiar with the matter, w88 online sports betting called Gates on the morning of November 21 to inform him that he had failed to obtain the votes needed to confirm the nomination. Although w88 online sports betting did not ask Gates to withdraw during the call, Gates issued a withdrawal statement a few hours after the call.
After Gates confirmed his withdrawal from the nomination, w88 online sports betting announced the new nominee for Justice Department that night, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Many Senate Republicans immediately expressed their support for this new candidate. U.S. media generally estimate that due to Bondi’s deep judicial background and good personal relationships with some members of Congress, she is expected to pass the confirmation vote for the nomination of the Attorney General relatively easily.
Among the 26 cabinet-level positions in the U.S. government, in addition to the vice president and White House chief of staff, other candidates including 15 cabinet secretaries need to be confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the selection of the head of the Department of Justice is the first decision in w88 online sports betting's cabinet nomination to encounter obstacles. However, this case also shows that the composition of the next government team is not entirely composed of w88 online sports betting, and the opinions of Congress can still act as a check and balance on w88 online sports betting.
The good news for w88 online sports betting is that after the 2024 election, Republicans also successfully took control of both houses of the U.S. Congress. Among the 100 seats in the Senate, the Republican Party has won 53 seats; among the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has also won 219 seats to establish an absolute majority. Although compared with the 213 seats currently won by the Democratic Party, the Republican Party’s advantage is not obvious.
But this does not mean that all w88 online sports betting’s orders can pass unimpeded in both houses of Congress: on the one hand, congressional Democrats still have the “filibuster” in the legislative process. On the other hand, within the Republican Party, the establishment forces that have served in the Senate for a long time still maintain a distance from the so-called "w88 online sports betting loyalists".
With the current 53-47 seat distribution between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, w88 online sports betting's cabinet nominations will not be able to pass as long as 3 Republican congressmen are defeated. CNN pointed out that Senate Republicans will have to choose between "loyalty to w88 online sports betting" and "concerns about controversial candidates."
If history is a guide, the Republican Party's slim advantage in regaining control of Congress in the 2024 election means that the party is still in danger of losing the Senate or the House of Representatives again in the 2026 midterm elections, and it is even impossible for both houses to lose to the Democrats again two years later. The New York Times pointed out that since the election, the w88 online sports betting team has been promoting an "overwhelming victory", but in fact the latest and most complete vote counting results show that w88 online sports betting's advantage in the popular vote is only 1.6 percentage points, which is the third lowest margin of victory since 1888.
No matter what, what is certain is that Trump will have at least two years to enjoy this "absolute power" belonging to the Republican Party. Miriam Sapiro, the former acting w88 representative of the Obama administration who currently works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, pointed out: "Trump wants to act quickly, which is not surprising at all, because he will not have a third term. And if the Republican Party loses control of Congress again in 2026, the real power left to him will only be two years."
It is worth noting that the next Senate Republican leader, John Thune, a senior senator from South Dakota, was elected through an internal secret vote on November 14. He will replace Cornell, the leader of the Republican establishment who has held the position for nearly 18 years, to lead Senate affairs. The 63-year-old Thune is not only the "favorite son" of the veteran Republican, but has also served as his deputy for the past few years.
Like Cornell, Thune had strong criticism of w88 online sports betting many times during w88 online sports betting’s last term. After the riots at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Thune publicly called w88 online sports betting's behavior of inciting violence "inexcusable." In the Republican presidential primary in the first half of 2024, Thune did not choose to support w88 online sports betting, but preferred to side with Senator Tim Scott elected from South Carolina.
Cornell, now 83 years old, is the longest-serving senator in U.S. history as a caucus leader. Although he is about to retire as the leader of the caucus, after a 40-year career as a senator and nearly 18 years at the center of the caucus, McConnell and his politicians have accumulated profound influence within the U.S. Senate. After stepping down as Senate Republican leader, he will continue to serve as a senator until his term expires in January 2027. Cornell’s wife, Elaine Chao, a Chinese-American female politician, served as Secretary of Transportation during w88 online sports betting’s first term. However, after the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, she became the first member of the w88 online sports betting administration to resign from the cabinet to express her separation.
If Thune is regarded as the "successor" of the establishment forces represented by Cornell in the U.S. Senate, this new generation caucus leader who is 20 years younger than the latter and often displays a healthy image of loving sports will not only focus on w88 online sports betting's one term. In the U.S. Senate, which emphasizes seniority, Thune has served as the Senate Republican "whip" since 2019, becoming the second-ranking figure in the Republican caucus in the Senate. In addition, he has also served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and other positions. During Cornell's rest due to illness in 2023, Thune, as his main party aide, briefly took over the position of Senate Republican leader. Thune was elected as the leader of the Senate Republican Party this time. He defeated the candidate supported by w88 online sports betting's close ally Musk and others. Rick Scott, the former governor of Florida and current U.S. Senator who is highly supported by Musk, was only elected to the U.S. Senate for the first time in 2018. Not only is his qualifications still relatively young; Scott, who participated in the caucus leadership competition as a "w88 online sports betting loyalist", also disagrees with the Republican establishment represented by Cornell on many issues.
In the system design of the United States, the Senate has key powers such as formulating the congressional agenda and approving important presidential appointments. The balance of power between Congress, represented by the Senate, and the White House is critical to formulating legislative outcomes. The anonymous voting results surrounding the Senate Republican leaders have convinced many analysts that there are still undercurrents of conflict between "w88 online sports betting loyalists" and the traditional conservative establishment within the Republican Party. The result of Thune's election was interpreted as indicating that at least the Senate is not yet "a place where w88 online sports betting loyalists can run rampant."
However, the New York Times also pointed out that although the anonymous voting showed the dissatisfaction and resistance of congressional Republicans to the populist "w88 online sports betting Alliance", these implicit resistance and tension may not necessarily be expressed in public. Thune, who belongs to the Republican establishment camp like Cornell, should not be taken for granted as a simple copy of Cornell.
Despite previous disagreements with w88 online sports betting on many issues, Thune said at the press conference after being confirmed as Senate leader that his priorities will be to lead Senate Republicans with a majority to strengthen border management, reduce energy costs, and overturn some government regulatory measures that are considered burdensome. These issues are precisely the priorities that w88 online sports betting has repeatedly emphasized since his election campaign.
As for w88 online sports betting’s current series of nominations for cabinet positions, Thune also publicly stated that he would not rule out nomination confirmation methods including “recess appointments.”
Under the U.S. Constitution, presidential appointments to high-level decision-making positions require Senate approval, but "recess appointments" allow the president to temporarily fill positions while the Senate is not in session. Recess appointments for emergencies are valid for up to two years.
With the U.S. Senate in session nearly year-round, recess appointments are no longer necessary to maintain political function, and the mechanism has become a controversial political tool. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that adjournment must be approved by both houses of Congress, and the Senate or House of Representatives can block potential adjournment appointments by not allowing the Senate to adjourn. Therefore, the president cannot use recess appointments at will. During w88 online sports betting’s first term as president, the U.S. Congress blocked w88 online sports betting’s use of recess appointments by holding frequent pro forma meetings.
In 2012, then-US President Obama temporarily appointed three officials of the National Labor Relations Board during a brief recess of the Senate. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Obama's move was unconstitutional, and stipulated that the U.S. president could only exercise the power of "recess appointments" when the Senate was in recess for at least 10 days. This also means that if w88 online sports betting wants to appoint officials through "recess appointments", he must suspend the Senate for at least 10 days. Adjournment motions in the Senate require only a simple majority vote to pass. With the Republican Party winning 53 seats in the Senate and the Democratic Party winning 47 seats in the Senate, the Republican Party may still rely on its majority to create a time window for w88 online sports betting's "recess appointments."
A few days after winning his second term, w88 online sports betting quickly took to social media to ask those in the Republican Party who serve as the next caucus leader of the Senate to support his recess appointment authority. When he posted on November 10, he said: "Any Republican senator who wants to seek the coveted leadership position in the U.S. Senate must agree to the recess appointment, otherwise we will not be able to confirm the person in time." He also said that due to the Senate The process for the Senate to approve the appointment of officials is very cumbersome. "Sometimes the (Congress confirmation) vote can take two years or more, which is what they did four years ago. We can't let this happen again, we need to fill the vacancies immediately."
To this controversial "request", Thune responded in an interview with the TV station. He said at the time that the Senate had a responsibility to act "quickly and firmly" on presidential nominations. Therefore, in order to ensure the rapid adoption and installation of w88 online sports betting's second-term cabinet team, "all options, including adjournment, will be on the table," although he did not make a clear commitment on whether he would definitely use this procedure.
However, at the press conference held for the elected Senate leader after the vote, Thune also made it clear that he would retain the "filibuster" (filibuster) procedure in the Senate legislative process. This means that when negotiations between the two parties reach a deadlock, the Democratic Party, as the minority party during this term, still has the opportunity to use this special procedure to mobilize legislators to take turns to block the agenda with lengthy speeches or other means, boycott specific legislative processes, and prevent or delay the hasty passage of bills with strong differences between the two parties.
Thune also specifically mentioned that under the U.S. Constitution, the Senate still has the power to "advise and approve" the White House's decisions.
In the upcoming role of Senate leader, it is still unclear how Thune will balance the relationship with the White House, and whether he can withstand w88 online sports betting's pressure and perform the Senate's "recommendation and approval" responsibilities. But what is certain is that compared to Cornell, Thune has continued the traditional values of his Republican conservatives, but he may also be a "softer" collaborator with more room for compromise for the "MAGA" camp represented by w88 online sports betting and his allies.
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