Republican Party Divisions Deepen Over Cabinet Appointments
Watching How Much Musk's Influence Expands
Democratic Party's New Faces and International Crisis Variables
How will the political landscape of the United States unfold in 2025 when President-elect Donald Trump officially takes office? The Hill, a congressional-focused media outlet, highlighted five key points to watch in U.S. politics this year on the 1st (local time), including the Democratic Party regrouping after a crushing defeat in the last presidential election and signs of division within the Republican Party over cabinet appointments.
The first point of interest is the discord between Congress and President-elect Trump over cabinet appointments. The resignation of former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was nominated as the next Attorney General but stepped down voluntarily just eight days after his nomination in November last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct, marked a turning point. Dissatisfaction and concerns about Trump’s cabinet nominees have been growing within Congress. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth is also embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations, and Tulsi Gabbard, nominated for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and still awaiting Senate confirmation, has come under fire for her pro-Russian stance.
The Hill reported, "The month of celebration the Republicans enjoyed after the election victory may have been nothing more than a fleeting honeymoon period," adding, "Tensions between some Republicans and Trump have escalated just weeks after taking control of Congress and the White House."
Another point of interest is how much influence Elon Musk, the 'First Buddy' and CEO of Tesla, will wield in politics. Musk has stirred controversy by opposing the temporary budget agreement recently reached by both the Republican and Democratic parties, shaking congressional consensus, as well as by intervening in the selection of Trump’s second-term cabinet. News of Musk’s appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has even led to the formation of subcommittees and caucuses within Congress aiming to support him.
However, there are many predictions that the bromance between President-elect Trump and CEO Musk will not last long. Voices of dissatisfaction about Musk’s presidential-like behavior have already emerged among Trump’s close aides, and Trump himself recently reacted angrily, stating, "The claim that I handed over the presidency to Musk is not true."
Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale University, pointed out that Trump is relying on Musk’s money far more than imagined, and warned that if Trump fails to break this dependent relationship, Musk’s influence could grow to a level that worries Trump’s inner circle.
The third and fourth points concern who the Democratic Party will put forward as a leader to replace Vice President Kamala Harris and lead the party after their defeat in the presidential election, and whether the regrouped Democrats can mount a counterattack in the 2026 midterm elections. The Hill noted that there are voices of self-reflection within the party about its failure to represent the interests of the working class and the poor, and that the upcoming DNC (Democratic National Committee) chair election will be a turning point for reorganization. In particular, the conflict between President-elect Trump and the Republican hardliners over the retention of current House Speaker Mike Johnson could create an opportunity for the Democrats in the 2026 midterms.
The final factor highlighted is geopolitical conflict. Just as the Ukraine and Middle East conflicts had a significant impact on the Biden administration’s downfall, it is predicted that divisions between interventionist and isolationist factions within the Republican Party over the Trump administration’s foreign policy will deepen. President-elect Trump’s recent calls for the return of the Panama Canal and the purchase of Greenland are also expected to fuel diplomatic tensions.
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