▲ In the early hours of November 6, local time, Trump delivered a speech at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida.
"Don't look at Trump as a person, but look at the entire team behind him." This was the appeal made by Wall Street investment mogul Bill Ackman when he helped Republican presidential candidate Trump campaign.
During this campaign, the public noticed that Trump has gathered many proven business elites under his banner, as well as political bigwigs who have 'defected' from the Democratic camp.
In America, where inflation is increasingly severe, many voters hope that these experienced individuals can pull the U.S. economy and public governance out of the current quagmire once they take office in the White House.
World's richest man Musk, young Robert Kennedy from the Kennedy family, and Vance and Tulsi Gabbard, both born in the '80s, all play important roles in Trump's campaign team.
Musk:
Cut $2 trillion from the budget
When Trump announced his victory in the 2024 presidential election, he stated: "A new star has emerged here, and that is Musk." Tesla's stock price surged by 13% after Trump confirmed his victory. U.S. trading analyst Dan Elvis stated that Musk is called the 'second biggest winner' of this election, and he is optimistic about Tesla's stock, predicting it will rise another $40-60.
Despite previous quarrels with Trump, Musk has radically supported Trump this time, even spending election night with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Many U.S. media outlets question Musk's motives, accusing him of trying to gain greater benefits by influencing politics, but Musk himself stated that he shares the same stance as Trump on improving the efficiency of the federal government.
▲ Musk supports Trump
Just last week, Musk emphasized his stance again at Trump's campaign rally: he wants to cut $2 trillion from the budget set by the Democratic government. Musk stated, "I will protect your property; the U.S. government will no longer harass you with spending."
During the campaign, Musk has consistently called for the establishment of a 'Government Efficiency Committee' to 'reorganize' the federal government, replicating his cost-cutting measures in companies like Twitter. Trump also stated he was willing to arrange a government position for Musk, allowing him to lead a 'cost-cutting department' to audit federal finances and propose reform suggestions for departmental restructuring. Musk replied, "I would be very happy to! I don't want a salary or a title; many agencies in the U.S. government are too bloated and need to be cut down."
Running mate Vance:
From Trump's opponent to supporter
The 40-year-old Vance first gained fame in 2016 for his semi-autobiographical work (Hillbilly Elegy), which is considered to explain the phenomenon of Trump's rise well.
He wrote in the preface of his book: "I am not a billionaire, not a congressman; I just have a stable job and a happy family. The purpose of writing this book is to let you know what it's like to be poor, as even I, in my hometown, find it very difficult to achieve this."
After the publication of this book, Vance not only achieved great success in venture capital but also quickly became a senator and Trump's running mate, becoming the hottest '80s star in America.
▲ On July 17, Vance attended the Republican National Convention with his wife. Photo by IC.
In 2016, Vance wrote, "Dear American compatriots, Trump is a cultural heroin that pierces your veins." During this campaign, Vance stated in a television program that after personally interacting with Trump, he realized "how distorted the media's portrayal of Trump was," ultimately changing his attitude.
Some commentators believe that after the vice presidential debate with Democratic opponent Vance, the general opinion of him in the U.S. public was quite favorable, considering his stable performance "softened many of Trump's extreme remarks," giving a significant boost to the Republican Party among neutral voters. Meanwhile, as a model of someone who rose from humble beginnings, the young Vance has achieved success in both business and politics, and he also possesses legal experience, making his resume quite impressive.
Young Robert Kennedy:
Making U.S. food giants 'tremble'
The 70-year-old young Robert Kennedy was born into the famous Kennedy family in America. His father, old Robert, was a congressman, and his uncle, John Kennedy, is one of the most famous former presidents in Democratic history.
As the 'black sheep' of his family, young Robert jumped out of the Democratic Party and ran as an independent candidate in this U.S. presidential election, later abandoning his campaign to support Trump directly. However, due to legal reasons in some states, his name still appears on the ballot.
▲ Young Robert Kennedy with Trump
Wall Street investment mogul Bill Ackman stated that young Robert's main job is as an environmental lawyer, while also focusing on public health and children's health issues. "He is passionate about the food industry, and he will make Americans eat healthier." One of young Robert's main proposals is to keep the U.S. food industry "away from the dangers of pesticides and additives." In response, a person from the food industry said, "For many companies in this industry, waiting for the election results over the past few weeks felt like a lifetime."
Trump previously praised young Robert's enthusiasm in the health field during a podcast appearance, stating, "I will let him go wild in the food sector and do what he wants." Young Robert indicated that Trump has promised to let him "control the U.S. public health department," which includes the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Public Health Service, "Of course, the most important is to control the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is key to keeping Americans healthy. We must stay away from pesticide-intensive agricultural production."
Industry insiders pointed out that if Trump fully supports young Robert's ideas, it would not only disrupt the landscape of the U.S. food industry but also impact the interests of food giants, contradicting Trump's previous positions. Trump had previously supported gradually lifting restrictions on the use of pesticides and food additives during his campaign.
Tulsi Gabbard:
Unlike the three white males who switched sides at the last minute to support Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, a mixed-race girl born in 1981 in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, embodies a rich fusion of diverse backgrounds and cultures, making her a rare 'harmonizer' in Trump's team.
▲ Tulsi Gabbard
Gabbard's political experience is 'confusing'; she participated in the Democratic primary during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, for which she gave up the opportunity to run for re-election as a member of Congress from Hawaii. In the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, Gabbard, who had become an independent, campaigned for several congressional candidates supported by Trump and became a special guest speaker at the Republican National Convention. In 2024, she directly joined the Republican Party and became a co-leader of Trump's transition team in August of this year.
Gabbard not only switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, but in 2020 she also 'stabbed in the back' her ally Bernie Sanders, publicly supporting Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.
Her views have also frequently changed. Due to her childhood environment, Gabbard advocates for diversity and inclusion and has previously voiced support for minority rights and environmental protection from the Democratic standpoint. Later, she joined the Hawaii Army National Guard's field medical unit in 2004 and was stationed in Iraq and Kuwait a few years later. In 2020, she became the first female veteran to participate in the presidential primary.
After that, Gabbard increasingly leaned towards the traditional conservative values of the Republican Party, taking the Republican stance on issues like reproductive rights, fossil fuels, and marriage systems.
Gabbard stated in an interview that she feels very honored to have the opportunity to work in the Trump administration and hopes to "play a role in foreign policy."
After Trump's loss in 2020, he went from being abandoned by many (betrayed by the establishment, defection of the princess) to now having a strong team, which is a matter of timing, place, and harmony. Carlson, after being fired by CNN, was left with no choice but to turn to Trump for survival. Musk can also be seen as being forced to Trump’s side. Young Kennedy, carrying the legacy of President Kennedy, voluntarily pledged allegiance. Tugal, with a Wonder Woman-like image, represents the youth with a military background in loyalty to Trump. And Vance is the one who can uphold Trump's trust while bringing the strength of young people as a vice presidential candidate. Johnson is also much better than McConnell, who was kicked out after just one month. Trump's cabinet is very stable now. #BabyMarvin-f9c7
