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When the Loyalty Test Disqualifies the Competent: Trump’s Second-Term Purge
This time around, Trump isn’t just picking unqualified people—he's actively eliminating anyone with expertise or integrity.
When the Loyalty Test Disqualifies the Competent: Trump’s Second-Term Purge
If the first Trump administration was chaotic, corrupt, and riddled with incompetence, his second one is shaping up to be even worse. This time, Trump isn’t just picking unqualified people—he's actively eliminating anyone with expertise or integrity. The only requirement for a job in his inner circle? Absolute, unquestioning loyalty.
The Trump Loyalty Test: Experience Not Needed
During his first term, Trump quickly learned that people who understood government, policy, or the Constitution were obstacles to his whims. His first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, lost favor for simply following ethical guidelines. Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in protest. Even Mike Pence—his own vice president—became a traitor in Trump’s eyes for refusing to overturn the 2020 election.
The lesson Trump took from all this? Competence is a liability. Now, as he prepares for…
