Fox News host Maria Bartiromo took a public stance against former President Donald Trump’s approach to “draining the swamp” in Washington, a promise he made several times throughout his campaign and presidency. She criticized focused on Trump’s handling of the political bureaucracy, challenging his promises of cleansing Washington of entrenched political interests.
Trump’s Ex-Associates Under Fire
During his 2016 campaign, Trump made a promise to appoint only ‘the finest individuals’ to his cabinet. However, he has publicly characterized former Attorney General William Barr as ‘feeble and ineffective’, and past Secretary of Defence Mark Esper as ‘incapable’. The intriguing moment arrived when Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo began probing Trump about his staffing choices.
Bartiromos Attack
In an episode of “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News, Trump found himself answering Bartimoro’s question, “Why did you put them in the job then?” The former president’s response was a typical evasion, stating, “I didn’t know the people.”
Trumps Hypocrisy
Trump’s assertion that he ‘didn’t know the people” seems to fly in the fact of his previous campaign promises to appoint only ‘the finest individuals” to his cabinet. Trump added in his interview with Bartiromos, “I know the people now better than anybody has ever known. The people I know, the good ones, the bad ones, the dumb ones, the smart ones.”
The Staffers Under Scrutiny
Mentioned in the interview were familiar names such as ex-attorney general William Barr, whom Trump called “weak and pathetic’ and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper, whom he called “incompetent.”
Key Roles in the Trump Administration
Both of these staffers had key roles in the Trump Administration. William Barr was the Attorney General from 2019 to 2020 and played a pivotal role in many of Trump’s initiatives. His extensive legal career, relationships within the administration, and unflinching commitment made him a powerful ally for the former president. Mark Esper, on the other hand, served as the Secretary of Defence from July 2019 to November 2020.
Controversial Tenures
Both Barr and Espers’s tenures were not without controversy. Barr, who served as the United States Attorney General, was frequently scrutinized for his handling of the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Barr publicly disagreed with several of the report’s conclusions, sparking controversy and raising questions about his impartiality. Moreover, his decisions on several high-profile cases – such as the dropping of charges against Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn – drew widespread criticism.
Similarly, Mark Espers’s tenure was marked by several contentious events, including his handling of the pandemic response. His approach to the pandemic was criticized for his approval of the use of military force to quell protests, leading to his eventual resignation.
Post-Administration Scrutiny
Even after leaving their posts, both Barr and Esper continue to be under scrutiny for their actions during Trump’s presidency.
What Would Trump Do Differently?
In conversation with the 45th president, Bartiromo questioned him about any alterations he would’ve made during his tenure. Trump’s retort was, “The mistake would be people,” followed by, “I mean, I wouldn’t have put a guy like [former Attorney General] Bill Barr, and he was weak and pathetic. I wouldn’t have put [former Attorney General] Jeff Sessions.”
He was Incompetent
He continued, “And there are some people that I wouldn’t have put in. Most people were good, but I had some people… we had [former Secretary of Defense] Mark Esper. I didn’t like him. He was incompetent. I thought we had other people I didn’t like.”
Trump’s Promise to Drain the Swamp Falls Short
Prior to his election, Donald Trump had promised to “drain the swamp,” a colloquialism that referred to the purported removal of entrenched, bad-acting officials within governmental ranks. In an ironic juxtaposition, however, his tenure saw numerous associates come under fire for questionable practices. Bartiromo picked up on this in her interview with Trump, saying, “You didn’t drain the swamp like you said you would.”
Trumps Defence
In his defense, Trump responded, “I did,” he affirmed, adding, “I fired [former FBI Director James] Comey. I fired a lot of people.” Continuing his defense, Trump stated, “Numerous people working for me, I dismissed. I quickly terminated Comey’s services. And, you know, there were doubts if such a move was permissible. But I got rid of Comey. If I hadn’t fired Comey, I don’t believe I would have been able to complete my term because that was a conspiracy.”
Fox News Is Not The First
Trump’s 2016 campaign promise has been questioned by more than one Fox News anchor, with Bartiromo being the latest. Trump, during a June interview with Bret Baier from Fox News, defended his hiring decisions, asserting that out of every 10 hires, one was “fantastic”. This claim was in response to queries about certain previous staff who hadn’t endorsed his potential 2024 presidential campaign yet.
Choice of Personnel
Trump’s choice of personnel was also criticized by the previous New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, on social media. In a rather candid post, Christie expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump’s skills, claiming, “The reality is simple: Either Donald Trump lacks the ability to choose the right personnel or he is the most inefficient manager in the history of the American presidency.”
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