A new book by journalist Jonathan Karl reveals how Donald Trump’s cabinet picks were shaped by loyalty, personal favors, and internal infighting rather than merit or experience. “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America” unveils the behind-the-scenes turmoil surrounding controversial appointments like Kristi Noem and Sean Duffy, exposing a pattern of political favoritism that sparked unease even among Trump’s closest allies.
Read: Mike Johnson Cornered on Fox Amid Explosive Epstein Vote Controversy
Personal Favor Behind Noem’s Appointment
Jonathan Karl writes that Trump’s decision to appoint South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security was driven by loyalty rather than qualifications. According to “Retribution,” Trump admitted he chose Noem as a personal favor to his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, saying, “I did it for Corey.” The decision came despite objections from advisors who called Noem “obviously unqualified” to oversee a department responsible for national security, immigration enforcement, and disaster management.
Also read: Marjorie Taylor Greene Blasts Speaker Mike Johnson for Delaying Epstein Files Release
Scandal-Plagued Backstory
Kristi Noem, who once faced backlash for admitting she shot her pet dog in her memoir, was neither vetted nor shortlisted for the DHS position. Her appointment bypassed the formal transition process, shocking many within Trump’s inner circle. Lewandowski, known for his controversial past and firing in 2016 over accusations of assaulting a reporter, was rumored to have had a close personal relationship with Noem, allegations both have denied.
Also read: GOP Rebels Against Trump’s Beef Import Plan: “Flying Like a Lead Balloon”
Bannon’s Harsh Reaction
Even loyal Trump ally Steve Bannon expressed alarm over Noem’s selection. “She runs the whole thing? She runs the fucking Secret Service? It’s all of it. What are you talking about? She’s never been in law enforcement!” Bannon reportedly told Karl, adding that he blamed Lewandowski, not Trump, for the “dangerous” decision. He accused Lewandowski of pushing for “somebody who’s obviously unqualified.”
Also read: Mike Johnson Blasts Marjorie Taylor Greene’s ‘Absurd’ Attacks as GOP Infighting Escalates
Noem’s Controversial Tenure
After her Senate confirmation in January, Noem’s leadership quickly drew scrutiny. Critics pointed to wasteful spending, mishandled immigration policies, and delays in disaster response. Her media-heavy approach, featuring staged videos from the southern border and El Salvador prisons, has been dismissed by observers as “authoritarian cosplay.”
Also read: Minnesota Woman Sentenced to Read Book After Casting Her Dead Mother’s Vote for Trump
The Sean Duffy Dilemma
The chaos didn’t stop there. Karl reveals that Sean Duffy, a former Fox Business anchor and congressman, sought to become the U.S. ambassador to the UN despite lacking foreign policy experience. When that failed, he was considered for Transportation Secretary, a position equally outside his expertise. “Of course he does, he has nine kids!” a friend joked when asked if Duffy knew anything about transportation.
Also read: Pentagon on Lockdown as Hegseth Tightens Grip on Military-Congress Contact Amid Shutdown
Backroom Sabotage and Rivalries
Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick pushed back against Duffy’s nomination, reportedly ordering his team to find damaging footage from Duffy’s past. They discovered a 2015 clip where Duffy had questioned Trump’s conservatism. Though the revelation nearly cost Duffy the job, he and his wife personally persuaded Trump that he had changed his views. Trump eventually named Duffy Transportation Secretary and, later, acting NASA Administrator.
Also read: Newsom Blasts ‘Dictator Tactics’ as Trump Sends Federal Agents to San Francisco
Musk’s Scathing Response
Elon Musk reacted sharply to Duffy’s NASA appointment, writing on X, “Having a NASA Administrator who knows literally ZERO about rockets & spacecraft undermines the American space program and endangers our astronauts.” The episode encapsulated the book’s central theme: a government shaped not by qualification but by personal loyalty and impulse.