This opinion piece from The New York Times criticizes the Trump administration's leadership, citing two key examples: the Pentagon's alleged mismanagement and the president's attacks on the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell.
The article highlights the revelation of Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, sharing sensitive information via a Signal group chat and a subsequent Politico article detailing a "full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon," leading to the firing of three top officials. The author suggests this reflects the administration's preference for less competent and therefore less threatening subordinates.
The author points to President Trump's attacks on Jerome Powell, the Fed chairman, and the consequent market rout and dollar plunge. Trump's outrage stemmed from Powell's assessment of the president's tariffs and their negative economic consequences. This event is presented as another instance of the administration's poor handling of critical situations.
The central argument is that the Trump administration is fundamentally characterized by a lack of adult supervision. This is exemplified by the placement of unqualified individuals in crucial positions and the lack of accountability. The author emphasizes the preference for loyalists over competent professionals.