One story of Donald Trump’s second term has been that it’s been less chaotic, personnel-wise, than his first. Trump has not been feuding with his cabinet picks and top advisers. Except for former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, the Administration has seen almost no high-profile departures of top officials.
A Wall Street Journal story on Sunday seemed to throw some cold water on that narrative.
According to the story, “after months of pushing out career government officials and Democratic holdovers, President Trump is starting to turn on some of his own picks.”
“White House officials said Trump had only grown frustrated with one cabinet secretary, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and she has buttressed her position with Trump in recent weeks by focusing on pursuing other perceived Trump foes.” https://t.co/xH3KoRW0LX
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) August 31, 2025
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Trump has removed the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and the IRS, both of whom were his own picks, as was the ousted acting FEMA administrator.
“No administration has seen more chaos in its leadership ranks than the Trump administration, other than the Trump one. He begins by being right, and if anyone challenges his worldview, they need to go away,” Max Stier, who leads the Partnership for Public Service, and was the hero of Michael Lewis’ book “The Fifth Risk,” told the Journal.
The Journal also reports that Trump is upset with one Cabinet-level official: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
“White House officials said Trump had only grown frustrated with one cabinet secretary, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and she has buttressed her position with Trump in recent weeks by focusing on pursuing other perceived Trump foes.”
Another longtime Trump loyalist is also under scrutiny, the often-controversial Corey Lewandowski.
Kristi Noem down in Argentina on another taxpayer funded adventure with her “Chief of staff” and “special friend” Corey Lewandowski. pic.twitter.com/IruB1UeV2C
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 29, 2025
“The White House also has started to look into one of Trump’s longest-serving aides, Corey Lewandowski, who once ran Trump’s 2016 campaign and is now in an unpaid advisory role at the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the matter,” the Journal said. “The inquiry stems from allegations Lewandowski tried to skirt rules that limit how long he can stay in the role, the people said.”
Lewandowski also, the Journal said, “has amassed power at the department in a way that has concerned top officials, according to people familiar with the matter.”
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
