Trump's Transition Team Picks Raise Questions

Nov 02, 2026

Suspicion is growing that Trump's post-election staffing choices took a sharp, unexplained turn after the Butler assassination attempt, and critics see that as bad news for anyone hoping for a less hawkish foreign policy.

  • Trump put Howard Lutnick, a past Hillary Clinton fundraiser, in charge of his transition right after the Butler shooting.
  • Lutnick reportedly picked key national security staff, including Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz, and John Ratcliffe.
  • Critics describe these picks as hawkish and strongly pro-Israel, a shift from the non-interventionist tone Trump campaigned on.
  • Some, including a former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, suggest the Butler shooting may be linked to this change in direction.

Outlook: Expect continued scrutiny of these appointments and renewed debate over whether Trump's foreign policy team matches his campaign promises.

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