Sunanda K. Datta-Ray | India’s hopes, fears rise as Trump picks ‘dream team’

Thanks to China, India has reason not to be displeased with the initial list of members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Even so, in achieving the “America First” agenda, Mr Trump’s “dream team” rooted in personal loyalty, policy alignment, and shared priorities may not please all friends and allies. “In the 115th Congress,” she had promised, “we will continue our work to increase awareness and understanding across our communities, and urge the department of justice to investigate these horrific acts and address the rise of hate crimes across the country.” Her influence might partly explain Mr Trump’s vocal campaign against the anti-Hindu violence recently in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. A fierce critic during the 2016 Republican primaries when he famously called today’s President-elect a “con man”, Mr Rubio is now an ally, embracing Mr Trump’s policies on immigration and foreign relations. Others of consequence include Fox News’s Pete Hegseth, now nominated secretary of defence, an Army National Guard veteran with combat experience of Iraq and Afghanistan; South Dakota’s plucky governor Kristi Noem who will be secretary of homeland security; and the “tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected” Susie Wiles, who refused to implement Covid-19 restrictions, and will be White House chief of staff with a pivotal role in shaping Mr Trump’s foreign policy strategy and overseeing border security.