Adam Kinzinger - The Honeymoon Won't Last

Why Trump's honeymoon is likely to be much shorter than most

Adam Kinzinger
Dec 05, 2024



It’s always a temptation to feel like the current state of facts or misery will continue unabated into the foreseeable future. This is a bias of our minds and souls; it’s difficult for us to envision how situations that seem bigger than us could ever come to an end. But history proves otherwise. Every storm, no matter how severe, eventually passes, even when it feels like it’s here to stay.

Today, Donald Trump’s continued popularity, his reckless cabinet picks, and his inflammatory rhetoric may seem insurmountable, as though they fall on apathetic or deaf ears. And perhaps, for now, they do. Yet, I am certain of one thing: every presidency has a honeymoon period, and this one will be no exception (and may end quickly).

For President Biden, that honeymoon period lasted until the disastrous pullout from Afghanistan. Even though he was setup by Trump to fail, his popularity plummeted in its aftermath and has struggled to recover since. Trump, too, will face crises—international or domestic—and when those moments come, the bubble of his current momentum will inevitably pop. What makes this moment unique, however, is Trump’s apparent belief that his popularity and goodwill are infinite. This hubris sets the stage for him to burn through it all much faster than most.

Take his cabinet picks, for example. While they might not initially register as earth-shattering to voters, their cumulative effect on the American psyche will be profound. They reveal a man less interested in governance and more fixated on settling scores and indulging in image-driven theatrics. Americans may tolerate this approach for a time, especially before Trump’s swearing-in, but that tolerance has a limit.

Let’s start with the Defense Department. Trump’s selection of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News personality with limited qualifications, signals a preference for loyalty and optics over expertise and leadership. The Pentagon oversees the safety and security of our nation; its leader must inspire trust, not controversy. Americans care deeply about our military, and Hegseth’s appointment raises questions about Trump’s seriousness in protecting national defense.

Then there’s the matter of public health. RFK Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, has been nominated as Health and Human Services secretary. On paper, this sounds like a thought experiment gone wrong. In practice, it could have devastating consequences. Imagine the public’s reaction to the first outbreak of a preventable disease like measles under his watch. Add to this the inevitable controversies stemming from his long history of unscientific claims, and the trust Americans place in public health institutions could unravel overnight.

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