The New Republic: Trump's Fans Suddenly Realize How He Picks Nominees--and They're Pissed

[Dennis Donovan]

The New Republic - (archived: https://archive.ph/FNBsa ) Trump’s Fans Suddenly Realize How He Picks Nominees—and They’re Pissed

Donald Trump has nominated the head of a private investment firm to lead the Navy.

Robert McCoy
November 27, 2024/11:01 a.m. ET

Donald Trump’s pick for the secretary of the Navy isn’t sitting well even with some MAGA faithful.

Trump announced Tuesday evening that he had selected John Phelan, founder and chairman of the private investment firm Rugger Management, to head the Navy. “A true Champion of American Enterprise and Ingenuity!” Trump wrote in a statement. “John’s intelligence and leadership are unmatched. John holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and is a truly brilliant guy! His incredible knowledge and experience will elevate the lives of the brave Americans who serve our Nation.”

Phelan is a somewhat curious choice, considering he has no military experience. Military Times reports that, if confirmed by the Senate, he “would be the first permanent Navy secretary without military experience since 2009, when Donald Winter finished up his three-year term in the role. Unlike Winter, who previously had worked within the Pentagon and on Navy contracts at major defense firms, Phelan has little public connection to the sea service.” Phelan is, however, on the board of a nonprofit “dedicated to supporting troops and diplomats worldwide.”

A detail that perhaps clarifies Trump’s decision: Along with his record as a businessman, Phelan was a Trump campaign megadonor. He reportedly donated more than $800,000 to Trump’s joint fundraising committee in April. This summer, he and his wife hosted a Trump campaign fundraising dinner at their $38 million home, “where attendees were required to donate anywhere from $25,000 to $500,000 a couple,” per The Guardian.

/snip/

One X user who sports “#MAGA” in her bio wrote: “This makes ZERO sense. NONE. How is Trump naming a hedge fund guy as Secretary of the Navy??? WTH??? I’m a huge Trump supporter, but we need MILITARY COMMANDERS running military branches.”

“Questioning the John Phelan pick,” posted another “Pro-Trump” user. “Feels like rewarding a cronie as he has no military experience. But, if his focus is going to be on making sure that the supply chain is up to stuff so that the Navy can build the ships it needs, it may be okay.”

Other conservative X users asked, “Ummm, why? He has never served in the Navy,” observed the appointment “seems like a gift,” and deemed it a “weird choice to nominate a person with no military experience to lead a branch of the military.”

/snip

[Basso8vb]

1. They will be learning more and more every day that they are not on the team.

Just like sports fandom, decking out in the team's jersey just makes you look ridiculous, and an easily identifiable mark.

[tonkatoy8888]

10. You've got it.

They're not on the team.

As i tried to get across to my son when he was a boy, it's not his/our team. It's the billionaire owner's team. He doesn't give a fuck about you. The players don't give a fuck about you. When the owner has sucked the city dry and the city will not or cannot satisfy the owner's desires the team will move on to another city. Enjoy the game. Admire the player's skill and athleticism, but don't think for a moment that it's "your" team.

The same goes for politics. Choose politicians and parties that represent your interests, but don't think for a moment that your $50 or $100 contribution gives you any kind of ownership stake. The big money decides what path will ultimately be taken.

[rsdsharp]

20. In the other hand, Musk's $144 million dollars DOES give him an ownership interest.

Somebody once asked Joe DiMaggio how he’d handle contract negotiations in today’s sports environment. He said he’d walk into the owner’s office and say, “Hello, partner!”

It’s like that.

[druidity33]

44. Sounds to me like

you've never once met a professional athlete. I have met quite a few. With the exception of Jim Kelly (former Buffalo Bills QB) EVERY single one was gracious, kind and patient. As a server meeting filthy rich superstar sportsball people... i expected them to be arrogant assholes. Absolutely NOT THE CASE in my experience. They are all about the fans.

[tonkatoy8888]

45. Well,

My comment wasn't really about the personal affability or graciousness of an individual athlete or even professional athletes as a class. The notable athletes I've encountered were for the most part very kind, whether because that's just who they are or they realize that interaction with fans is part of their job.

My point was about fandom and a perceived "ownership" of "our" team. Professional athletes have a very narrow window of time to earn insane amounts of money. I understand and appreciate that. The have to look out for themselves and, with their agent, do everything to maximize their earnings. My main point was that they have no loyalty or warm spot in their hearts for a particular team. They go where the dollars are. That's life. The owners, on the other hand.....

[Magoo48]

25. Magats are are possibly the largest collection of suckers conned in one fell swoop in the history of flim-flam

[Mike 03]

2. "Feels like rewarding a cronie..."

For eight years they paid no attention.

Somebody remind us again how we shouldn't make fun of these idiots?

[Prairie Gates]

13. Oh, it's not just a reward - the crony will drive contracts to Trump and associates

while taking a modest skim for himself. If ships sink or radar systems don't work or weapons systems are giant boondoggles because the bids were bullshit, well, that's the Navy's problem, not Trump or Phelan's.

The interviews for the position were basically bid interviews: who could drive the most government money into Trump and crony coffers while taking the most reasonable skim?

It's going to be an orgy of corruption.

[Yavin4]

17. Literally how the Mafia works

Just without the tailored suits and the impeccable panache.

[Blue_Tires]

32. Whoever said that deserves a punch in the face

And you're correct... The fastest thing known to man is how quickly Trumpers get offended when being called gullible racist idiots

[Timewas]

3. Simple

Money

[Dem4life1234]

4. They are so stupid

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. Silly Maggots. One does not question Dear Leader's choices. nt

[Hugin]

6. Finally! The Navy will be profitable!

Oh, wait…

[tonkatoy8888]

7. It's the corruption Olympics

And we're #1. USA, USA, USA!

Cronyism, sycophancy, hard right ideology, and naked greed. What a combination.

The only thing even mildly amusing is that all these billionaire hedge fund managers and assorted truly wealthy guys are, without any doubt, light years smarter than Trump and they didn't want or accept these positions out of any desire to serve the country They are there to get their beak wet in all that cash sloshing around and to trade on insider information.

Before Trump wises up to the fact that they are stealing all "his" money they'll be back in the Hamptons lighting cigars with $1000 bills.

[JPK]

8. Seems to me...

tRumps filling the swamp, not emptying it.

[onecaliberal]

9. How do these people find their shoes in the morning?

.

[Yavin4]

18. They don't.

Their parents find their shoes for them.

[Prairie Gates]

11. MAGAs will be mad if Dominic Pezzola isn't made Commandant of the Marine Corps

I mean, hell, at least he was actually in the Marines.

[kimbutgar]

12. They were dumb to realize he is a transactional person who lied to them repeatedly and they now will

Suffer the consequences of being fooled by a known conman. Their lives will get worst not better and we now have a dictatorship and he ain’t leaving the whole house unless he’s cared out in a casket.

RIP USA Democracy 1776-2025. It was a bumpy ride but good while it lasted. I feel so much sadness this country is going to hell after January 20, 2025.

[dalton99a]

14. Kick

[oasis]

15. 🎼And that junior partnership I mean, is the only

Last edited Wed Nov 27, 2024, 03:39 PM - Edit history (1)

ship that I ever had seen, but that kind of ship so suited me and now I am the ruler of the Queen’s navy🎼

Gilbert&Sullivan HMS Pinafore.

[ShazzieB]

28. Very apropos!

Perfect, in fact:

Now landsmen all, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
If your soul isn't fettered to an office stool
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule.
Stick close to your desks
And never go to sea.
And you all may be the rulers
of the Queen's Navy!

(It's Queen's Navy, as in Queen Victoria, who was on the throne at the time.)

[oasis]

30. Thanks for the "King's to Queen's" heads up.

👍

[ShazzieB]

38. De nada!

[milestogo]

16. Its very weird to vote for someone for president who was charged with a boatload of felonies and tried

to overthrow the country but you did, morons.

[ShazzieB]

33. No, no, no! 🤪

Haven't you heard? All that stuff was made up by the radical Democrats, who hate Trump (why? just because!) and weaponized the DOJ in order to persecute him (why? just because!).

Yes, sarcasm, but I'm pretty sure that's what his flying monkeys would tell you if you asked them.

[BradBo]

19. MAGAS are genuinely idiots.

[70sEraVet]

21. I found this really good line on Salon.com

Hegseth, who has promised to get rid of diversity initiatives in the military and wrote that America is head towards "some form of civil war," appears to have the right amount of inexperience and loyalty Trump is looking for. Though Phelan's views are lesser-known than Hegseth's, his similar lack of experience has invited questions as to why he's been selected.

https://www.salon.com/2024/11/27/taps-art-collector-with-no-experience-to-lead-us-navy/

(bolding of text is mine)

[70sEraVet]

23. Oh, by the way, also in that article is this nugget -

"Other candidates considered for the position included ......... Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Tex., who was Trump’s chief medical advisor during his first term"
Remember? The Candyman, who handed out drugs in the White House like they were , well, candy?

[ColinC]

22. Theyll get it over it in no time

[Falcon101]

24. Who needs a $38 million dollar house

It used to be the rich (like the old industry barons) used some of their money for the common good such as charities and foundations. Now the rich just simply want more money they don't need and will use the government to get them more money. Think of all the good that the Musk and uber rich could have done with their money rather than give it to Trump's campaign. At some point, can you not say I have enough money. Is not someone living in a $38 million dollar home at that point of having enough. Now he will grift the Navy contracts for even more money.

[ShazzieB]

37. Some (emphasis on some) of the rich still do that kind of thing.

Bill Gates is one well-known example that comes to mind. But those people don't toot their own horn that much, so we tend to only hear about the shameless greedpigs like Musk, Zuck, and Bezos, who personify the reason why "EAT THE RICH" became such a popular slogan.

[mopinko]

42. my gov is 1 of the good 1s. jb pritzker is a true mensch.

he did amazing things w his money b4 he ran. he ran a tech incubator w his own money, and did a lot of work on early childhood ed.
his cousin, jennifer, owns tawani construction. they have done some absolutely stellar rehabs and upgrades to old bldgs in my hood. she also recently built an apparently amazing bldg in wis to house her military museum.
the pritzker name is all over chgo, including schools and parks. major funder of millennium park. they’ve been more than generous. even tho their money is not soaked in blood to begin w, like so many oligarchs.

[delisen]

26. The MAGAs were tools not club members

Just a bunch of golf carts

[DENVERPOPS]

27. You all can bet your sweet bippies

We ain't seen nothing yet..............

[Cha]

29. FUCK you magats... TSF Makes ZERO SENSE.. NONE...

Fucking tiny brainwashed GULLIBLES.

[Jit423]

31. Money, greed, corruption, bigotry, fascism and lawlessness.

It's going to be a rough ride for many. But this too shall pass. I am still holding out that Trump will not be sworn in on Jan 20, 2025.

[Butterflylady]

34. Dump won't pick someone from the military.

All the military will talk him down by telling him the truth and he doesn't want that.

[mountain grammy]

35. Unimaginable

But not to me or anyone here. And the magas? They don’t care because they won and that’s all they care about

[33taw]

36. I am sure they expected trump to simply mess with immigrants, migrants, and everyone they hate.

Now that they realize that the military, veterans, farmers and the elderly might be impacted the light is turning on.

[ProfessorGAC]

39. One Nit To Pick

Not about your OP, but the article.

...Phelan was a Trump campaign megadonor. He reportedly donated more than $800,000 to Trump’s joint fundraising committee...

"Mega" means a million. If he donated 800k, he's not a "mega" donor. Why not just "big"? It's an even shorter word.
I know it's nothing. It just bugs me that people who make their living with words use them incorrectly.

[debm55]

40. They are all not qualified for their positions. Non. Just "friends" of Trump.

[Baitball Blogger]

41. Do you all remember when Putin went to war and supplies and weapons were scavenged by

cronies who depleted the military equipment?

[jmowreader]

43. I would like to know what "Rugger Management" is invested in

Why Trump picked him is pretty obvious: Phelan pumped a huge amount of money into PFL's campaign, both his own and money raised through expensive fundraisers, and PFL rewards that kind of loyalty. That the only thing Phelan knows about the Navy is that there is one is also a benefit.

But...why THIS job and not something having to do with finance, like Treasury? The first and most obvious reason is he might be able to do the job of Treasury secretary. Since PFL's plans to "make America great again" seem to involve high explosives and gasoline, making sure the entire government is incompetent is a key part of the program. I suspect Rugger Management is bankrolling companies who have Navy contracts, which would make it easier for Phelan to loot the place.

PFL: President for Life