Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:tical Analysis

1. The collective net worth of Trump’s top appointees is reportedly estimated to exceed $460 billion, including Elon Musk’s $400 billion net worth. Even without Musk, Trump’s cabinet and top appointees in 2025 by far exceeds the wealth of previous cabinets, including his previous cabinet (and previous record holder), which was worth $3.2 billion. How accurate was your prediction about the number of billionaires in the Trump administration?

2. Sixteen of Trump’s 25 wealthiest appointees and nominees are members of the 0.0001%, meaning they are among the 813 billionaires in the United States, where some 341 million of the rest of us make up the 99.9999% (earning an average yearly income of about $61,000). Which US agency/department has the most billionaires working in it?

3. This is not just government by the top 1% – this is rule by the top 0.0001% (read as the top one ten thousandth percent). What surprises you most about the data from the visual above?

4. The total net worth of the billionaires in the Trump administration is more than the GDP of 172 different countries. What is one consequence of having such a wealthy cabinet?

5. One student who I will call Rolf said that the wealth of this cabinet is proof that this will be a successful and will make policy to make American prosperous. Another student who I will call Imogene, said that this cabinet would never understand the lives of people who struggle to make ends meet and live paycheck to paycheck - who would make policy that would only benefit the wealthy. What do you think about this?

6. George Washington was a great president and a wealthy man with a net worth of $780,000 - equivalent to $594.2 million in current value. Much of President Washington’s wealth came from the slaves he controlled - many of whom ran away from their enslavement. By the end of his life, Washington owned, leased, or controlled more than 500 enslaved people. Where would Washington’s wealth put him in the rankings of the richest member of the current Trump administration?

7. Established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office. Who has the power to approve the cabinet nominees who lead executive departments.

8. In terms of power, would you rather be Vice President JD Vance, worth $11 million, or Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg worth $5 billion (which is written out as $5,000,000,000)?

9. The United States is a representative democracy. Representative democracies come in different forms such as Participatory democracy, Pluralist democracy, and Elite democracy. Participatory democracy is a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions. In a participatory democracy, town hall meetings and referendums are examples of people having the power to make policy decisions. A pluralist democracy is a model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy. In a pluralist democracy, participation in groups formed around common causes is the chief method to influence policy decisions. Elite democracy is a model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making. In an elite democracy only a small number of elite individuals with high levels of education and high socioeconomic status have sway in making policy decision. Based on the visual above and your knowledge of the American political system, explain which of the three models of representative democracy most resembles the U.S.

10. A stack of one billion dollar bills would be 67.9 miles high. Cabinet-level officers are currently paid $210,700 per year. Their pay is set annual by Congress as part of its approval of the federal budget. Do some math. Write out the total wealth of Linda McMahon plus her annual cabinet pay.

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

We have been tracking the approval of the Trump cabinet nominees. As of February 14 the Senate had still not confirmed the Secretary of Commerce, Labor, Education, the head of the Small Business Administration, and the U.S. Trade Representative. *Contact your U.S. Senator and tell them what you think about any upcoming nominees to Donald Trump's cabinet.

Get Creative

The Trump administration is estimated to be worth upwards of $460 billion. Think of something or things you could buy with $460 billion.

Learning Extension*