The honor is ours, Mr. President
President Donald Trump held his first full Cabinet meeting Monday morning at the White House. Media cameras were allowed in for a short portion and they captured Mr. Trump’s Cabinet officials, one by one, praising the president — effusively.
It started with Vice President Mike Pence, who called it the “greatest privilege of my life” to serve in the Trump administration. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said it was an “honor” to serve Mr. Trump, and as they went around the table, most of Mr. Trump’s Cabinet officials used either the word “honor,” “privilege” or both when describing their pride at working for Mr. Trump. Some said it was an honor and/or privilege to work in their respective departments, while others said it was an honor and/or privilege to work directly for him.
Eventually came Reince Priebus. Poor Reince Priebus. The White House chief of staff tasked with bringing order to a tornado of a West Wing. The man who has been on the verge of losing his job since before he even took it. “On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you’ve given us to serve your agenda and the American people,” Mr. Priebus said. “And we’re continuing to work very hard every day to accomplish those goals.”
The internet pounced immediately, perhaps because Mr. Priebus’ use of the word “blessing” made him sound more like a father giving Thanksgiving grace than a presidential aide discussing policy. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., even went so far as to film a short video with staffers, trolling Mr. Priebus and Mr. Trump.
There’s been a lot of talk about Mr. Trump and loyalty pledges recently, and the president has shown himself over and over again to pride loyalty over any other quality in his subordinates. This didn’t appear to be a request for public loyalty pledges on Mr. Trump’s part, but rather a chance for Mr. Trump’s Cabinet officials to briefly sum up their department’s policy priorities, and note in front of the media’s cameras how smoothly, they believe, the new administration is functioning.
Yet many of them felt the need to address him personally. That’s indicative of the kind of language Cabinet officials in Mr. Trump’s administration — especially Mr. Priebus — think they need to use around the president: Effusive praise of both his policies and his leadership, with deference to Mr. Trump’s authority highlighted at all times.