Dave Ramsey issues stern warning to Trump amid cabinet backlash
Finance guru Dave Ramsey had eight words for those who reacted unfavorably to Donald Trump’s cabinet choices: “You can’t let the masses dictate your leadership.”
The radio personality made the reminder Wednesday on “Cavuto: Coast to Coast,” touting the importance of maintaining a united front after the failed nominations of nearly AG Matt Gaetz and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
Both men have pulled their hats out of the future ring after progressive backlash fueled alleged scandals.
Other remaining candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy for Secretary of Health and Fox News’ Pete Hegseth for the next Secretary of Defense, have also raised eyebrows, especially because of their past comments to the press.
The Ramsey Solutions founder referred to Fox News’ Neil Cavuto and then issued a stern warning.
But first the 64-year-old offered a metaphor that illustrated what he said was the urgent need for a strong leader – after four years of policies he has already labeled “unsustainable.”
Ramsey, meanwhile, has a net worth of about $200 million — a sum secured by regularly giving financial advice to Americans, which is often difficult to hear. Even when it came to advising the president-elect, the money expert didn’t mince his words.
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The memory was broadcast by the 64-year-old radio personality on Wednesday on ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast’
There, he touted the importance of Trump maintaining a united front — after the failed nomination of almost AG Matt Gaetz and a Florida sheriff to lead the DEA. Both men have pulled their hats out of the future ring after progressive backlash fueled alleged scandals
“Well, there obviously comes a time when you have to fish or cut bait,” the real estate mogul began.
“A leader who doesn’t stand by his team and have his back when things first get tough sends a signal to the rest of the team that he’s not going to stand there,” he added.
“If I was in this situation, I will support this until I decide not to. I’m not going to ‘waffle’ in the public eye.’
‘I’m going [to] do all this directly with the leader and decide whether we go [to] move forward together or not,” he concluded.
Asked whether Trump may have taken hasty actions, such as naming Gaetz as his favorite AM, despite already being scrutinized by lawmakers over allegations that include sexual misconduct, Ramsey remained steadfast in his stance.
“I don’t think he’s picked them for Senate confirmation,” Ramsey said as Senate Republicans struggle to vet Trump’s slate of appointments and nominees.
“He picked them because their values align with where he wants to go,” he claimed, pointing to a common ground the proverbial group shares: the fact that they are all Trump loyalists.
Loyalty, he said, will remain the focus of Trump’s selection process after many of the members of the president-elect’s first Cabinet were unable to take office in time for Inauguration Day due to delays in the formal confirmation process.
Other remaining candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy for Secretary of Health and Fox News’ Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, have also raised eyebrows, mainly because of past comments.
Ramsey said these choices were important because they all involved Trump loyalists — a strategy he said the president-elect should maintain despite recent opposition
At the time, part of the delay — which saw Trump become president within two weeks with the second-fewest nominees in the Cabinet, behind only George Washington — was attributed to opposition from Senate Democrats and delays in filing paperwork for background check.
This time, Ramsey said Trump will once again focus on the bigger picture, and not rush his choices with the Senate seemingly now in his corner.
;He looks for people who, if they don’t agree with him, will leave [to] disagree, they go [to] have a good, healthy disagreement,” he said of the long game he believes is being played by the Republican. ‘Not one to go [to] slit his throat from behind.
‘Are our values aligned? Is there alignment on loyalty? Are they smart enough and skilled enough to do the job in front of them?’ he said, addressing the three future questions the president-elect is likely to ponder as he chooses his second Cabinet.
“If they have those things… build the team we want. We don’t poll on that,” Ramsey finished saying.
But first he offered Cavuto one of his signature jokes, saying, “You cannot let the masses dictate your leadership. Because if you do that, you will soon discover that the ‘m’ is silent.’
Meanwhile, figures like Marco Rubio, Pam Bondi, Doug Burgum, Brooke Rollins, Howard Lutnick, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Scott Turner, Sean Duffy, Chris Wright, Linda McMahon, Doug Collins and Kristi Noem have filled other spots in Trump’s future Cabinet . .
The rollout, combined with a lack of vetting, poses problems for Senate Republicans, who have been closely following the situation surrounding Gaetz, as well as Florida Sheriff Chronister.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister was appointed by Trump to head the DEA last weekend — setting the stage for an embarrassing reversal three days later when the New York Post reported that Trump had found trouble with his arrest of a Tampa pastor during the pandemic
In the arrest, which took place on March 30, 2020, Chronister handcuffed Ronald Howard-Browne, the 63-year-old pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for allegedly ignoring COVID-19 lockdown orders. Both charges were later dropped, putting the top agents at odds with Trump’s supporters
He was tagged by Trump to head the DEA last weekend — setting the stage for an embarrassing reversal three days later when the New York Post reported that Trump had found trouble with his arrest of a Tampa pastor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the arrest, which took place on March 30, 2020, Chronister handcuffed Ronald Howard-Browne, the 63-year-old pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for allegedly ignoring COVID-19 lockdown orders by to hold services in his community.
Chronister tweeted at the time that Howard-Browne had “intentionally and repeatedly ignored state and local public health orders, putting his council and our community at risk.”
The pastor was thus charged with unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules, but both charges were later dropped.
News of the decision appeared to put Chronister at odds with the newly elected president’s fan base, with Trump seemingly addressing that emerging concern on the first change.
Sources familiar with the matter say the politician used a “powerful hand” to get the sheriff to resign, which he did on Wednesday.
Trump confirmed the police firing that day, after which sheriff’s spokesperson Amanda Granit issued a statement commenting on the announcement.
“Sheriff Chronister stands by his decision to withdraw from treatment,” Granit said. “Right now, as it has for the past seven years, his priority remains the mission to protect and serve everyone in Hillsborough County.”
As of this writing on Sunday, no other Trump picks have had their names left out of consideration.