DC Dem worries there’s only one ‘normal’ person in Trump’s new White House who can stop him

WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman said Friday President-elect Donald Trump appears to have a “back-stop” on his team who is “more normal” than other people he’s surrounded himself with.But he worries about what happens if they leave — or get ignored. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) voiced many worries about the incoming Trump administration when he talked to Raw Story.Among those is Gov. Kirsti Noem (R-SD) who is being tapped to run the Department of Homeland Services. Kildee called her “an amateur.””Historically, not always, but generally speaking, these picks are a mix of some political, but mostly people with deep policy substance, especially on the national security front,” he said.”Not always on the other stuff, for sure. The other departments are a mix of politics and policy, but the national security stuff is life and death seriousness,” Kildee told Raw Story while at the U.S. Capitol. Also Read: A second reign of terror: Inside Trump’s blueprint for home raidsHe mentioned Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who was a moderate for a time until there was a radical shift toward the end of the first Trump term. She was nominated to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.”It’s just weird,” he said of her “transformation.” “It’s a toxic combination of a lack of depth and a lack of conviction. That’s a little scary.”But, he said, handling the day-to-day White House will be Trump’s campaign manager Susie Wiles as the chief of staff — and he expressed hope that she might be a more sensible guiding force.Kildee called her “more normal.” But his concern is, “How long will she last, and how much influence will she have?””If there’s a back-stop that’s where it is. These guys are not going to be a back-stop,” he said of the long-time Trump loyalists.Kildee concluded that, “When [Trump] says he’s going to do something, at least he’s going to try. I don’t think he bluffs on stuff like that when it comes to settling scores. “But as much as he’s blown up the norms and institutions, I think he could overreach.”

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