Trump's administration is off the rails because it's unqualified to do the job- Opinion

When asked in early May whether everyone deserves due process, President Donald Trump responded, “I don't know. I'm not, I'm not a lawyer. I don't know.”

That response reveals a major issue within his administration.

Trump isn’t a legal expert, which makes the people he appoints all the more important. Unfortunately, his team has turned the administration into a chaotic mess, filled with individuals lacking the qualifications or legal understanding necessary to effectively govern or follow the rule of law.

From attempting to eliminate birthright citizenship to disregarding due process in immigration cases, this administration’s legal missteps have undermined its own efforts. Ironically, Trump is deporting fewer undocumented immigrants than Joe Biden did — largely due to the legal quagmires his own policies have created. If he simply used the same strategies as Biden, he'd likely be more effective.

Trump’s team shows little interest in understanding or respecting the law
Trump has limited knowledge across various policy areas, but it’s especially troubling when it comes to legal matters. What’s worse is that his advisers aren’t stepping in to compensate for that gap. Instead, they echo and amplify his poor decisions, rarely offering pushback or sound advice.

This creates space for opportunists who praise Trump publicly to gain influence, regardless of their qualifications or honesty. In the past, Republican administrations prioritized competence and welcomed dissent among staff, believing that debate leads to better decisions.

Even during Trump’s first term, figures like then-Vice President Mike Pence served as stabilizing influences. A conservative Christian and constitutionalist, Pence wasn’t afraid to challenge Trump when necessary — and that was intentional. His job was to help Trump stay grounded within constitutional limits.

But in a potential second term, Trump appears more focused on loyalty than legal or policy competence.

Take Stephen Miller, for instance. As White House Deputy Chief of Staff and another non-lawyer, Miller is Trump’s most aggressive supporter — able to spin dubious legal moves into court fights that ultimately strain the presidency itself. Then there’s Vice President JD Vance, a Yale-trained attorney, who seems more interested in twisting his legal knowledge to serve Trump’s agenda than in upholding the Constitution. That’s exactly why Trump chose him and discarded Pence — Vance is willing to go along with Trump’s baseless claims and legal overreach.

Merit has taken a backseat in Trump’s hiring
Although there's been plenty of talk from conservatives about restoring merit-based hiring over diversity initiatives, Trump doesn’t seem to follow that principle himself. He tends to appoint the most loyal supporters instead of the most capable individuals for each role.

The result? A team of underqualified loudmouths who don’t understand the law, blaming the courts when their plans fail rather than doing the work of crafting effective legislation.

Ultimately, this all stems from a lack of responsible, knowledgeable voices within Trump’s inner circle. His first term had some level-headed advisers who valued the Constitution. Now, with more control over the GOP, Trump surrounds himself with yes-men — a dangerous move for someone who openly admits he doesn’t understand the legal framework of the job. Sadly, no one close to him seems interested in correcting course.