Former President Donald Trump is shaping his incoming administration with significant early appointments, indicating a hard-line stance on immigration and a confrontational approach towards China. Key appointments include Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan focusing on immigration policy, while China hawks like Mike Waltz and Elise Stefanik emphasize national security. Trump’s collaborations with influential figures like Elon Musk suggest an effort to streamline governance. The president-elect’s strategy appears centered on exerting executive power over negotiating with Congress, with a focus on rewarding loyalists, raising questions about the effectiveness of his administration’s legislative agenda.