The cabinet has historically advised the president on a variety of matters, but in President Trump’s second term, it appears to have taken on a new mandate: flattery.
Marathon cabinet meetings, lasting one to three hours, have become a hallmark of Mr. Trump’s second presidency. Often televised, they provide an opportunity for cabinet officials to credit him for their department’s accomplishments while still trying to claim some of the spotlight for themselves.
Cabinet members flatter Trump
“He is willing to take a bullet for all of you tuning in at home because he believes in this flag, our freedom, our liberties and to save the greatest country in the history of the world.”
“The country owes you a great debt of gratitude — and the world, really — because I mean, you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict.”
“What you have assembled in your vision is a turning point and an inflection point in American history.”
“I’ve gone across the country this month, 10 different states, and we saw it when we were together in Iowa: hard-working families, farmers, small businesses expressing gratitude, lined up to thank you.”
“What happened in Afghanistan, what happened in Ukraine — a war that never would have occurred — what happened on Oct. 7 in Israel, never would have happened under President Trump.”
“A year ago today, I was working on transition with President Trump, to build the greatest cabinet ever for the greatest president ever. And I, as I sit here today, I can’t be more proud of how you did it, sir.”
The New York Times reviewed over a dozen hours of cabinet meeting footage to analyze how his administration spoke to him. On average, at least one of every six sentences either flattered Mr. Trump, gave him credit or criticized his political opponents.
Allison Schuster, a White House spokeswoman, said in an email that Mr. Trump’s cabinet used these meetings to “highlight the exhaustive list of accomplishments they have delivered on behalf of the American people.”
Some, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and John Ratcliffe, the C.I.A. director, packed their speaking time with praise, while others, like Vice President JD Vance, focused on attacking Democrats. Many of these statements are exaggerated or not factually accurate.
How each cabinet member speaks to Trump
Flatters him Criticizes opponents Gives him credit
Mr. Rubio both spoke and flattered the president the most.
Mr. Bessent said Mr. Trump “saved this country by making it the best place in the world to do business again.”
Mr. Hegseth said three times that Mr. Trump would have prevented conflicts from occurring.
Mr. Vance insulted political opponents the most. On average, one of six sentences was an insult.
Ms. Loeffler emphasized five times how people she has met across the country are grateful for President Trump.
Mr. Lutnick said Mr. Trump achieved what nobody believed was possible five times.
Mr. Zeldin repeatedly said Mr. Trump was “willing to take a bullet for this country.”
Mr. Ratcliffe frequently credited department accomplishments to Mr. Trump’s leadership.
Mr. Greer referred to Labor Day as “Trump Trade Policy Day.”
Compared with his first term, when some of his top aides pushed back against the president’s impulses, Mr. Trump has emphasized the importance of loyalty this time around. Administration officials have complimented the president far more in cabinet meetings than in his first term, according to The Times’s review of footage.
One of the most striking features of Mr. Trump’s cabinet meetings this term is the extent to which his leadership has been praised as unparalleled.
Officials have declared on camera that he is singlehandedly ending global conflicts, winning the race for artificial intelligence, motivating troops to enlist and lowering gas prices, among a number of other claimed accomplishments.
Russia-Ukraine war Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.Russia-Ukraine war Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that’s what you’ve done, and you’ve done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go.
But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.Cambodia-Thailand conflict Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we’ve got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he’s the only leader in the world that can help end it.Sudan civil war Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.Leadership Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it’s the work that we’re doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it’s taking on the issues at the border or whether it’s embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you’re fearlessly doing that.Energy Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.Israel-Gaza conflict Burgum: It’s such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.Immigration Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we’re proud to be a part of what’s going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we’re helping get to that number zero in securing the border.Military recruitment Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.Venezuela operation Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.Healthcare Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.Job creation Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.Trade deals Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.Job creation Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you’re going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.Artificial Intelligence Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.Energy Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.War Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.Economy Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.Trade deals Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.Trade deals Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn’t have done it without you and the leverage you’ve created.
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Notably, some of these talking points are traceable to Mr. Trump himself.
For instance, he has repeatedly claimed that Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Gaza “would not have happened” if he had been president. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Mr. Rubio have echoed this in cabinet meetings.
In a meeting on Jan. 26, Kelly Loeffler, the small business administrator, said Mr. Trump had “ended at least eight wars,” and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Mr. Trump’s tariffs were bringing in “tens of trillions of investments.” Mr. Trump has also espoused some version of both claims, even though they are misleading.
Officials have also frequently criticized former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the Democratic Party, copying Mr. Trump’s pattern of assigning blame to Mr. Biden.
Flattery of Mr. Trump is not enough to keep the job, however. Four of Mr. Trump’s cabinet officials have been fired or resigned this year, and he may be considering removing more.
Below, explore other things cabinet officials have said to Mr. Trump during their meetings.
Americans are grateful for Trump
Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that’s what you’ve done, and you’ve done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go.
But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we’ve got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he’s the only leader in the world that can help end it.Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it’s the work that we’re doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it’s taking on the issues at the border or whether it’s embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you’re fearlessly doing that.Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.Burgum: It’s such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we’re proud to be a part of what’s going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we’re helping get to that number zero in securing the border.Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you’re going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn’t have done it without you and the leverage you’ve created.
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Everything possible under his leadership
Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that’s what you’ve done, and you’ve done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go.
But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we’ve got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he’s the only leader in the world that can help end it.Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it’s the work that we’re doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it’s taking on the issues at the border or whether it’s embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you’re fearlessly doing that.Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.Burgum: It’s such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we’re proud to be a part of what’s going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we’re helping get to that number zero in securing the border.Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you’re going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn’t have done it without you and the leverage you’ve created.
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Attacks on Biden
Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that’s what you’ve done, and you’ve done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go.
But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we’ve got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he’s the only leader in the world that can help end it.Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it’s the work that we’re doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it’s taking on the issues at the border or whether it’s embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you’re fearlessly doing that.Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.Burgum: It’s such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we’re proud to be a part of what’s going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we’re helping get to that number zero in securing the border.Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you’re going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn’t have done it without you and the leverage you’ve created.
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Trump deserves credit
Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that’s what you’ve done, and you’ve done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go.
But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we’ve got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he’s the only leader in the world that can help end it.Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it’s the work that we’re doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it’s taking on the issues at the border or whether it’s embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you’re fearlessly doing that.Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.Burgum: It’s such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we’re proud to be a part of what’s going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we’re helping get to that number zero in securing the border.Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you’re going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn’t have done it without you and the leverage you’ve created.
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