Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller, whose extreme antics over the years have isolated both Republicans and Democrats, is on former President Donald Trump's shortlist for a second term.
Politico reports that Trump is considering putting Miller in charge of the United States Department of Agriculture despite his long history of incendiary statements, including but not limited to: Calling Hillary Clinton a c--t during the 2016 election campaign; lamenting that Texas Republicans who won elections this year "slipped the noose" by defeating primary challenges; and standing by supporter Ted Nugent after he labeled former President Barack Obama a "subhuman mongrel."
He also wrote an essay dedicated to praising Jefferson Davis, the pro-slavery president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
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Some sources close to Trump doubt that he would seriously consider putting Miller in such an important position given that he's disliked by members of both parties, although Miller tells Politico that bipartisan contempt for him should work in his favor.
“If I am already making the Washington, D.C. swamp so nervous that they are resorting to threats and intimidation, it is the surest sign yet that I am doing something right for America’s farmers and ranchers," he said.
However, one Republican cautioned that Miller could have trouble getting confirmed by the United States Senate on the grounds that he "does not take advice nor instructions" and that ethics probes into his inner circle could derail his chances.
Another source familiar with Trump's thinking dismissed the idea that the former president would take such considerations when selecting cabinet officials, and they expect that "this will be about who declares the most loyalty" to Trump rather than qualifications or broad appeal.
Trump actually considered tapping Miller for the post back in 2016 given that he was the first Republican in Texas to back his presidential bid, but he was convinced otherwise when aides told him they didn't think Miller was capable of running the department.
