Dakota Beacon

The speed and efficiency with which the Trump administration has begun to execute the mandate given by the American people in November is impressive.

The necessary components came four years ago when Trump faced defeat. As the bureaucracy met his efforts with overt resistance, he used the next four years to set the stage for what happened on day one of his presidency.

As all this came together, the catalyst for change came with the addition of Elon Musk to the equation. Trump’s relationship with Musk and his confidence in his intuition and skills has changed Trump. The way they interacted with each other during the interview aired with Sean Hannity was fascinating. 

While Trump had his Trump moments, he came across with a strength and resolve I hadn’t seen before. With his comment about the debt, Musk demonstrated a depth of insight into the critical role America plays in protecting the principles of freedom and liberty across the globe. If you have not seen the interview, I encourage you to do so.

On another note, I find intriguing the role of the Dakotans in the Trump agenda. First and foremost is Sen. Cramer’s close relationship with Trump since 2016. Never has a North Dakotan had such access to the White House.

Burgum’s new role as Interior secretary will be instrumental in the development of our natural resources but even more telling will be his role as chairman of the newly formed National Energy Council. Burgum chairing this committee alongside Chris Wright, the new Energy secretary, will be exciting to watch. Burgum and Wright are both very pro-environment and yet pro-energy, which will pay dividends for all citizens of the world.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will play a significant role in securing our border and dealing with the immigration crisis. She is tough, but even more important, she's made for TV. Her interviews and understanding of the importance of public opinion will help shape the message Americans have been longing to hear from Washington. Her recent crackdown with a reality TV feel in the raids demonstrates her understanding of getting the messages right.

While the three previously mentioned Dakotans are important, none is more important than South Dakota’s Sen. John Thune as Senate majority leader. There is only so far an administration can go without the support of Congress. Thune has demonstrated an ability to walk the tight rope between strong leadership and allowing Trump his agenda.

I find it curious and hopeful that the U.S. Senate has taken the lead on the budget and spending by beating the House to the punch. The dynamics of such a slim majority in House have likely contributed to that initiative by the Senate, but what if it means Republicans are going to do something.

Many administrations make promises on the campaign trail, cross the Potomac and get swallowed up by bureaucracy. Let’s hope that it doesn’t have the same effect as crossing the Rubicon!

Emineth is a North Dakota native businessman and political activist. He is a former executive director and chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Emineth has served on the Republican National Committee and chaired numerous presidential campaigns in North Dakota. He is the host of “The Legislature Today” and “Open Range” daily TV shows on BEK. He is a serial entrepreneur and has 40-plus years of business experience with multi-national companies. He has traveled the world extensively and has served as CEO and president of mid-tier companies.