A n attorney-general who was investigated for sex-trafficking; a defence secretary who is a morning television talk show host; and a health chief who promoted a theory that COVID-19 vaccines were designed to control people via microchips.

Everyone knew Donald Trump’s cabinet picks would be provocative and Washington’s public servants knew a purge was heading their way. But no one knew exactly who would be in charge and how fast the US president-elect was going to pick his new team.