San Francisco Frontiers - Trump victory rally in Vegas caps whirlwind week

His arrival in the gambling capital coincided with a dramatic late-night purge of internal federal agency watchdogs, and a narrow confirmation victory for one of his most controversial cabinet picks.

After visits to disaster sites in North Carolina and California, the Vegas stop is more of a feel-good victory lap, as he lays out his plans to exclude tips from federal taxes -- an enormously popular move in a city built on the hospitality industry.

Trump won Nevada in the 2024 election -- the first Republican candidate to take the state in 20 years -- and the rally at the Circa Resort and Casino has been promoted as a thank you to supporters.

The upbeat tone will contrast sharply with his visits Friday to communities devastated by floods and wildfires, during which he threatened to shut down FEMA -- the US federal disaster agency.

"FEMA is incompetently run, and it costs about three times more than it should cost," he said during a combative briefing with local politicians and firefighters in Los Angeles.

The three-leg tour was Trump's first trip outside Washington since his inauguration as president on Monday.

His first week has been marked by an avalanche of daily executive orders and proclamations on everything from climate change to gender identity, and abortion access to migrant deportations.

Although many of the measures will likely be challenged in court, their sheer volume and variety have laid down a marker for his second term in the White House.

- New Pentagon chief sworn in -

Shortly after arriving in Vegas, it emerged that Trump had sacked -- with immediate effect -- the independent inspectors general of at least 12 federal agencies.

The late-night purge of officials charged with rooting out fraud, waste and abuse capped a series of directives widely seen as ensuring a federal bureaucracy that is acquiescent and loyal.

There was no immediate indication of who Trump would bring in to fill the void -- or if the officials would be replaced at all. A number of legal experts said the sudden terminations could violate a federal law requiring a 30-day notice of dismissal.

Trump's first week back in the Oval Office has also been notable for confirmation hearings for his cabinet picks -- some of them highly contentious.

On Saturday, one of the most divisive choices -- former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth -- was sworn in as defense secretary.

Late Friday, Hegseth secured Senate confirmation as the new Pentagon chief by the narrowest of margins when a 50-50 tie was broken by Vice President J.D. Vance.

It was only the second time in history a vice president has had to intervene to save a cabinet nominee.

Three Republican senators voted against Hegseth, who has been buffeted by allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and general fears about his experience and ability to lead the world's most powerful military.

The 44-year-old is a former Army National Guard officer who until recently worked as a co-host for Fox News -- one of Trump's favored television channels.

P.Thomas--SFF