In his new government, Donald Trump has made a number of controversial appointments, particularly in the fields of law, defense, and health.
The president-elect announced Florida congressman Matt Gaetz as his choice for attorney general prior to his return to the White House on January 20, 2025.
As his choice for defense secretary, he has selected Fox News anchor and veteran Pete Hegseth. He also wants RFK Jr. to be the secretary of health.
As the future secretary of state, Marco Rubio is a more secure choice. Elon Musk, a millionaire booster, will also contribute to cost reduction.
A closer look at the positions for which he has selected replacements and the names that are being considered for the top positions that are still open can be seen here.
We’ll start with the Cabinet positions, which need Senate approval. Any nomination will fail if all Democrats and four Republican senators oppose the same candidate.
The director of the FBI and the head of the Environment Protection Agency are two examples of positions that are frequently assigned Cabinet rank in addition to the 15 department heads that comprise the core of the Cabinet.
The Senate will also need to confirm the nominations for these positions.
Other important positions in the Trump administration, such as those held by Elon Musk, will not need Senate confirmation, though, and their candidates won’t need to go through the same screening process.
Department of Government Efficiency – Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy
Alongside former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, billionaire businessman Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has been appointed to head what Trump has called a Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
The department would act as an advisory body to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies,” according to Trump. The department is named “Doge” in reference to a cryptocurrency that Musk has supported.
What kind of approval procedure will be required for these positions is unknown.
Border Tsar – Tom Homan
Being in charge of Trump’s wholesale deportations of millions of undocumented migrants—a key campaign promise—makes this position crucial.
Homan, a former police officer, has pushed for a zero-tolerance policy on the matter and served as acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) during Trump’s first term.
“I will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen,” he stated in July.
Head of Environmental Protection Agency – Lee Zeldin
According to both Trump and Lee Zeldin, a former congressman from New York, he has agreed to run the Environmental Protection Agency. His nomination still needs Senate confirmation.
In this position, he will be responsible for addressing America’s climate policies.
Zeldin voted against the expansion of several environmental policies during his time in Congress, which lasted from 2015 to 2023. He has stated that he intends to “roll back regulations” right from the start.
United Nations ambassador – Elise Stefanik
Stefanik’s incisive questioning before congressional committees has garnered national attention.
The US Senate must approve some political appointments in the US, such as the position of UN ambassador. Trump, meanwhile, has insisted that the next Senate leader allow him to nominate people without the need for conventional confirmation votes.
Intelligence/national security posts- John Ratcliffe
Former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe, Trump’s former national intelligence director, has been appointed director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Other important roles that oversee intelligence organizations, such as the director of national intelligence and the FBI, have not yet been filled.
Trump, who nominated FBI Director Chris Wray in 2017 but has since strained relations with him, has threatened to fire him. Former Trump-appointed US lawyer Jeffrey Jensen has being considered to succeed Wray.
Director of national intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic representative from Hawaii, has been appointed director of national intelligence by President Trump.
The former US Army Reserve commander originally campaigned with Senator Bernie Sanders and ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, but has gravitated toward the Republicans in recent years.
She was a member of Trump’s transition team and ran alongside him in 2024.
National security adviser – Mike Waltz
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Michael Waltz, a congressman from Florida, as his next national security adviser.
Trump said that Waltz is the first member of the US Army Special Forces, or Green Beret, to be elected to Congress in a statement announcing his appointment on Tuesday.
Waltz will have to assist in navigating US policy toward the wars in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel.
Special envoy to the Middle East – Steve Witkoff
Steve Witkoff, a philanthropist and real estate investor, has been appointed by Trump as his special envoy to the Middle East.
Trump’s close buddy Witkoff was with the former president at his Palm Beach golf club in September when a guy allegedly attempted to kill him.
Donald Trump has hailed him as a “highly respected leader in business and philanthropy, who has made every project and community he has been involved with stronger and more prosperous”.
US ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee
Trump promises to put a stop to the ongoing Middle East conflict, and Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, would serve as the United States ambassador to Israel.
In a statement, the president-elect said, “Mike has been a great public servant, governor, and leader in faith for many years.”
A strong supporter of Israel, Huckabee has previously opposed the notion of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Solicitor General – Dean John Sauer
At order to oversee and manage government litigation at the US Supreme Court, Trump appointed Dean John Sauer as the US solicitor general.
Sauer also worked as a clerk for former US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and as the Missouri State Supreme Court’s solicitor general for six years.
Earlier this year, Sauer defended Trump in a number of legal issues, including one involving immunity from the US Supreme legal.
Chief of staff – Susie Wiles
Trump’s triumph over Kamala Harris was orchestrated by campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles.
A cabinet member and frequently the president’s top adviser, the chief of staff is responsible for managing the boss’s employees and supervising day-to-day activities in the West Wing.
From Ronald Reagan’s victorious 1980 presidential campaign to the election of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis as Florida governors, Wiles, 67, has been involved in Republican politics for decades.
Deputy chief of staff – Stephen Miller
Trump has appointed Stephen Miller as the deputy chief of staff for policy in the White House. Miller has been Trump’s close advisor and speechwriter since 2015.
Plans for large deportations will probably be shaped by him, and he will likely reduce both legal and illegal immigration.
Miller contributed to the creation of some of the most stringent immigration laws during Trump’s first term.
White House counsel – William McGinley
Trump has announced that William McGinley, a Republican, will serve as White House counsel.
He released a statement saying, “Bill is a bright and determined attorney who will support me in advancing our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”
McGinley was the counsel for election integrity for the Republican National Committee in 2024 and was the cabinet secretary for the White House for a portion of Trump’s first term.
Press secretary – Karoline Leavitt
When Donald Trump takes office again, 27-year-old Karoline Leavitt will be the youngest White House press secretary in US history.
After winning the Republican primary for New Hampshire in 2022, she lost to Democrat Chris Pappas in the general election.
According to the website for her congressional campaign, Leavitt also worked in the White House press office during the first Trump administration, including as an assistant press secretary.
Leavitt will soon be seen by the public at the famous location behind the podium in the White House briefing room, which was the scene of numerous heated press conferences between Trump’s initial administration officials and members of the press.
Communications director – Steven Cheung
After serving as Trump’s campaign spokesperson in 2016, Steven Cheung will shortly assume a senior communications position at the White House.
Cheung began his career as an intern for then-California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was raised in California by Chinese immigrant parents. Additionally, he has served as the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) spokesperson.
Cheung gained notoriety for attacking Trump’s rivals with ferocity and frequently in an offensive manner. According to him, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis walks like a girl who “discovered heels for the first time,” while Joe Biden “slowly shuffles around like he has a full diaper in his pants.”
Trump had six different communications directors during his first term in office, which is an exceptionally high turnover rate. The notoriously brief tenure of Anthony Scaramucci in the role.
Assistant to the President – Sergio Gor
Donald Trump Jr. has a business partner named Sergio Gor. He is the president and co-founder of Winning Team Publishing, the publishing house of the younger Trump, which has released a book written by the president-elect.
“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted advisers since my first presidential campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles,” Trump stated in a statement.
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