How Trump 2.0 Cabinet Is Shaping Up? Who's Who In Key Appointments So Far

Last Updated:November 14, 2024, 15:22 IST

Trump has not wasted much time to select allies in key posts of his administration and demanded a Senate vote bypass for other picks.

Susan Wiles was the central figure in Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign, keeping media backlashes at a minimum. (Reuters)

Donald Trump secured a thumping victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the US election and has not waited a breath in chalking out key appointments in his upcoming Cabinet, relying on aides and allies who had strongly backed him during the 2024 presidential campaign.

With Trump presiding over the White House and his Republican Party securing control over both chambers of US Congress, this has made him one of the most powerful presidents in US history. Without skipping a beat, he has named his closest allies in key positions, including the White House Chief of Staff, Secretary of State, Security Adviser and more.

Trump earlier said he would not invite former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley or his ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his incoming administration. Haley, the Indian-origin Republican leader, was Trump’s presidential rival in a bitter contest for the nomination before losing and endorsing him later.

In October, Trump said in the podcast ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ that the “biggest mistake" of his previous presidency was picking “bad, disloyal people" to join his administration. His second administration is expected to be widely different from the last, with loyalists in key posts, and the President-elect has demanded a Senate confirmation bypass for his selections.

Here’s the list of Trump’s picks in key posts so far:

Susan Wiles, White House Chief Of Staff

Susie Wiles served as the senior campaign manager of the Republican leader in the 2024 presidential race and will become the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff. Named the “ice maiden", Wiles has decades of experience in American politics and previously worked on former President Ronald Reagan’s campaign in 1980. She is credited for launching a bold campaign for Trump that was able to attract some Black and Latino voters in his victory.

With her selection as President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming White House chief of staff, veteran Florida political strategist Susie Wiles moves from a largely behind-the-scenes role of campaign co-chair to the high-profile position of the president’s closest adviser and counsel. She has largely avoided the spotlight, even refusing to take the mic to speak as Trump celebrated his victory early Wednesday morning.

Pete Hegseth, Secretary Of Defence

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army veteran, has been selected for the coveted post of Defence Secretary in Trump’s cabinet. Hegseth’s selection was surprising as his name was not among those considered as likely picks for Trump’s defence secretary among Pentagon officials. Trump hailed Hegseth as “tough, smart and a true believer in America First".

Pete Hegseth is a military veteran and a popular conservative media personality with a large following of his own. Having joined Fox News in 2014, 44-year-old Hegseth co-hosts Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend", and serves as a host for Fox Nation. He has also authored several books, one of which was personally lauded by Trump.

Mike Waltz, Security Adviser

Trump chose Mike Waltz, a retired Guard officer and three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida, as the Security Adviser in the United States. Waltz gained attention for advocating a hawkish policy on China and has repeatedly expressed concerns about China’s aggression in the Indo-Pacific. Waltz is also the co-chair of the bipartisan congressional India Caucus and has championed deepening ties with India in defence and security cooperation.

ALSO READ: Who Is Mike Waltz? Trump’s Pick For Security Adviser, His Stance On US-India Ties

In the position, Waltz will be responsible for briefing Trump on key national security issues and coordinating with different agencies. He would be at the forefront of a litany of several issues, ranging from the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine to the escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

Tom Homan, Border Czar

Thomas D Homan, the former acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was appointed as the “border czar" in Trump’s second administration, as the President-elect expressed confidence in his ability to drive “illegal aliens" out of the US. Homan has long been a Trump loyalist and shares his view of illegal immigration, promising to run the “biggest deportation operation" in the country.

During Trump’s first administration, Homan operated a “zero tolerance" immigration system where family members were separated during detention and deportation proceedings. He has criticised Joe Biden’s administration for allowing millions of undocumented immigrants into the country and called for robust enforcement. However, Homan said the deportations would be conducted in a “humane manner".

ALSO READ: Who Is Tom Homan, Trump’s Hawkish ‘Border Czar’? Old Videos Of His Stance On Deportations Go Viral

Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief Of Policy

Miller, a long-time Trump ally and an immigration hardliner, was appointed as the deputy chief of policy in his new administration. Miller had previously served in Trump’s first term and has been a central figure in many of his policy decisions, particularly on immigration, and crafted Trump’s hard-line speeches.

Since leaving the White House, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers fashioned as a conservative version of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.

Kristi Noem, Secretary Of Homeland Security

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been chosen to become the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem will be tapped to take over the agency as two key immigration hardliners — Stephen Miller and Tom Homan — are slated to serve in senior roles. Yet another Trump loyalist, Noem has promised to “secure the border and restore safety to American communities".

Noem has been a fierce critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The department saw an immense amount of turmoil the last time Trump was in office. She will now be tasked with overseeing a sprawling agency that oversees everything from US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Secret Service.

John Ratcliffe, Director Of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

Former director of Intelligence John Ratcliffe was announced as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Trump’s incoming administration, putting a rest to the possibility of Indian-origin former Republican House staffer Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel being picked for the post. A close Trump ally, Ratcliffe was declared the American top spy in 2020.

He was previously accused by Democrats and former intelligence officials of declassifying intelligence for Trump’s use to attack opponents, including Biden who was up against him in the presidential race. Ratcliffe had denied the charges. Trump hailed him as a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights" of the citizens of the country.

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy: Department Of Government Efficiency

Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead his new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’, an ambitious initiative that aims to dismantle government bureaucracy, cut down government spending and restructure federal agencies. Likening it to the ‘Manhattan Project’, Trump said it will create an entrepreneurial approach to the incoming administration.

This new department will also provide advice and guidance from outside of the government and partner with the White House to drive large-scale structural reform. Trump said the department’s work would conclude by July 4, 2026 and “make life better for all Americans". Trump had already hinted at key roles for Tesla CEO Musk and Indian-origin entrepreneur Ramaswamy.

Elise Stefanik, UN Ambassador

Elise Stefanik, the youngest woman elected to Congress in US history, has been picked by Trump as the UN ambassador. The New York congresswoman has for years been one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in Congress and currently serves as the House Republican Conference chair since 2021, the third-ranking member of House leadership.

If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the UN as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine since 2022. Stefanik has also criticised the UN for its lack of sufficient backing for Israel’s war against Hamas. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning.

Lee Zeldin, Environment Protection Agency

Amid concerns over Trump’s policy on climate change, he chose New York Representative Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. The 44-year-old Zeldin has vowed to restore US energy dominance, revitalise the auto industry to boost jobs and make America the global leader in Artificial Intelligence.

Like others, Zeldin is a long-time supporter of Trump but does not have much experience in environmental issues. Trump said Zeldin will “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet".

William McGinley, White House Counsel

Veteran Republican lawyer William Joseph McGinley was picked as the upcoming White House counsel. “Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement," Trump said in a statement.

McGinley previously served as White House Cabinet secretary in the first half of Trump’s first term in office. The lawyer in the powerful post would become one of the chief advisers who acts as a guardrail for the president. Yet Trump’s style has caused his past White House counsels to become top witnesses in multiple federal investigations – including McGinley’s longtime colleague and Trump’s first White House Counsel Don McGahn.

John Thune, Senate GOP Leader

The Republicans in the US Senate picked John Thune as the chamber’s new leader. He is succeeding Mitch McConnell and had a rocky relationship with Trump. Thune was highly critical of the then-president as Trump tried to overturn his election defeat in 2020 and after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump’s supporters. Thune said at that time that Trump’s efforts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power were “inexcusable".

He, on his election, said he remains committed to implementing policies Donald Trump is proposing.

“This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today," Thune, who represents South Dakota, said in a brief statement.

Tulsi Gabbard, Director Of Intelligence

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat, and the first-ever Hindu Congresswoman, would serve as Director of Intelligence in his second term.

Tulsi Gabbard, a four-term Congresswoman, 2020 presidential candidate, and New York Times bestselling author, is a decorated military veteran with three deployments to war zones in the Middle East and Africa. Recently, she transitioned from being a Democrat to joining the Republican Party.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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