Meet Trump’s cabinet members

Donald Trump, the  president of the United States, has appointed people who will handle key positions in his administration.

These selected people are deemed fit with the responsibility of running the day to day affairs during his government.

John Ratcliffe, CIA director

Trump has re-selected John Ratcliffe,who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his new administration.

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.

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“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security

Trump selected Noem, 52, the first female governor of South Dakota as secretary of homeland security.

Neom is popular for her stance during the COVID-19 pandemic for not restricting businesses from opening but rather declaring her state “open for business.”

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She was peeped as the possible vice presidential candidate for Trump during the early day of his campaign.
She takes over the Department of Homeland Security which oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.

Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense

Hegseth, 44, is a TV presenter and a political commentator on Fox. He co-host Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.

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Hegseth a member of the Army National Guard and has been active in Republican politics although lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

William McGinley, White House counsel

William McGinley, a lawyer who has previously served as White House cabinet secretary during Trump’s first administration but will now be his White House counsel.

In a statement, Trump called McGinley “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.”

Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East

Trump on Tuesday named Steven Witkoff, a Jewish American, real estate investor and founder of the Witkoff Group to be special envoy to the Middle East.

The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect’s golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump’s club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.
Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud.”

Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee.

Mike Huckabee, ambassador to Israel

Trump will nominate Mike Huckabee the former governor of Arkansas to be ambassador to Israel, the president-elect announced Tuesday.

Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.

“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”

Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives.

Mike Waltz, national security adviser

Waltz, 50, has been announced by Trump as his national security adviser.

He is a retired Army National Guard officer, war veteran and a three-term Republican congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.

He comes in during national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah.

“Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump’s statement said, “and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!”

Susie Wiles, chief of staff

Wiles has a background in Florida politics and served as co-chair of Trump’s two presidential campaigns.

Wiles’ hire as Chief of staff by Trump was the first major decision as president-elect and its one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with the president-elect.

Wiles is said to have earned Trump’s trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump’s three presidential campaigns.

Tom Homan, ‘border czar’

Homan, 62, was appointed by Trump as the ‘border czar’ and is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.

Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign.
Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.

Elise Stefanik, United Nations ambassador

Congresswoman Stefanik, 40, has been named by Trump as United Nations Ambassador. She was one of the strongest opposers of Trump’s impeachment in 2019.

Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik, at 30 became the youngest person to be elected to congress at that time. and has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.

If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine that began in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah.

Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy

Miller, 39, was a senior policy adviser during Trump’s first administration  has been named deputy chief of staff for policy.

He has been a central figure in some of Trump’s policy decisions, notably the administration’s reduction of refugees accepted to the United States.

Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security.

Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency

Zeldin, 44, a former New York representative, has been selected by Trump as lead Environmental Protection Agency.
Although he does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a long time supporter of the former president. He wrote on X, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.”

“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.

In a statement, 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.”

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, US Department of Government Efficiency

Musk, CEO of Space X and X social media platform, and Ramaswamy have been appointed by Trump to lead the US Department of Government Efficiency, to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, cut excess regulation, wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.

President Trump in his press statement said, “Essential to the “Save America” Movement. “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” stated Mr. Musk. It will potentially become “The Manhattan Project” of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of “DOGE” for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.”

Marco Rubio- Secretary of State 

Trump has appointed Senator Marco Rubio from Florida as his Secretary

Rubio, 53, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is a China hawk with extensive foreign policy experience.

Pam Bondi – Attorney General

Bondi  has served two terms as Florida attorney general and was the first woman to win election to the post in 2010. She is a  staunch Trump supporter and defended him in his first impeachment trial.

Doug  Burgum,  Secretary of Interior

Burgum, the former North Dakota Governor was appointed by Trump as Secretary of Interior.

Trump then made the announcement official in a statement on Nov. 15 he said Burgum would also lead “the newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council.” Trump said the council would include all the departments and agencies involved in “the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation of ALL forms of American Energy.”

Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture

Rolins was selected by Trump to be the secretary of agriculture.

Rollins was part of Trump’s first administration as director of the Domestic Policy Council. She currently serves as president of the America First Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank.

“Brooke’s commitment to support the American farmer, defence of American food self-sufficiency, and the restoration of agriculture-dependent American small towns is second to none,” Trump said in his statement.

Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce

Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, has served as co-chair for the Trump transition and has been a major donor to his campaign.

Citing his role with the transition, Trump said Lutnick “has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest administration America has ever seen.”

Lori Chavez DeRemer- Labour Secretary

Trump selected  Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, a first-term Republican, to head the Department of Labour.

“Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice.

Robert F kennedy Jr, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Trump picked Kennedy Jr to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, saying he will take on “industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation,” and will “Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Scott Turner, a former NFL player, was picked by Trump on Nov. 22 to be his secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Turner was part of Trump’s first administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Turner is also the highest ranking Black person selected to Trump’s administration so far, according to the Associated Press.

Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary

Trump selected Duffy as  secretary of transportation. Duffy represented Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019, serving on the House Financial Services committee, and before that he was district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin. After leaving Congress, he joined Fox News as a contributor and now co-hosts a show on Fox Business.

“He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security,” Trump said in a statement. He also noted that Duffy is married to Fox News’ Rachel Campos-Duffy and is the father of nine children.

Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy

Trump has selected Liberty Energy CEO wright, as his pick to lead the U.S. Department of Energy.

Trump also said in a statement that Wright will serve on the newly-created National Energy Council, which will be chaired by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s selection for secretary of the Interior.

Trump said in his announcement that the council “will oversee the path to U.S. energy dominance.”

Linda McMahon, Education Secretary

Trump choose McMahon to run the Department of Education. McMahon, a former wrestling executive, led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term and is co-chair of his 2024 transition team.

“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand “Choice” to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families,” Trump said in a statement. “We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”

Doug Collins, Secretary of Veteran Affairs

Trump tapped former Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, filling another Cabinet position with a military veteran.

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform,” Trump said in a statement announcing the pick.

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence

Gabbard was selected by Trump to serve as his director of national intelligence.

“For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans,” he said in a statement.

Gabbard served in the Army National Guard and represented Hawaii in the House from 2013 to 2021 before becoming an independent in 2022. In his statement, Trump said she “is now a proud Republican!”

Russ Vought, Office of Management and Budget Director

Trump announced  Russ Vought as OMB director. Vought served in this role in the latter part of the first Trump administration.

Alina Habba, Counsellor to the President 

Habba is a lawyer who has represented the president-elect in numerous legal proceedings over the past few years, would serve as counselor to the president.

“She has been unwavering in her loyalty, and unmatched in her resolve – standing with me through numerous ‘trials,’ battles, and countless days in Court,” Trump said in a statement.

Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General 

Neshiwat is a double board-certified medical doctor practicing in New York, where she is currently medical director at the CityMD chain of urgent care centers.

In a statement, Trump praised her as “a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health.”

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt, 27, who was the national press secretary for Trump’s presidential campaign, will be White House press secretary. She worked in the White House during Trump’s first term as assistant press secretary.

“Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium,” Trump said in a statement.