Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General

Trump’s hush money trial lawyer, Todd Blanche, was named deputy attorney general for the next president. Trump has often attacked Blanche through his criminal and civil cases, but called him “an outstanding attorney who will be a critical leader in the Justice Department.” After the conviction of the president-elect to 34 felony counts of corporate fraud in falsification of business records, Blanche decried the timing and venue of Trump’s New York hush money trial as unfair.

He is the principal associate deputy attorney general.

Trump named Emil Bove to be his chief associate deputy attorney general. A former federal prosecutor who had served more than nine years as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York, Bove has represented Trump alongside Blanche in the hush money case. In his final two years there, he was one of the office’s co-chief assistants in its national security unit.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Then came the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Health and Human Services Department, which Trump fulfilled his campaign promise to give wide latitude over public health decisions to Kennedy. Kennedy, who ran for the Democratic nomination in an independent bid before ultimately withdrawing and endorsing Trump, holds unfounded views on public health that include dubious opinion on childhood vaccinations as well as the Covid-19 vaccine. He further proposes that the fluoridation of water be removed from public water supplies-a step he says he is willing to consider.Public health would be overseen by Kennedy, under secretary of HHS, through a portfolio of 13 agencies. He has said he’d consolidate many of these agencies and told an audience at a conference in November that, if confirmed to a role in the Trump administration, he would end infectious disease research at the National Institutes of Health. “I want to thank all of the NIH scientists for their public service and wish them God to bless them,” NBC said. It is yet another surprise pick from Trump, whose co-chair of the transition team, Howard Lutnick, told CNN late last month that Kennedy would not be running HHS.

Presidential Personnel Office Director Sergio Gor

According to a few media outlets on Thursday, Sergio Gur, president and co-founder of Donald Trump Jr.’s Winning Team Publishing company, will reportedly head the Presidential Personnel Office, although an official announcement from the Trump administration has not come.

Attorney General Matt Gatz

US President Donald Trump shockingly appointed Rep. Matt Gatz, a Republican from Florida, as attorney general on Wednesday – the name was hardly ever mentioned by media sources. The reason why the appointment would be so well-known and anxiously awaited is that Trump has lashed out bitterly against the agency for prosecuting him and is expected to significantly alter its composition. A hardline fan of Donald Trump, Mr. Gaetz is a partisan member of Congress.The Department of Justice also probed his alleged sexual misconduct with teenage girls, but determined he would not be prosecuted (Gaetz has denied the allegations). The House Ethics Committee has also launched probes into whether Gaetz used illegal drugs or had sex, accepted inappropriate gifts or granted associates special treatment—all of which he has denied several times. Last year, Gaetz led the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican. Gaetz must also be confirmed by the Senate. In part because of his real estate wealth, his father, Don Gaetz, has an estimated net worth of $33 million. He is a former Florida state representative and cofounder of a hospice organization.

Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence

Trump said Wednesday: As his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard will lead the U.S. intelligence community. Gabbard is best recognized for her duel with Kamala Harris in one of the 2019 debates. She is a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and former Democratic representative from Hawaii. After resigning from the Democratic Party in 2022 and stating she would declare herself independent in August, she announced her support for Trump. Gabbard, who opposed U.S. involvement with military action, has been scathing in her criticism and attracted heated flak for this stance on foreign policy, including her infamous conference she hosted with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017.

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Trump confirmed several reports earlier in the week that he was expected to name Florida Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to the top foreign policy position when he disclosed on Wednesday that he had nominated the senator. Rubio and Trump got into a fight when they both ran for president in 2016. Rubio called Trump a “con man” and insulted his appearance, while Trump returned the favor and called him “Little Marco.” Rubio camped hard for Trump and was one of the candidates reportedly in the running as his vice presidential nominee. They finally buried the hatchet.Rubio has also staked out several positions on foreign policy at odds with Trump. Perhaps most significantly, he co-sponsored a bill last year that would have outlawed it for a president to leave NATO unless Congress approved the decision. If confirmed by the Senate, Rubio will be the first Latino to assume the role. As of Wednesday, according to Forbes, Rubio’s net worth stood above $1 million – a huge leap from his 2015 net worth of just $100,000 – but much lower than some other members of Trump’s inner circle.

Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff

On Wednesday, Trump announced that former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino would return to his job and continue to serve as the president’s assistant. Scavino, a veteran staffer to former President Trump on communications and one of Trump’s closest advisers in his latest campaign, was held in contempt of Congress for his refusal to testify in the House Jan. 6 committee investigation, but the Justice Department did not decide to pursue charges against him.

James Blair,

the campaign political director for Trump, was appointed Wednesday as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs. In his most recent campaign, Blair often appeared in the media and led grassroots voter outreach efforts for Trump.

Taylor Budowich is the deputy chief of staff for personnel and communications.

Trump tapped Taylor Budowich, who managed the Trump-backing MAGA Inc. super PAC before returning to the former president’s campaign in August, for the role. Trump 2020 campaign spokesman Budowich was subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee and was ordered to testify in Trump’s federal secret papers lawsuit.

Stephen Miller serves as a Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor.

It confirmed earlier reports that the president was to name Stephen Miller, his Homeland Security advisor, as well as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. A chief architect of some of Trump’s most contentious immigration policies, including his family separation program, Miller was a senior adviser to the president in his first term.

Department of Government Efficiency: Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk

Trump said that Vivek Ramaswamy, a former candidate for the Republican primary and investor, will share the helm of the new Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as “DOGE,” with Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. An unnamed agency will offer “advice and guidance from outside of Government,” according to a statement released by Trump. It will also focus on “reshaping the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency,” which includes cuts to spending and regulations. In a previous offer, Musk, a professed Trump fan who donated more than $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, reportedly named the department after the parody cryptocurrency dogecoin.

Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth

President Trump praised the background of co-host Pete Hegseth, a war veteran who co-hosts Fox & Friends Weekend, as he announced that he was appointing him secretary of defense on Tuesday. Hegseth has served in the Army National Guard and was based in Cuba, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The veteran was the former chief executive of Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative group that has supported billionaire Charles G. Koch, one of the world’s wealthiest people, and has spoken with Trump about the issues of veterans. In addition, Hegseth has appeared on many Fox Nation shows.

CIA Director: John Radcliffe

Former National Intelligence Director The CIA director will be John Radcliffe. Radcliffe, former congressman from Texas, was Trump’s principal intelligence adviser during his previous administration and the director of national intelligence from 2020-2021. As the national intelligence director, Radcliffe declassified unproven Russian intelligence that claimed Hillary Clinton had approved a plan that linked Trump to Russia and the 2016 DNC hacks. This decision to make public the information was assailed by the Democrats, who claimed Radcliffe used unverified evidence to back up Trump.

Another was William Joseph Mcginley, White House Counsel.

Another stalwart Republican lawyer and former cabinet secretary, William McGinley, would serve as White House Counsel for Trump. He had already been deployed to help secure delegates into the Republican National Convention during Trump’s campaign for president in 2016. Politico recalled that while serving as one of cabinet members in Trump’s White House between 2017 and 2019, McGinley was meant to advise other cabinet members on policy coordination, ethics, and optics.

Steven C. Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East

Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East will be real estate investor and GOP supporter Steven Witkoff. He is also a chief executive officer of the real estate company he founded in 1997, Witkoff, as well as chairman of the University of Miami Business School Real Estate Advisory Board. Among other titles, he has spent years functioning also as one of the president-elect’s closest friends – as a golf buddy. Witkoff told NBC that officials from the Secret Service jumped on Trump and pulled him off of his Florida golf course in less than 20 seconds, as he was with Trump during what seemed like his second assassination attempt.

Mike Huckabee, U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Trump bragged of his 27 years in Army Special Forces service when he announced Tuesday that he has tapped former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as his envoy to Israel. A vocal Israeli supporter, Huckabee has criticized the Biden administration’s insistence on achieving a cease-fire with Hamas. Huckabee has advocated for the West Bank settlement movement of the Israelis and pushed for Israel to take over parts of the territory, which Israel seized in 1967. He often takes Christians on pilgrimages to Israel, now having been a former Southern Baptist preacher.

Mike Waltz is a national security adviser.

Trump confirmed Rep. Mike Waltz of Fla. will be the national security advisor. Like many men and women, Waltz is also a former Army Green Beret. He has been vocal during the last few months warning strongly about China. Asked whether NATO members should spend more money on defense, he said that he expected Trump to continue pushing Russia and Ukraine toward a settlement regarding the conflict in Ukraine.

Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noam

According to two unnamed sources, CNN said early Tuesday that Trump had chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noam as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Although the White House had not announced the appointment, Noam, a strong advocate for Trump who has been on the short list to be his running mate, was believed to have been the nominee. In addition to carrying out the agency’s cybersecurity responsibilities and its anti-terrorism and emergency response missions, the appointee will be central to enforcing much of Trump’s expansive immigration policies.

Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zelda

In a statement issued Monday, Trump said he had named former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to head the EPA, citing his “very strong legal background” and calling him “a true fighter for America First policies.” “He will ensure fair and timely deregulatory actions that will be executed in a way to unlock the might of American business at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,” the statement added, referring to Zeldin, a Trump stalwart who was running for governor of New York two years ago.

The Border Czar is Tom Homan.

As he prepares to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants in his second term, Trump announced on Monday that he had named former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan to the post.

Un Ambassador: Stefanik Elise

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who chairs the GOP Conference, told the New York Post she has accepted Trump’s nomination for the position of UN ambassador.

Staff Chief: Susie Wiles

Just two days after his election victory, Trump made his first major appointment: Susie Wiles, co-manager of his campaign, is going to be his chief of staff. Wiles will be the first female in the position.

Secretary of the Treasury

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., who was ambassador for Trump to Japan, is reported to be on the short list for this post but Trump has not nominated anyone yet.Other potentials are former Trump U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, hedge fund executive Scott Bessent – who spoke Friday with Forbes – and Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of Trump’s transition team. Reuters and Bloomberg report that Bessent spoke with Trump Friday at Mar-A-Lago, although Bloomberg said people familiar with the process described the meeting as not a job interview. On Monday, Bloomberg website quoted anonymous sources as saying that Trump is leaning toward a candidate with experience in Wall Street and will have narrowed his pool of contenders by the end of this week.

Education Secretary

Although it is unknown who Trump might choose for Education Secretary, the agency’s former chief, Betsy DeVos, recently sat down with Education Week and said she might be willing to return to the position.  Trump has proposed eliminating the agency and transferring the management of their public education operations to the states.

Tangent

On Truth Social over the weekend, Trump ruled out his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as possible candidates for a second term. Pompeo had been considered as a potential choice for defense secretary.

Essential History

Since Tuesday’s victory, Trump has been closeted at Mar-a-Lago, meeting with his inner circle, potential cabinet candidates, and the transition team to evolve his agenda for the second term and assemble his staff. Among the closest friends, millionaire donors, and a number of right-wing groups who are assisting him in formulating the agenda for the second term are. From among the few people who seem to be seen influencing in policy and personnel decisions that Trump makes, there is Musk, who has reportedly visited Mar-A-Lago for the multiple times since his election. The Times says Lonick is also running one committee that makes all personal recommendations, and vetted, reportedly the majority of candidates in these processes, Miller to make major decisions on finishing them off. Right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute is reportedly the driving force behind Trump’s transition plans, and is said to have been crafting executive orders for Trump when he takes office, reports say. It is headed by Linda McMahon, former head of Trump Small Business Administration, and run by Brook Rollins, former Trump Domestic Policy Counsel Director.