President-elect Donald Trump has made a number of choices to lead his administration, from his chief of staff to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the transition continues. At the same time, only a week after the landslide election, many key positions remain unfilled.
Trump has officially confirmed seven of his nominations, but media reports say he has decided on several others without officially confirming them.
Chief of Staff: Susie Wiles
President Trump announced his first Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, naming Wiles as his chief of staff. Wiles, who ran Trump's campaign and participated in his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, is the first woman to be elected to the role.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and admired and respected around the world. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to make America great again,” President Trump said in the announcement.
“It is a well-deserved honor to appoint Susie as the first female Chief of Staff in U.S. history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” he added.
Ambassador to the United Nations: Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY)
President Trump on Monday nominated Stefanik, the chairman of the House Republican Conference and the first lawmaker to endorse him this term, to be ambassador to the United Nations.
“Elise is a strong and very smart America First fighter. She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, and is the highest-ranking woman in Congress as chair of the House Republican Conference. A woman of high standards,” President Trump said in a statement.
Stefanik said she was “honored” by Trump's nomination.
“During my conversation with President Trump, I shared that I was deeply humbled to accept his nomination and looked forward to gaining the support of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate,” she said. said in a statement.
EPA Administrator: Former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY)
President Trump announced Monday that he has selected Lee Zeldin to head the EPA. Mr. Zeldin served as a member of the New York First Congress from 2015 to 2023 and was a candidate for New York's Republican governorship in 2022. His strong performance against Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) helped numerous House candidates win down-ballot races.
President Trump praised Zeldin's legal career in a statement Monday.
Mr. Lee has a very strong legal background and is a true fighter for America First. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions are enacted in a way that unleashes the power of American businesses while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on earth.
“I am honored to join President Trump's Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin said in a post on X.
Border Emperor: Former Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan
President Trump announced in a post on Truth Social on Sunday that he had selected Homan to be border commissioner. President Trump said Homan's territory includes, but is “not limited to, the southern border, the northern border, all maritime and air security.”
“I have known Tom for a long time and there is no one better than him at securing and managing our borders. Similarly, Mr. Tom Homan is a leader in the deportation of illegal aliens to their countries of origin. “I will be in charge of everything,” he added.
Homan served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2017 and 2018.
National Security Advisor: Congressman Mike Walz (R-FL)
Following initial reports on Monday, President Trump on Tuesday confirmed his selection of Walz, a former Green Beret and Afghanistan veteran, to be his national security adviser.
“Mike has been a strong defender of my America First foreign policy and will be a great champion of the pursuit of peace through force!” President Trump said in a statement Tuesday.
Walz served 27 years in the Army and National Guard, with multiple deployments and earned four Bronze Stars, including two for valor.
“I am honored that President Trump has placed his trust in me as his National Security Advisor,” Walz wrote in a post on X. There is no higher mission than to protect safety.” All Americans. ”
Ambassador to Israel: Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas)
Trump's transition team also announced Tuesday that Huckabee will be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 before running for president in 2008. He also hosted his own eponymous Fox News show. Huckabee. He is the father of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Arkansas), who served as White House press secretary during the Trump administration's first term.
“Mike has been a great public servant, governor, and faith leader for many years. He loves Israel and the people of Israel, and the people of Israel love him as well,” Trump said in a statement. . “Mike will continue to work tirelessly to bring peace to the Middle East.”
Middle East Envoy: Steve Witkoff
President Trump also announced Tuesday afternoon that businessman Steve Witkoff will become his special envoy to the Middle East.
“Steve is a well-respected leader in business and philanthropy who has made every project and community he worked on stronger and more prosperous. Steve has been a relentless voice for peace and has made us all proud. ,” President Trump said in an emailed release.
Mr. Witkoff is CEO, Chairman and Founder of Witkoff, a global real estate company. especially. Witkoff was playing golf with Trump at Trump's golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, when the second attempt on his life occurred in September.
CIA Director: Former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe
President Trump has nominated John Ratcliffe to be the next CIA director. The president-elect announced his selection Tuesday night.
“From exposing the fake Russian collusion as a work of the Clinton campaign to exposing FBI civil liberties violations in FISA court, John Ratcliffe has always been a fighter for truth and integrity for the American people. ” President Trump said in a statement. press release.
“When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden's laptop, one John Ratcliffe told the American people the truth,” he added.
Ratcliffe is a former Texas congressman who served as DNI at the end of President Trump's first term from 2020 to 2021.
White House Advisor: Former White House Cabinet Secretary William McGinley
On Tuesday, President Trump announced his selection of William McGinley as White House Counsel, praising his tenacity as a lawyer.
“Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help advance America First policies while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement,” President Trump said in a statement announcing McGinelli's selection. He will do it,” he said.
McGinley served as White House Cabinet Secretary for part of President Trump's first term and also served as general counsel for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
Media outlets have reported that President Trump has chosen several other positions, but he has only made public statements regarding the six positions detailed by Breitbart News.
Chief of Staff for Policy: Senior Advisor Stephen Miller
A source close to President Trump confirmed to Breitbart News that Miller is expected to be named deputy chief of staff for policy. Miller is an immigration hawk and Trump's top adviser on the issue. He served as a senior adviser to President Trump throughout his first term and also served as the president-elect's speechwriter.
After news of the nomination began to surface, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance tweeted, “This is another great nomination by the President.”
Secretary of State: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)
President Trump has not yet officially announced Rubio. new york times report He is expected to select Florida's senior senators for key positions:
President-elect Donald J. Trump is expected to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, as Trump moves rapidly to fill his foreign policy and national security teams, he said. Three people familiar with the idea revealed this on Monday.
Mr. Trump was considering Mr. Rubio when choosing this year's running mate, and appears to have settled on Mr. Rubio, according to people familiar with the matter, although there is still a possibility that he could change his mind at the last minute.
Rubio is a hawk on China and Iran and an ardent defender of Israel. Although he and Trump famously sparred during the 2016 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, their relationship has improved significantly over the past eight years, with Trump reportedly sparring with Vance. Before choosing him, he reportedly considered Rubio as a possible vice presidential candidate for this term.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary: Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD)
According to multiple reports, Noem is expected to become the next DHS secretary. DHS oversees many agencies, including ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Secret Service (USSS).
Noem's selection honors Miller as deputy chief of staff and Homan as border czar.
There are still many important positions to fill, including chief strategist, press secretary, attorney general, CIA director, and director of national intelligence. Additionally, President Trump has not yet chosen the secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services (HHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Labor, Transportation, and Treasury. .
