This blog post is intended to be a 'living post' that will evolve as nominees are announced, withdraw, and flow through the confirmation process. As information becomes available the post will be updated.
Our goal is to provide timely and accurate information on the nominees that our readers can review to formulate their own opinions on each candidate. v4c will be relying heavily on well sourced reputable legacy media via hyperlinks to the coverage in combination excerpts taken directly from the article. .
The pictures below come from the NYT
The list comes from CBS News: See the list of Trump Cabinet picks and more; White House appointments so far; by Kathryn Watson & Caitlin Yilek; as of Nov 30, 2024 8:09 pm. Use this link to see CBS's frequently updated list.
For more in-depth looks at some of Trump's nominees go to Who are Trump’s Cabinet picks? Here’s every name so far; a PBS piece dated November 26, 2024 which contains numerous PBS video clips from their news staff talking about the various nominees
White House chief of staff: Susie Wiles
Secretary of state: Marco Rubio
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The secretary of state is the country’s top diplomat and the president’s “chief foreign affairs adviser.”
The onetime presidential hopeful and former Trump critic has represented Florida in the Senate for more than a decade.
He is the son of Cuban immigrants and has emphasized his working class roots to voters.
Serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and sits on the appropriations and foreign relations committees, where he has focused, in part, on the rise of China.
A vocal supporter of Israel and an opponent of Iran. He has rejected calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Supported aiding Ukraine to “defend themselves to the extent we can afford and to the extent we can sustain it.” On Nov. 6, he called for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting war to be brought to a conclusion.
Attorney general: Pam Bondi (after Matt Gaetz withdrew)
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The attorney general is a chief adviser on legal matters and oversees the Department of Justice, which includes the FBI, DEA, Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Attorneys, among other operations.
A longtime Trump ally who replaced Gaetz as the new nominee for attorney general after he withdrew his name.
Served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019, and was the first woman elected to the position.
Once a part of Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial in the Senate. She also served on the President’s Commission on Opioids during Trump’s first term.
Works for the America First Policy Institute, launched in 2021 by former Trump officials to promote his policies and agenda.
Deputy attorney general: Todd Blanche
Directly from NYTMr. Blanche, a former prosecutor in Manhattan, oversaw Mr. Trump’s defense against multiple indictments.
The selection of Mr. Blanche, a former prosecutor in Manhattan, as the deputy attorney general serves as an extraordinary rebuke to the criminal cases against Mr. Trump. A day earlier, the president-elect chose Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican and a caustic critic of the F.B.I. and the Justice Department, to become attorney general.
If confirmed as deputy attorney general, Mr. Blanche would be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of a department that Mr. Trump has repeatedly assailed.
HHS secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The Department of Health and Human Services works to promote public health and prevent disease. It oversees drug, vaccine and food safety at the Food and Drug Administration, as well as medical research at the National Institutes of Health and health care programs through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
A former presidential candidate. Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, originally ran for president in the Democratic primary this year before running as an independent.
A promoter of vaccine misinformation. Kennedy has spread misinformation and falsehoods about vaccines and their safety, including the heavily debunked claim that they cause autism.
Kennedy has also questioned the need for fluoride in public water systems, even though fluoride at a safe level helps reduce overall tooth decay.
Per NYT: Many Democrats and public health experts were appalled by Mr. Trump’s selection. Dr. Richard E. Besser, the chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting director of the C.D.C., said that having Mr. Kennedy in the health secretary job “would pose incredible risks to the health of the nation,” because Mr. Kennedy’s assault on the nation’s public health apparatus was worsening the mistrust lingering after the coronavirus pandemic.
Office of Management and Budget Director: Russ Vought
Per NYT: Russell Voight is a key figure in Project 2025 to was picked lead the Office of Management and Budget, elevating a longtime ally who has spent the last four years making plans to rework the American government to enhance presidential power.
The would-be nominee, Russell T. Vought, would oversee the White House budget and help determine whether federal agencies comport with the president’s policies.
U.N. ambassador: Elise Stefanik
Per NYT:Ms. Stefanik, who represents an upstate New York district in the House and is a member of the Republican leadership in the chamber, has been a vocal supporter of Mr. Trump. She emerged as a key ally during Mr. Trump’s first impeachment proceeding. She has minimal experience in foreign policy and national security
She has served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
She also impressed Mr. Trump years ago with an outspoken defense of him during his first impeachment trial in the House.
Ms. Stefanik’s departure could make their margin even thinner until a special election to replace her is held in what is considered a safe district for the party.
In New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, would most likely wait as long as possible to call a special election to fill her seat.
"Border czar": Tom Homan
Defense secretary: Pete Hegseth
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The secretary is the Defense Department’s chief policymaker and adviser.
One of Trump’s most vocal defenders and a Fox News personality.
Before he joined Fox, he was a major in the Army National Guard and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars.
His nomination was met with some controversy. A fellow service member once flagged Hegseth as a potential “Insider Threat” for a tattoo associated with white supremacist groups. He has likened efforts to address extremism among armed forces as a “purge.”
Vocally opposed to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military. He shared on “The Shawn Ryan Show” podcast that he believes so-called “woke” generals should be fired.
Disapproves of women serving in combat. According to a 2023 Defense Department report, women make up 17.5 percent of the active duty force.
Accused of sexually assaulting a woman in California in 2017. No charges were brought, yet Hegseth reportedly paid the accuser a settlement, he said, to protect his job at Fox.
Per NYT: Mr. Hegseth is likely to run into opposition from senior military officials and perhaps lawmakers who have served in the military for his embrace of narratives by troops who ran afoul of military justice rules. A former Pentagon official from Mr. Trump’s first term questioned Mr. Hegseth’s lack of experience — other than serving in the military — and raised concerns about his ability to win Senate confirmation, even with a Republican majority in the chamber.
Secretary of veterans affairs: Doug Collins
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The VA secretary oversees the nation’s largest integrated health care network, which includes 1,255 facilities that serve 9 million enrolled veterans annually. The VA also maintains more than 150 national cemeteries.
Collins, who has a master’s degree in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, was a U.S. Navy chaplain in the late 1980s. After the 9/11 attacks, he enlisted with the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a chaplain and deployed to Iraq for five months in 2008. He is currently a colonel in the Air Force Reserve.
He rose from the Georgia state Legislature to win election to the U.S. House in 2012. Collins ran for Senate in 2020, but lost in an all-party election to GOP incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock, who won the run-off election. Collins left the House in 2021.
As ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Collins vigorously defended Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russia influenced the 2016 election.
National security adviser: Michael Waltz
Interior secretary: Doug Burgum Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of the Department of the Interior oversees about 500 million acres of public land and the fossil fuels and minerals underground. The department also manages U.S. national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges and relations with 574 federally recognized Native American tribes and Alaska Native entities. Trump also said the North Dakota governor would also chair a new National Energy Council that will comprise all agencies and departments involved in “all forms of American energy.”
An <billionaire> executive-turned-politician. The former software company executive ran for president in the 2024 Republican primary but dropped out in December 2023 and began appearing at Trump’s rallies and fundraising events. He was also under consideration as Trump’s running mate before JD Vance was chosen. < added Trump donor >
Known as a champion of oil and gas drilling, and has urged increased energy and mineral production on U.S. lands.
Cutting carbon. Burgum, who was first elected governor in 2016 and reelected in 2020, set a goal for North Dakota to become carbon-neutral by 2030 without cutting back on fossil fuel use.
Secretary of energy: Chris Wright
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The Energy Secretary oversees energy, environment and nuclear growth, research and security. The department manages the national stockpile of nuclear weapons materials and nuclear waste.
A businessman and donor. Wright, an engineer, is the CEO of Liberty Energy, and also a Trump donor.
He supports fracking and has been a vocal critic of efforts to fight climate change.
A new responsibility. Wright will also serve on the newly-created National Energy Council, to be led by Interior Secretary-designate Doug Burgum
Directly from NYT: Mr. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver-based fracking company. He has no government experience and caught the attention of Mr. Trump in part through his appearances on Fox News.
Mr. Wright, who calls himself “a tech nerd turned entrepreneur,” is a media-friendly evangelist for fossil fuels who promotes a feel-good message that oil and gas can lift people out of poverty, while disparaging climate science.
In a video posted on LinkedIn last year, Mr. Wright declared, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”
Mr. Wright, who has no government experience, caught the attention of Mr. Trump in part through his appearances on Fox News. He also appears frequently on podcasts and social media videos, often using language and imagery associated with progressive causes to link oil and gas with issues like the fight for women’s equality.
Secretary of transportation: Sean Duffy
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of the Department of Transportation oversees federal transportation policy, improvements and safety, along with agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A former Congressman. Duffy represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
A former reality star. Before entering politics, he appeared on the 1997 MTV reality series, “The Real World: Boston.” A year later, he met his now-wife on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars.” He is also a past winner of the Lumberjack World Championships.
Most recently, Duffy was a co-host on the Fox Business show, “The Bottom Line.”
Secretary of commerce: Howard Lutnick
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The commerce secretary oversees the agency tasked with promoting the nation’s economic growth, and would be responsible for implementing some of Trump’s campaign pledges, including some of the steeper tariffs he’s touted.
The department includes the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
A billionaire chairman, Lutnick is CEO of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
A co-chair of Trump’s transition team. During Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Lutnick told the crowd that the former president’s use of “America first” means “American citizens employed first.” He also said Trump will balance the federal budget, a feat that has only happened twice in the last six decades.
Played a prominent role in post-9/11 relief efforts. His brother was among the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees killed at the World Trade Center in the Sept. 11 attacks. He created the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, which continues to assist wounded service members and people who have been affected by acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other emergencies. He also sits on the board of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York.
Secretary of education: Linda McMahon
Directly From NPR November26, 2024
The Secretary of Education oversees all federal school-related policies and regulations for both k-12 and higher education. That includes enforcing federal civil rights protections for students, including access to services for low-income and special education students, and billions in funding to schools, colleges, and universities. It’s also in charge of student loans.
Another returning Cabinet member. This would be McMahon’s second time in a Trump administration. She led the Small Business Administration from 2017-2019.
Ran twice for the Senate in Connecticut, losing to Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The Democratic senators praised her as they gave the formal introduction during her Senate confirmation hearing in 2017.
Does not have a long track record on education. The former WWE chief executive served a year on Connecicut’s Board of Education in 2009. She’s previously supported school choice.
Directly from NYT: Ms. McMahon is a major donor to Mr. Trump, a onetime Senate candidate from Connecticut and a former executive of a professional wrestling empire that she founded with her husband. She served in Mr. Trump’s first cabinet as the head of the Small Business Administration.
A close friend of Mr. Trump’s and a longtime booster of his political career, Ms. McMahon had been among his early donors leading up to his electoral victory in 2016 and has been one of the leaders of his transition team, vetting other potential appointees and drafting potential executive orders since August.
In Ms. McMahon, 76, Mr. Trump has elevated someone far outside the mold of traditional candidates for the role, an executive with no teaching background or professional experience steering education policy, other than an appointment in 2009 to the Connecticut State Board of Education, where she served for just over a year.
Secretary of the treasury: Scott Bessent
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The treasury secretary is the country’s chief financial officer, responsible for making recommendations on both domestic and international financial policies, including those involving taxes and the economy. The secretary also manages U.S. debt.
A <billonare> hedge fund CEO. Founder of Key Square Capital Management, Bessent formerly worked for George Soros. He’s also an advisor to Trump and a donor to his campaign.
If confirmed, he would become the first LGBTQ+ person to lead the Treasury and among the few to be confirmed by the Senate for a Republican Cabinet position.
Likely to prioritize Trump’s proposed tax cuts. He’s supported Trump’s proposed tariff hikes. In a Wall Street Journal column, he also argued that Trump’s approach to energy production would drive more investment, supported fair trade, made the case for overhauling bank lending regulations and pushed to reform the Inflation Reduction Act.
Per NYT: Unlike many on Wall Street, Mr. Bessent, 62, has also defended the use of tariffs, which are Mr. Trump’s favorite economic tool.
Secretary of labor: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The labor secretary oversees the nation’s laws and regulations that address workplace conditions, as well as wages, unemployment benefits, among other work-related services.
Lost her reelection bid to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
The first Republican woman from the state to serve in the House of Representatives.
A rare GOP supporter of the “Protecting the Right to Organize Act,” also known as the PRO Act, a proposed bill that seeks to make it easier for workers to unionize.
In Congress, she is a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Per NYT: who just lost her re-election bid to a Democratic challenger, was one of the few Republicans that backed a major expansion of labor rights that passed the House early in President Biden’s term but was never approved by the Senate.
White House counsel: William McGinley
U.S. Ambassador to NATO: Matthew Whitaker
Directly from NYT: Mr. Whitaker served as acting attorney general in the first Trump administration for about three months after Jeff Sessions stepped down and before William P. Barr was confirmed to succeed him. He does not have foreign policy experience
Mr. Whitaker, 55, served for about three months as the nation’s top law enforcement official after Jeff Sessions stepped down, and before William P. Barr was confirmed to succeed him. His short tenure at the helm of the Justice Department was marked by internal tensions and distrust as senior officials vied for the attention and favor of a president consumed by a special counsel investigation into his campaign.
Mr. Whitaker does not bring foreign policy experience to a job that may serve as a focal point for Mr. Trump’s complaints about how much the United States pays to help NATO keep Europe secure. But Mr. Whitaker, known for his personal loyalty and willingness to defend Mr. Trump during his first administration, is likely to bring a similar approach to his ambassadorship.
Secretary of homeland security: Kristi Noem Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The Homeland Security secretary oversees a sprawling department that oversees border and immigration enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Secret Service, among other public safety agencies.
With more than 230,000 employees and around a $62 billion budget, DHS is the third-largest Cabinet department in the U.S. government.
A staunch Trump loyalist, Noem was once viewed as a possible vice presidential running mate.
She’s an immigration hard-liner who, if confirmed, would play a key role in carrying out Trump’s pledges to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
South Dakota’s governor since 2019. As governor, she deployed the state’s National Guard troops to the southern border, a move critics called a political stunt. She has also been banned from most Native American reservations in South Dakota after suggesting tribal leaders benefit from Mexican drug cartels.
Previously was the state’s at-large member of the U.S. House.
Per NYT: “Biden’s open border policies are facilitating illegal border crossings,” she said in a post on X earlier this year. “This invasion must end. The federal government has to stop violating federal law. And we need to go back to President Trump’s successful immigration policies immediately.”
Ms. Noem has taken action on immigration enforcement as well: In line with other Republican state leaders, she sent National Guard troops in 2023 to help Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas police the border.
HUD secretary: Scott Turner
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of HUD oversees housing laws and investigates housing discrimination, along with overseeing a number of housing-related programs, including homeownership and rental assistance.
A former NFL player, Turner was the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during the first Trump administration.
This is not his first brush with politics. Turner served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives, from 2013 to 2017.
By day, Turner is a pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas.
At the America First Policy Institute, founded by former Trump officials after his first term in office, Turner has led the Center for Education Opportunity.
CIA director: John Ratcliffe
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of the Central Intelligence Agency oversees efforts to collect and analyze foreign intelligence that help the president and other government heads make policy decisions around national security. The CIA director reports to the director of national intelligence.
Ratcliffe has been in Trump’s Cabinet before. He was previously the director of national intelligence in the final year of the first Trump administration.
Represented Texas in the U.S. House from 2015 to 2020, serving as a member of the chamber’s intelligence committee.
In 2020, Ratcliffe’s nomination came under bipartisan criticism and concerns that he had possibly inflated his resume and wasn’t qualified for the job.
Per NYT: As a congressman, Mr. Ratcliffe fought on Mr. Trump’s behalf, helping to pursue investigations into Hunter Biden, the president’s son, and repeatedly criticizing the investigations into ties between Russia and Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Mr. Ratcliffe’s selection adds to the string of fierce Trump loyalists chosen so far for senior positions in the president-elect’s administration. But while Mr. Ratcliffe firmly backed Mr. Trump’s agenda as the director of national intelligence, he did not accede to every demand Mr. Trump made, something that could aid him as the Senate debates his confirmation.
Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The president’s top intelligence adviser oversees all 18 of the nation’s intelligence agencies.
A former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate, Gabbard left the party and became an independent in 2022, before joining the GOP this year.
A Trump loyalist, she stumped for the former president during his reelection campaign.
She is the first Hindu and American Samoan elected to Congress. She represented Hawaii in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2021.
Now a harsh critic of Biden and other top Democrats, Gabbard is a regular commentator for conservative media.
A combat veteran, she is a former lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves.
Critical of U.S. support for Ukraine, Gabbard has expressed pro-Russian conspiracy theories that align with the Kremlin’s own talking points, voiced support for the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and regularly criticized U.S. military interventions overseas.
Per NYT: It is unclear whether Ms. Gabbard will have a difficult confirmation, but Democratic senators are expected to ask her about her decision to meet with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and her past embrace of Russian talking points.
“These are extraordinarily serious jobs,” said Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “It’s why the Senate has an advise and consent process. I have a lot of questions.”
During her 2019 campaign, Ms. Gabbard sparred with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ms. Clinton had said Russia was backing Ms. Gabbard, and that she was a Kremlin favorite who was supported by its propaganda apparatus. Ms. Gabbard shot back that Ms. Clinton was the “queen of the warmongers.”
During her own presidential campaign she criticized“counterproductive regime-change wars that make our country less safe, that take more lives and that cost taxpayers trillions more dollars.”
After Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Ms. Gabbard posted a video on social media repeating a false claim pushed by the Kremlin that the United States was funding biological weapons labs in Ukraine.
The post prompted Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of Utah, to say that Ms. Gabbard was “parroting false Russian propaganda.”
EPA administrator: Lee Zeldin
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of the EPA leads U.S. efforts on the environment, including enforcing laws and overseeing regulations, including on how the country addresses climate change. The agency operates on a $10 billion budget and includes more than 17,000 full-time employees.
A former Congressman. Zeldin represented Long Island in the House from 2015 to 2023. He lost a bid for New York governor in 2022.
A staunch ally of Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax” and argued that addressing it hurts business.
Criticized the Biden administration for choosing to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline. He’s also opposed to rejoining the Paris climate agreement “without holding bad actors like China accountable.”
Among Zeldin’s top priorities, according to a post on X: “restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs and make the U.S. the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
Solicitor general: Dean John Sauer
Directly from NYT: Mr. Sauer served as solicitor general of Missouri and represented Mr. Trump in his appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the issue of presidential immunity.
D. John Sauer, who was the Missouri solicitor general and oversaw Mr. Trump’s appellate battles, was chosen to represent the department in front of the Supreme Court as the U.S. solicitor general.
FDA commissioner: Marty Makary
Secretary of agriculture: Brooke Rollins
Directly From NPR November26, 2024:
The head of the Department of Agriculture manages public policy on food, nutrition, agriculture, natural resources and rural development. The USDA also oversees the U.S. Forest Service and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.
Another returning member of the Cabinet. Rollins served as Trump’s domestic policy chief during his first term.
She is the president and CEO of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute.
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Rollins earned a degree in agricultural development.
CDC Director: David Weldon
Directly from NYT: Dr. Weldon is a former Florida congressman and a physician. While in Congress, he pushed the notion that thimerosal, a preservative compound in some vaccines, had caused an explosion of autism. This hypothesis has long been shown to be false, experts say
Dr. Weldon, 71, is a native of Long Island and earned a medical degree in New York before moving to Florida to practice. Starting in 1995, he served seven terms in Congress, representing the 15th District of Florida, before forgoing re-election and returning to his medical practice.
As a member of Congress, Dr. Weldon pushed the false notion that thimerosal, a preservative compound in some vaccines, had caused an explosion of autism — a hypothesis that experts say has no evidence. He also introduced a “vaccine safety bill” that aimed to relocate most vaccine safety research from the C.D.C. — which he said had an “inherent conflict of interest” — to a separate agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr. Trump’s choice signals yet again his commitment to reforming the role of federal health agencies in radical ways. Though Dr. Weldon is an internist, his skepticism of vaccine safety and concern about C.D.C. overreach echo those of other nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
FCC chairman: Brendan Carr
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz
Per NYT: “C.M.S. touches virtually every family in America through Medicaid and Medicare, and it’s probably the most challenging technical, policy and political job in government,” said Drew Altman, the president of KFF, a health research group. “Even small, almost daily decisions at C.M.S. are billion-dollar decisions that affect industries and patients with serious illnesses who really care.”
Dr. Oz, a celebrity physician, lost to John Fetterman in 2022 in a race to represent Pennsylvania in the Senate.
Mr. Trump noted that Dr. Oz had “won nine Daytime Emmy Awards hosting ‘The Dr. Oz Show,’ where he taught millions of Americans how to make healthier lifestyle choices.”
He had a history of dispensing dubious medical advice on his daytime show, which ceased production when he announced his bid for the Senate.
In the early days of the pandemic, he clashed with medical experts by promoting the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to ward off the coronavirus. Medicines that were shown to be ineffective in treating the virus
Dr. Oz, a heart surgeon does not have experience running a large federal bureaucracy.
A decade ago he went before a Senate panel and was chastised for hyping so-called miracle weight loss products without substantial proof that they worked.
“Even putting aside the raft of alarming pseudoscience Dr. Oz has previously endorsed, it is deeply disappointing to see someone with zero qualifications being announced to head up such a critical agency,” Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat who used to lead the Senate health committee, said in a statement.
Surgeon general: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat
Directly from NYT: Dr. Nesheiwat is a Fox News medical contributor and a sister-in-law of Representative Michael Waltz of Florida, whom Trump has chosen to be his national security adviser.
President-elect Donald J. Trump announced that he wanted Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to be the next United States surgeon general. He credited her work during the coronavirus pandemic “on the front lines in New York City treating thousands of Americans” and called her “a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health.”
U.S. ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
Directly from NYT: Mr. Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, has said that “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian” and argued that all of the West Bank belonged to Israel. He is a Southern Baptist minister who has twice run unsuccessfully for president.
Mike Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas who was tapped on Tuesday to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel, has said that“there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian” and argued that all of the West Bank belonged to Israel.
His selection, which requires Senate confirmation, was widely welcomed by Israeli officials who oppose a Palestinian state, a longstanding U.S. goal.
U.S. ambassador to Canada: Pete Hoekstra
Directly from NYT: Mr. Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican party and a former Michigan congressman, served as ambassador to the Netherlands during the first Trump administration. He is a native of the Netherlands.
A conservative former congressman and prominent party official, Hoekstra is one of Mr. Trump's more traditional picks for a government position thus far. Still, Hoekstra repeatedly attracted controversy during his tenure as ambassador in the Netherlands.
U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York: Jay Clayton
Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
NASA Administrator - Jared Isaacman
Mr. Isaacman is a billionaire enterpreneur and an astronaut, who worked closely with Elon Musk on a SpaceX mission.
Mr. Isaacman’s company Shift4 Payments made him a billionaire, and he has financed two trips to orbit on SpaceX vehicles, including a daring spacewalk in September.
President-elect Donald J. Trump will nominate Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who led two private missions to orbit on SpaceX rockets, as the next NASA administrator.
Mr. Isaacman, the chief executive of the payment processing company Shift4 Payments, is a close associate of Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, and, if confirmed to the post by the Senate, would bring the perspective of an outsider to the space agency and its $25 billion budget.
“Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,” Mr. Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
One of the key issues for the next NASA administrator is how to get NASA’s centerpiece Artemis program back on track to send NASA astronauts to the moon. The first landing of astronauts is to occur during the Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for late 2026. However, key components needed to accomplish that, including the lunar lander being developed by SpaceX, appear to be behind schedule.
Deputy chief of staff: Dan Scavino
Deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser: Stephen Miller
Deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs: James Blair
Deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel: Taylor Budowich
Presidential Personnel Office head: Sergio Gor
White House communications director: Steven Cheung
White House press secretary: Karoline Leavitt
Domestic Policy Council director: Vince Haley
Secretary of the Navy: John Phelan Raw Story writes: in a piece covering MAGA's reactions to some of Trump's pics. John Phelan, the co-founder and chairman of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach, Florida, to be United States Secretary of the Navy.
"This one is an odd pick, unless he's going to be a businessman breaking through logjams in the supply chain."
"No military experience? Feels like you're rewarding a friend/donor so will need a better explanation," the user added.
Another user, @Xjhawkr, shares pro-Trump content and identifies as a "Navy Vet" and a "Constitutional Conservative Patriot." That user wrote, "A c--- pick!" As a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, I want a Sailor in charge!! Not some Wall Street billionaire with ZERO Military experience!!" they added. "You got this wrong DJT!!!"
Director of the National Institutes of Health: Jay Bhattacharya
Dr. Bhattacharya is a Stanford physician and economist who co-authored an anti- lockdown treatise during the coronavirus pandemic.
As the director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya would oversee the world’s premier medical research agency, with a $48 billion budget and 27 separate institutes and centers.
Dr. Bhattacharya, who is not a practicing physician, has called for overhauling the N.I.H. and limiting the power of civil servants who, he believes, played too prominent a role in shaping federal policy during the pandemic.
He is the latest in a series of Trump health picks who came to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic and who hold views on medicine and public health that are at times outside the mainstream. The president-elect’s health choices, experts agree, suggest a shake-up is coming to the nation’s public health and biomedical establishment.
Raw Story writes: in a piece covering MAGA's reactions to some of Trump's pics
"That choice was hit with sharp criticism, with one journalist calling his appointment a "remarkable turn" — given he was a "pariah four years ago, dismissed by the then-NIH director for his 'fringe' views."
@DonnaSwimminUpstream, who shares Trump's posts directly and shares pro-Fox News content, said, "I did not read any NAVY service or experience."
A self-identified Trump voter identified as @KelceyB said, "DELL??? YOU ARE SELLING OUT THE NAVY TO TRAITORS!!"
"EVERY PICK YOU KEEP MAKING IS DOOMING OUR NATION & GOD IS P-----!" the user added. "YOU DECEIVED MILLIONS OF US, GOD’S CHILDREN OUT OF OUR VOTE & YOUR DECEIT CURSES THIS NATION!"
U.S. Trade Representative: Jamieson Greer
Directly from NYTDuring Mr. Trump’s first term, Mr. Greer served as chief of staff to Robert E. Lighthizer, the trade representative at the time.
President-elect Donald J. Trump on Tuesday picked Jamieson Greer, a lawyer and former Trump official, to serve as his top trade negotiator. The position will be crucial to Mr. Trump’s plans of issuing hefty tariffs on foreign products and rewriting the rules of trade in America’s favor.
Mr. Greer is a partner in international trade at the law firm King & Spalding. During Mr. Trump’s first term, Mr. Greer served as chief of staff to Robert E. Lighthizer, the trade representative at the time. He was involved in the Trump administration’s trade negotiations with China, as well as the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Before that, Mr. Greer served in the Air Force, where he was a lawyer who prosecuted and defended U.S. airmen in criminal investigations. He was deployed to Iraq.
“Jamieson will focus the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on reining in the Country’s massive Trade Deficit, defending American Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Services, and opening up Export Markets everywhere,” Mr. Trump said.
Deputy secretary of Health and Human Services: Jim O'Neill
Directly from NYT Mr. O’Neill is a former H.H.S. official and a former top aide to Peter Thiel, the billionaire Trump supporter. He was pushed by some members of the Silicon Valley elite for the department's top position.
O’Neill, a longtime H.H.S. official before he went to work for Thiel, was pushed by some members of the Silicon Valley elite for the department's top position, but lost out to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. O'Neill traveled to Mar-a-Lago last week to interview with Trump, according to a person with knowledge of his schedule, and now gets the number-two spot. “He will oversee all operations and improve Management, Transparency, and Accountability to, Make America Healthy Again,” Trump said in a statement.
Director of White House National Economic Council: Kevin Hassett
Assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia: Retired Gen. Keith Kellogg
U.S. ambassador to France: Charles Kushner
Mr. Kushner is a real estate executive and the father-in-law of Mr. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka. He served two years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, retaliating against a federal witness and lying to the Federal Election Commission. He was pardoned by Mr. Trump in 2020.
Charles Kushner, the wealthy real estate executive and father of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France, handing one of his earliest and most high-profile ambassador appointments to a close family associate.
The announcement was the latest step in a long-running exchange of political support between the two men. Mr. Kushner received a pardon from Mr. Trump in the final days of his first term for a variety of violations and then emerged as a major donor to Mr. Trump’s 2024 campaign.
“I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media post announcing his choice. “He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests.”
Mr. Kushner, 70, pleaded guilty in 2004 to 16 counts of tax evasion, a single count of retaliating against a federal witness and one of lying to the Federal Election Commission in a case that became a lasting source of embarrassment for the family. As part of the plea, Mr. Kushner admitted to hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother- in-law, a witness in a federal campaign finance investigation, and sending a videotape of the encounter to his sister.
FBI director: Kash Patel
Directly from NYT Mr. Patel is a right-wing operative who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on Mr. Trump’s adversaries.
President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Saturday that he wants to replace Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, with Kash Patel, a hard-line critic of the bureau who has called for shutting down the agency’s Washington headquarters, firing its leadership and bringing the nation’s law enforcement agencies “to heel.”
Mr. Trump’s planned nomination of Mr. Patel has echoes of his failed attempt to place another partisan firebrand, Matt Gaetz, atop the Justice Department as attorney general. It could run into hurdles in the Senate, which will be called on to confirm him, and is sure to send shock waves through the F.B.I., which Mr. Trump and his allies have come to view as part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him.
Mr. Patel has been closely aligned with Mr. Trump’s belief that much of the nation’s law enforcement and national security establishment needs to be purged of bias and held accountable for what they see as unjustified investigations and prosecutions of Mr. Trump and his allies.
Mr. Patel “played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability and the Constitution,” Mr. Trump said in announcing his choice in a social media post.
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration: Chad Chroniste
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