President-elect Donald Trump is already working on filling key Cabinet jobs as well as thousands of federal positions, with his first selections expected in the “coming days and weeks,” his transition team said Thursday.
Former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, founder of brokerage firm Cantor Fitzgerald, are leading the process.
“There are some people who will return (from Trump’s first term),” senior Trump aide Jason Miller told Fox Business on Wednesday. “And they will be some new people joining the mix.”
AFP takes a look at some of Trump’s allies:
chief of staff
Trump churned through chiefs of staff during his first term in office. The longest-serving man, former General John Kelly, also recently described his former boss as a fascist.
His most senior campaign aide, Susie Wills, is being considered as a possible fit.
Trump called him on stage during his victory speech and he has been seen as a top candidate for gatekeeper to the Oval Office.
“We call her the ‘Ice Baby’ … Susie likes to stay in the background,” Trump said of the 67-year-old Florida native.
Attorney General
Given Trump’s radical agenda for mass deportation of illegal immigrants and his ongoing legal problems, the nominee as attorney general will have one of the most sensitive and challenging jobs.
Republican senators Mike Lee, Eric Schmidt and Trump’s former national intelligence director John Ratcliffe were being considered, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
Secretary of State
The next top US diplomat will play a key role in implementing Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which is likely to see major changes in US alliances and force Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.
Rick Grenell, an hawkish former ambassador to Germany who also served as acting director of national intelligence under Trump, is seen as a contender.
“If you want to avoid war, you’d be better off making that son of a bitch secretary of state,” he said on a March episode of the “Self Centered” podcast.
The openly gay arch-loyalist, who sought to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat, appeared with Trump during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September.
He may also step into the role of important national security advisor, with Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the last contender to become Trump’s potential running mate, being mentioned by many as a possible Secretary of State.
“I’ve always been interested in serving this country,” Rubio told CNN on Wednesday.
Secretary of Defense and CIA Director
America’s foreign allies will closely monitor the nominations for these two important posts.
Kash Patel, the son of Indian immigrants and author of a book about the so-called “Deep State”, has been mentioned as a future CIA chief, as has ultra-conservative Texas Senator Ratcliffe.
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, who called for the use of troops against Black Lives Matters protesters in 2020, has recused himself as defense secretary, Axios reported on Wednesday.
Former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo was name-checked by Trump at one of his final rallies on Monday.
Treasury Secretary
Billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessant, a major donor and adviser, is seen as a top candidate to become the next Treasury secretary to pursue Trump’s agenda of lower taxes, less regulation and higher tariffs.
John Paulson, another billionaire hedge fund manager and adviser, is also in the running for a top economic portfolio, as is Trump transition co-chairman Lutnick.
“Doge”
Trump surrogate and Tesla boss Elon Musk is expected to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” aiming to cut $2 trillion from the federal government’s $7 trillion budget — though no one has specified what such plan will entail. How will the drastic cuts be made?
The world’s richest man has promised to bring his “hardline” management style to Washington, while promising a “fair and humane” transition for laid-off federal workers.
Other
Robert Kennedy Jr., nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and longtime conspiracy theorist, has been promised a “bigger role” by Trump after ending his candidacy to support Republicans.
Trump has teased wide-ranging roles for RFK, including allowing the vaccine skeptic to “act wildly recklessly on health issues.”
It is not yet known whether Trump will promote family members to roles as aides and advisers, but first-time veteran Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner have stepped back from politics for family and business reasons.
Former Democratic Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be hoping for a reward for supporting Trump, while former Fox News host and Trump confidant Tucker Carlson may also be eyeing a spot.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
