On November 12, 2024, U.S. President-elect Trump (Trump) is gradually finalizing the key positions in his second administration. So far, he has been focusing on appointing his aides and allies, who were his staunchest supporters during the 2024 campaign.
Here are the newly selected leaders of his administration so far.
At the age of 67, Wales was the co-manager of Trump’s campaign team and the actual person responsible for leading Trump to victory in the election. She will be the first woman to serve as White House Chief of Staff, a crucial position.
Wales had previously helped Ron DeSantis win his first Florida governor election. Six years later, as a key figure in Trump’s campaign team, she helped him defeat DeSantis in the 2024 Republican primaries.
Very few individuals could assist Trump in the way Wales did, not by criticizing his impulsiveness but by persuading him to adopt her suggestions and achieve success. She has earned Trump’s respect through this approach.
According to various media reports including CNN, Trump has selected Rubio to serve as the top diplomat in his new administration.
Rubio has been a U.S. Senator from Florida since 2011 and is a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rubio is known for his hawkish stance on foreign policy but also advocates for maintaining alliances with NATO and other allies.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday that Trump has invited Waltz to serve as National Security Advisor, and several U.S. media outlets subsequently confirmed this appointment, citing sources.
Waltz has been a three-term U.S. Congressman from Florida, serving on the House Armed Services Committee and Intelligence Committee.
This retired military officer was a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces “Green Berets” and served in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as a colonel in the Army National Guard.
Waltz is a loyal supporter of Trump and one of the most hawkish members of Congress on China-related matters. His new role will position him at the forefront of a series of national security crises, including the conflict in Ukraine, the Gaza war, and tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
During Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates’ tenures as Secretary of Defense in the Bush administration, he previously served as a policy advisor at the Pentagon.
At the age of 62, Homan previously served as the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Trump’s first administration. Now, Trump has entrusted him with leading the implementation of the new government’s border policies, a core issue of Trump’s campaign.
Homan is expected to oversee the largest deportation operation of illegal immigrants in U.S. history.
Stefanik is a U.S. Congresswoman from New York and the Chair of the House Republican Conference.
This 40-year-old congresswoman is one of Trump’s staunchest supporters. She is a staunch conservative and during the surge of anti-Semitism at American universities last year, she sharply questioned university presidents at a congressional hearing, contributing to the resignations of two presidents.
Miller, 39, was a senior advisor in Trump’s first administration.
Miller is a hardliner on immigration issues and a key figure in some of Trump’s decisions, especially on illegal immigration.
Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the chairman of the conservative public interest law firm “America First Legal.”
Trump has selected former New York State Congressman Lee Zeldin as the nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator.
At the age of 44, Zeldin has long been a supporter of Trump.
In a statement, Trump said Zeldin would make fair and swift decisions, relax regulations on energy production, unleash the power of American businesses, all while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on Earth.