President-elect Donald Trump is starting to fill key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.
Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense
Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.
Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security
Trump picked a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda.
William McGinley, White House counsel
Trump says William McGinley, a lawyer who has served in Trump’s White House and in a key political role this year, will be his White House counsel. He was previously White House Cabinet secretary.
John Ratcliffe, CIA director
Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the pandemic.
Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East
Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East.
The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect’s golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump’s club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.
Mike Huckabee, ambassador to Israel
Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel, the president-elect announced Tuesday.
Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel’s interests as it wages wars against Hamas and Hezbollah.
Mike Waltz, national security adviser
Trump asked Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday.
Susie Wiles, chief of staff
Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.
Wiles has a background in Florida politics. She helped Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor.
Tom Homan, ‘border czar’
Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.
Elise Stefanik, United Nations ambassador
Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump’s staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.
Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy
Miller, an immigration hardliner, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump’s priority of mass deportations. He was a senior adviser during Trump’s first administration.
Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency
Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of Trump.
– The Associated Press