The second Trump administration is taking shape

Last week, President-elect Trump was declared the victor of the 2024 election – and in the days since, he’s nominated several major Cabinet members and senior advisors for his upcoming administration.

Cabinet-level roles

All of Trump’s Cabinet picks are expected to secure confirmation from the Senate, if necessary, as Republicans will hold a 53-47 advantage in the chamber starting next year.

Here’s a rundown of the nods thus far:

• Homeland Security Secretary: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who largely shares the president-elect’s views on immigration.
• EPA head: Former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, whom Trump says will “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions” to promote economic growth, while still maintaining "the highest environmental standards."
• Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who has been outspoken about rooting out what he has called “woke-ness” in the military.
• Ambassador to the UN: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a vocal supporter of Israel who made headlines this year after grilling university presidents over pro-Palestinian student protests.

And while he has yet to be formally announced, Trump is widely expected to nominate Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) as Secretary of State. Senator Rubio favors confronting adversarial countries like China, Iran, and Cuba, and has echoed Trump’s calls to end the war in Ukraine.

Other senior advisors

In the White House, Trump picked campaign co-manager Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, the first woman to fill the role, while advisor and speechwriter Stephen Miller was named deputy chief of policy.

• Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), who shares the president-elect’s tough-on-China stance as well as his skepticism of US aid for Ukraine, was tapped to become the National Security Advisor.
• Tom Homan, a former ICE official under both the Obama and Trump administrations known for his strong views against illegal immigration, was selected for the unofficial role of border czar.
• Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a longtime supporter of Israel, was tapped to serve as US ambassador to Israel.

Looking ahead… There are still several major Cabinet positions left for Trump to nominate before (or shortly after) taking over the White House on January 20. These include his attorney general as well as the secretaries of treasury and health – the latter of which could go to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., per Trump allies.

And outside of the cabinet, Trump has hinted that billionaire Elon Musk will have a major role within his administration, though it’s currently unclear what those exact duties would be.

📊 Flash poll: In general, how do you feel about President-elect Trump’s picks for his administration thus far?

• I support most or all of Trump’s picks
• Trump could have chosen better in most or all areas
• It’s a mixed bag – some good, some bad