Who's who in Donald Trump's cabinet

Donald Trump has announced the team that will accompany him in his second term at the helm of the world’s leading power. His Cabinet marks a shift toward a new generation of leaders, with only four members over the age of 55. From the experienced and loyal Susie Wiles as chief of staff to younger figures like James Blair and Taylor Budowich, the team also includes high-profile names such as Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Kristi Noem, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth. This diverse group promises a full-throttle battle against "wokeism" and the insecurity that defined the economic struggles of the Biden-Harris administration.

Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff

No Senate confirmation required

Donald Trump's first pick was veteran Susie Wiles as chief of staff. Wiles, 67, is the oldest person on the team, and has Trump's full confidence, having been one of the key figures in his presidential campaign. Trump described her as "strong, intelligent, innovative, and universally admired and respected," and noted that she will be the first woman to lead the presidential Cabinet.

Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff

No Senate confirmation required

Miller's name appeared on every list to be included in Trump's team. He served in the president-elect’s first term, starting as a speechwriter and senior advisor, but he is especially known as the architect of Trump’s immigration policy. In addition, he founded America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers that defends conservative causes through legal means across the country. Miller will oversee, alongside Kristi Noem and Tom Homan, the administration’s immigration and border security policy.

James Blair, deputy chief of staff

No Senate confirmation required

Blair is one of the youngest on the team, but "best in class," in Donald Trump's words. During the campaign he served as director of policy, a position he also held at the Republican National Committee. Blair will be in charge of legislative, policy and public affairs.

Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff

No Senate confirmation required

At 35, this is another of Trump’s young rising stars, already possessing solid experience and earning his trust during the campaign. He served as CEO of the super PAC MAGA INC. and played a key role in the leadership of Save America PAC. He will now be responsible for Communications and Personnel.

Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff

No Senate confirmation required

At 48, he is the most senior of the four deputies to Susie Wiles and "one of President Trump's oldest and most trusted advisers."

Bill McGinley, White House counsel

No Senate confirmation required

Another familiar figure from Trump’s first term, where he served as White House Cabinet Secretary. In a statement, Trump described him as "a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement." During the campaign, he served as outside counsel for election integrity at the Republican National Committee.

Marco Rubio, secretary of state

Senate confirmation required

The Hispanic senator from Florida is expected to be "the terror of dictatorships," according to several analysts. Trump emphasized that the new head of U.S. diplomacy is "a very powerful voice for freedom" and defined him as "a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries."

Matt Gaetz, attorney general

Senate confirmation required

A bold and surprising choice that has generated a variety of reactions. In fact, many believe that the Florida representative, who played a key role in ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the previous term, may struggle to pass the Senate approval process. However, Trump has expressed his confidence in Gaetz, stating that he will be the one to "end the partisan instrumentalization of government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans' faith and trust in the Department of Justice."

Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense

Senate confirmation required

Another major surprise from the president-elect: veteran author, Iraq War (bronze medalist) and Afghanistan veteran, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth, known for his strong anti-woke stance, will be in charge of running the Pentagon. Trump praised Hegseth, stating, "Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First."

Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security

Senate confirmation required

Although her name was tossed around as one of the strongest vice presidential candidates, South Dakota's first female governor, Kristi Noem, sparked controversy when she revealed in a book how she killed one of her dogs for not hunting well. Despite this, her strong stance on border security has made her a top pick for Secretary of Homeland Security. Trump emphasized, "Kristi has been very strong on border security. She was the first governor to send National Guard troops to help Texas fight the Biden's border crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times."

Tom Homan, border czar

No Senate confirmation required

If there's one thing that's clear from Trump's first nominations, it is that border security will be a top priority for the new administration. The appointment of Tom Homan, former ICE director and a staunch advocate for tough immigration policies, as border czar underscores this commitment. "I've known Tom for a long time, and "there is nobody better at policing and controlling our borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all deportation of illegal aliens back to their country of origin," the president-elect said.

Doug Burgum, interior secretary

Senate confirmation required

The still governor of North Dakota and former presidential candidate opted not to seek a third term in his state. He will now be part of the second Trump Administration. The president-elect previewed Burgum's appointment during a speech, assuring that his work would be "incredible." "We are going to reduce waste, fraud and ineffective regulation," he added.

Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence

Senate confirmation required

Tulsi Gabbard was a lifelong Democrat, having served as a representative for the party and even running in the 2020 primaries as a presidential candidate. However, the party’s drift toward "woke" ideologies led her to renounce her affiliation. After being labeled a domestic threat by the Biden-Harris administration, Gabbard joined the Trump campaign.

Michael Waltz, national security adviser

No Senate confirmation required

A former Green Beret, he served on missions in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, earning four Bronze Stars for his combat actions, including two for valor on the battlefield. This lifetime Trump ally has become one of China’s fiercest critics in Congress. He is a leading advocate for policies aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on critical minerals from China and protecting American universities from Chinese espionage.

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, heads of the department of government efficiency

No Senate confirmation required

Donald Trump’s rival for the Republican nomination and the owner of X will be tasked with downsizing government, particularly from a cost perspective. According to the president-elect, both entrepreneurs "will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies."

Robert F Kennedy Jr., health and human services secretary

Senate confirmation required

The former independent candidate will be on a mission to Make America Healthy Again, the president-elect said. Kennedy Jr. is a regular critic of pharmaceuticals and the role of government agencies during the pandemic, one of his main presidential banners before endorsing Trump. The environmental lawyer promised to end corruption and help Americans access the information they need to make decisions about their health. It was one of the most controversial appointments.

Lee Zeldin, environmental protection agency administrator

Senate confirmation required

The former congressman and 2022 New York gubernatorial candidate, widely considered the Republican front-runner in recent decades, "will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business," according to Trump. The president-elect also emphasized that Zeldin will continue to uphold "the highest environmental standards.

John Ratcliffe, CIA director

Senate confirmation required

John Ratcliffe is a longtime acquaintance of U.S. intelligence. He served as Director of National Intelligence between 2020 and 2021 at the end of Trump’s first term. The president-elect highlighting Ratcliffe's work. "From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBI’s abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public. When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden's laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American people."

Elise Stefanik, U.S. ambassador to the UN

Senate confirmation required

One of the president-elect’s first nominations was Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.S. ambassador to the UN. The chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress was selected for the role due to her reputation as "an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter." Stefanik has been a vocal critic of the UN's stance on Israel’s conflict with terrorist groups in the Middle East, even advocating for the U.S. to halt funding to the international body.

Doug Collins, veterans affairs secretary

Senate confirmation required

A veteran of the Iraq War, he is an attorney and chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. Collins served as a congressman for Georgia from 2013 to 2021. Trump highlighted his military background and assured that he would be a "great advocate" for both active and retired military and their families. In welcoming his nomination, he promised to reduce VA regulations and "root out corruption."

John Sauer, deputy attorney general

A former lawyer for the president-elect, he was responsible for the case that led the Supreme Court to rule in Trump's favor on presidential immunity. He will now be in charge of defending the federal government before that same court. The president-elect highlighted Sauer's long professional career, including serving as Missouri's attorney general from 2017 to 2023.

Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for Southern District of New York

Senate confirmation required

During the first Trump Administration, Clayton was chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission. The president has nominated him once again, this time for one of the most important prosecutors' offices in the country: the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.

Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general

Requires Senate Confirmation

He was a supervising federal prosecutor in the White Plains, Manhattan division, where he accumulated experience prosecuting gangs for violent crimes. Blanche defended Trump in the Stormy Daniels case. "Todd," the president-elect noted, "is an excellent lawyer who will be a crucial leader at the Department of Justice." He would be second in command at DOJ behind Matt Gaetz.

Steven Cheung, communications director

No Senate confirmation required

The Trump-Vance campaign communications director will carry the same title in the White House, where he returns after serving during the president-elect's first term. Known for his upfront style and quick response, Cheung also worked on the 2016 campaign and served as a spokesperson for the UFC.

Sergio Gor, personnel director

No Senate confirmation required

He was executive director of the super PAC Right For America. Gor also co-founded Winning Team Publishing with Trump, and previously served as an advisor to Senator Rand Paul. As head of the Presidential Personnel Office, he will help the president appoint thousands of positions for the federal government.

Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary

No Senate confirmation required

Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest press secretary in the nation’s history. She served as the official spokesperson for Trump’s most recent presidential campaign and also worked in his first administration. After graduating from college, she joined the White House Press Office, which was then led by Kayleigh McEnany. Following January 2021, she was hired to join the communications team of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who is now nominated to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations.

Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation

Senate confirmation required.

Duffy served in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, when he resigned for health-related reasons following the expected birth of his ninth child. During his time on Capitol Hill, he was a member of the House Financial Services Committee, where he advocated for greater fiscal responsibility from the federal government. Regarding the Trump Administration, Duffy voted in line with the White House's position an average of 93.4% of the time. After his resignation, he became a contributor to Fox News, where he also hosts the show The Bottom Line.

Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education

Senate confirmation required

She is a loyal ally of the president-elect who, during his first term, served as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 before stepping down and returning to the private sector. Since then, she has supported Trump as an advisor and as chair of the prominent Super PAC America First Action and the board of directors of the America First Policy Institute.

McMahon is publicly recognized for founding WWE alongside her husband, Vince McMahon, in 1980. Beyond her experience in Trump’s first administration, one of McMahon’s greatest professional achievements was her leadership at WWE, which, under her supervision, grew from a small wrestling entertainment company into a publicly traded media empire.