A WWE executive, a TV doctor, and a billionaire: Who Trump has chosen for his top team so far?
Words by ITV News Producer Jamel Smith
Trouble could be brewing for President-elect Donald Trump’s key cabinet appointments after Matt Gaetz, his pick for attorney general, dropped out amid ongoing scrutiny over a federal child sex trafficking investigation.
Days after he secured a historic win against Kamala Harris in the US election on November 5, the president-elect started making key appointments.
With the Republicans controlling the Senate, White House and House of Representatives, Trump now has the power to swiftly fill cabinet positions and push forward his political agenda for the next two years.
During the campaign, Trump avoided confirming names for his top team but often hinted at his preferred choices.
He seems to be appointing those who stayed loyal to him after his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, as well as those who align with his policies on immigration, the economy, and foreign affairs.
However, Gaetz’s withdrawal could undermine Trump’s efforts to appoint loyalists to his incoming administration and signal potential resistance from other Republicans.
His previous US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and former director of the CIA Mike Pompeo have not made the list.
So who has Trump selected so far?
Linda McMahon - Education secretary
Whilst McMahon is relatively unknown in education circles, she's served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.
“Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students" Mr Trump said in a statement.
Before entering politics, McMahon ran World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE, with her husband Vince McMahon.
McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump's first presidency, and she supported his campaigns with financial contributions and her leadership of outside groups.
Dr Mehmet Oz - Administrator for the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Dr Mehmet Oz is a former television talk show host and heart surgeon and appeared on Oprah's chat show as a health expert.
If confirmed by the Senate, Oz would be responsible for the programs - Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act - that more than half the country relies on for health insurance.
“Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivising Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country,” Trump said in a statement.
“He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country’s most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation’s Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget.”
Chris Wright - Energy Secretary
The man who said "there was no climate crisis" and drank fracking fluid on camera in 2019, Chris Wright, is set to play a key role in Donald Trump's push for America's global "energy dominance".
As Energy Secretary, Wright will be responsible for advancing America's energy, environmental and nuclear security.
Trump described the CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy in a statement on November 16 as a "pioneer".
"Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas," he said.
"Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics."
Wright, a vocal critic of climate change policies, told CNN in 2023 that "the world runs on oil and gas, and we need that," and dismissed plans to phase out fossil fuels within a decade as "an absurd time frame".
Global leaders will be keeping an eye on Wright's work in the first months of Trump's presidency following promises by the president-elect to "drill, baby, drill" to scale up oil and gas production and ditch green energy initiatives.
Matt Whitaker - Ambassador to NATO
Trump has chosen the former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as the US ambassador to NATO.
The president-elect described him as “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended," in a statement on November 20.
"(Whitaker will) strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability," Trump added.
Whitaker has been a staunch critic of federal criminal cases against Trump.
Howard Lutnick - Commerce secretary
Lutnick will have a key role in carrying out Trump's plan to raise and enforce tariffs as commerce secretary, Trump said.
Outside of politics, Lutnick is the head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and is said to be a cryptocurrency enthusiast.
The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a department that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather.
It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial.
Lutnick has donated to both Democrats and Republicans in the past, and once appeared on Trump’s NBC reality show, “The Apprentice.”
Sean Duffy - Transportation secretary
Duffy is a former member of Congress who represented a Wisconsin district for nine years.
As Transportation secretary, Duffy will oversee a complex system of pipelines, railroads, cars, trucks, airlines and mass transit systems, as well as funding for highways.
Trump in a statement praised Duffy as a “tremendous and well-liked public servant” and said he was “a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference” during his time in Congress.
“He will prioritise Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports."
Duffy served in the US House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, representing Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.
He most recently was co-host of a Fox Business programme after first joining Fox News as a contributor in 2020.
Duffy becomes the President-elect's second appointment with links to the Fox News network.
Robert F Kennedy - Department of Health and Human Services
Trump has nominated Robert F Kennedy to be in charge of the US Department of Health - an agency overseeing areas including drug, vaccine and food safety, medical research and the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Kennedy is a long-time vaccine sceptic, who has repeated false claims that some vaccines cause autism in children. He is also an attorney, who has launched lawsuits against major pesticide and pharmaceutical companies.
The former Democrat ran as an independent candidate in this year's presidential election, but abandoned his bid after Trump promised to give him a role in health policy if he won the race to the White House.
Kennedy has pushed for tighter regulations around ingredients in foods, vowing to “Make America Healthy Again" while campaigning for Trump.
He has also suggested that fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay, should be removed from drinking water.
In a post on X, Trump said: "I am thrilled to announce Robert F Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health."
Tulsi Gabbard - Director of National Intelligence
The former Representative for Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, was picked by Trump on November 13 to be the next Director of National Intelligence and oversee the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Gabbard, 43, a former Democratic congresswoman, ran for the party's presidential nomination in 2020 but left the party in 2022.
She endorsed Trump in August and even helped him prep for his September debate against Harris.
“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength,” Trump said in a statement.
She somewhat believes in a US isolationist foreign policy. In 2017, she had a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad and in 2019 said he was "not an enemy of the United States.”
In early 2022, she echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rationale for his invasion of Ukraine by pinning the blame not on Putin but on Biden's failure to acknowledge “Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine’s becoming a member of NATO”.
Marco Rubio - Secretary of State
The son of Cuban immigrants, Senator Marco Rubio, has been nominated to become Trump's Secretary of State.
Rubio, known for his tough stance on China and strong support for Israel, would be the first Hispanic American to serve as the US Secretary of State if confirmed.
“Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,” Trump wrote in a statement on November 14.
"He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries."
In a post on X, Rubio said: "As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else."
Rubio ran for president in 2016 but ultimately lost to Trump. The president-elect used to call him “Little Marco,” while Rubio responded by insulting the size of Trump’s hands and calling him a “con artist”.
Pete Hegseth - Secretary of Defence
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News Channel host who served as an Army National Guard officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been picked as nominee for his secretary of defence.
In a statement, the president-elect described the 44-year-old as "tough, smart and a true believer in America First".
The appointment reportedly shocked those at the Pentagon, as Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience.
Hegseth could bring sweeping changes to the military, as he is defiantly opposed to "woke" programmes that promote equity and inclusion.
He also questioned the role of women in the military and has backed moves to pardon service members who have been charged with war crimes.
“Everything about men and women serving together makes the situation more complicated, and complication in combat, that means casualties are worse," Hegseth said during an interview on The Shawn Ryan Show podcast.
He said diversity in the military is positive as both minority and white men perform equally well, but he does not believe the same is true for women.
Hegseth displays his hate for the "woke" on social media, even going as far as to advertise an "anti-woke" grenade-shaped soap that is said to be "patriot" scented.
Once his position is confirmed by the Senate, he will oversee Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel's conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy - Department of Government Efficiency
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, will lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency (Doge)" alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump's appointing Musk a role comes as no surprise after he was reported to have donated $200m (£157m) to his election campaign.
Despite its name, the Doge is not a government agency, Musk and Ramaswamy would advise the White House from outside government, and work with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large-scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before".
In a statement on November 12, Trump said: “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies."
Doge refers to an internet meme of a Shiba Inu dog, which became a viral sensation in the early 2010s. A cryptocurrency named after the dog, Dogecoin, was later created in 2013 - and has since been supported by Musk.
Mike Huckabee - Ambassador to Israel
Trump's nomination of the former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, illustrates the president-elect's aim to be a staunch defender of Israel and its interests.
“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!” Trump said in a statement.
Huckabee shares Trump's perspective on Israel, even once stating that there is “no such thing as a Palestinian."
On November 13, he said in an interview with Israeli Army Radio that it was “of course” possible for the US to support the Israeli government if it attempted to annex the occupied Palestinian West Bank.
"I won’t make the policy, I will carry out the policy of the president," He explained. "But he has already demonstrated in his first term that there’s never been an American president that has been more helpful in securing an understanding of the sovereignty of Israel.
“From the moving of the embassy, recognition of the Golan Heights and Jerusalem as the capital. No one has done more than President Trump. And I fully expect that that will continue.”
Kristi Noem - Secretary of Homeland Security
Trump selected South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, who faced criticism after her memoir recounted the killing of her pet dog for being "untrainable", to oversee his hardline immigration plans.
“Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” Trump said in a statement on November 13. "(She) will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries."
A staunch Trump loyalist, Noem was a defiant opponent of Covid-19 safety measures such as masking and closing of businesses.
She once told a National Rifle Association (NRA) event that her 2-year-old grandchild had multiple guns.
Thomas 'Tom' Homan - ‘Border Czar’
Tom Homan, former director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Trump's first administration, has been chosen to be nominated as the "Border Czar".
Homan will be "in charge of our nation's borders, including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security," Trump said in a post on November 10.
The 62-year-old has been tasked to carry out Trump's plan to execute the largest deportation operation in US history.
Democrats have criticised Homan for defending Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which separated thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the southern US-Mexico border.
Steven Witkoff - Special Envoy to the Middle East
Trump said on Tuesday that the real estate investor Steven Witkoff "will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud".
The 67-year-old Witkoff, a golf partner of Trump, was at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, when the former president faced a second attempted assassination.
Elise Stefanik - United Nations Ambassador
The president-elect said he was "honoured" to nominate Republican representative Elise Stefanik as the United Nations (UN) ambassador.
“I am honoured to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement on November 11.
Choosing Stefanik signals a more combative US approach towards the UN.
Stefanik has frequently criticised the international organisation, particularly over its treatment of Israel.
Last month, she said the Biden administration should consider a “complete reassessment” of US funding for the UN, if the Palestinian Authority continues to push to revoke Israel’s membership.
Mike Waltz - National Security Advisor
A retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, Mike Waltz was chosen to be Trump's national security advisor on Tuesday.
In a statement, Trump said: "Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!”
He is seen as hawkish on China and called for a US boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China's role in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the Muslim Uighur minority.
Susie Wiles - Chief of Staff
Trump appointed his campaign manager Susie Wiles as the White House Chief of Staff on November 8, becoming the first woman to ever hold the high-profile position.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again," Trump said in a statement.
Based in Florida, Wiles has a long-running successful career as a campaign manager and political strategist.
She ran Trump’s campaigns in Florida in 2016 and 2020, as well as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' successful campaign in 2018.
She also worked on Ronald Reagan's campaign before his 1980 election.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.
“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said.
He described him as "a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” and someone who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH".
Ratcliffe has been critical of Biden's Middle Eastern policy and advocated for a tougher stance on China.Lee Zeldin - Environmental Protection Agency
Although Trump has picked Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Zeldin lacks experience in environmental issues but is a longtime supporter of the president-elect.
In a statement on November 11, Trump said the former Republican Congressman: "Will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses.
"While at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
Zeldin has set out his aims for the position, saying on X "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI".
“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.
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