 "Trump has named Representative Michael Waltz as his national security adviser. The US President-elect is slowly giving shape to his administration, selecting people for his Cabinet. File image/Reuters")
We are days away from US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — he will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20 after trouncing Kamala Harris at the polls. But in the run-up to his swearing-in, Trump’s a busy man, giving shape to his Cabinet for his second term in the White House.
Dozens of top jobs are up for grabs in Trump 2.0 — almost 4,000 political appointments — and everyone who helped the former US president to emerge victorious in the race is undoubtedly hoping to cash in and serve in his administration.
With that in mind, Trump has already begun making selections for his administration, including important roles such as chief of staff, the US ambassador to the UN, his ‘border czar’, and national security adviser among many.
As Trump Cabinet 2.0 takes shape, here is a closer look at those posts already filled, and the names in the mix for the top jobs.
Mike Waltz — National Security Adviser
US President-elect has chosen Florida Congressman Mike Waltz of Florida to serve as his national security adviser, say reports.
As national security adviser, Waltz will have to navigate a number of geopolitical conflicts that Trump’s administration will assume as part of his second term, including the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas wars.
Known to be a Trump loyalist, Waltz is a decorated Green Beret, who served in Afghanistan during a 27-year career in the army. Interestingly, he would be the first former Green Beret to hold the role.
Waltz’s loyalty to Trump shone through the Republican National Convention in July in which he called for “peace through America’s strength”.
The 50-year-old is of the firm opinion that the Russia-Ukraine war can be brought to an end “economically”. Waltz has backed Trump’s view of foreign relations, demanding greater military spending from Nato allies and an end to the “blank cheque” for the war in Ukraine.
Moreover, he’s also a leading advocate for a tougher stance on China within the House of Representatives. On China, he wrote in his book that America faced an “existential struggle” with the Chinese Communist Party.
He also expressed concern about what he termed a “1930s-era, Nazi Germany-style military build-up” in China during a talk at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation last month.
Lee Zeldin — Head of Environmental Protection Agency
On Monday (November 11), the Trump campaign named former Congressman from New York Lee Zeldin as Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way,” the campaign said.
A former four-term Congressman, Zeldin has long been a Trump ally. He’s one of the 126 Republicans who signed a brief to the Supreme Court contesting the 2020 US presidential elections.
In the past, Zeldin has voted against expanding a number of environmental policies, earning him criticism from environmentalists.
In fact, some at the EPA believe that Zeldin may undercut their fight against the climate crisis. This comes as he has already said he plans to “roll back regulations’ from day one.
Tom Homan — Border czar
Along with Zeldin, Trump also announced that he would nominate immigration official Tom Homan as the country’s “border czar”. Announcing the news on Truth Social, the 78-year-old said, “There is nobody better at policing and controlling our borders than his new border czar.
This is a new position that Trump is creating and most assume it will oversee the US border and the deportation of undocumented immigrants . This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Homan, a former police officer and Border Patrol agent, served in the first Trump administration as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from January 2017 to June 2018.
Mirroring Trump’s stance, Homan has enthusiastically called for mass deportations, including during a speech in the summer at the Republican National Convention. During a panel in July, Homan said if Trump was re-elected he would “run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen”.
Homan has also been a contributor to Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership book.
Elise Stefanik — United Nations ambassador
Trump has selected New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be the ambassador to the United Nations. “I am honoured to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump told New York Post in a statement. “Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”
Stefanik, 40, a US representative from New York state, has been one of Trump’s staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and was among those rumoured to be a potential running mate for Trump’s 2024 election.
She has garnered headlines and made a name for herself with her sharp questioning in congressional committees, first at Trump’s 2019 impeachment hearings and again this year quizzing college leaders about anti-semitism on campus.
Susie Wiles — Chief of Staff
Shortly after Trump was declared the winner of the US presidential polls by media outlets, he appointed Susie Wiles , one of his two campaign managers, to be his White House chief of staff. In his victory speech, Trump referred to her as “the ice maiden” and said she liked to stay in the background.
She will be the first female White House chief of staff.
Wiles, 67, has worked in Republican politics for decades, from Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign to electing Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis as governors of Florida.
Many believe that Wiles will bring organisation and discipline to Trump’s administration. However, it is still unknown what her political views are.
Stephen Miller — Deputy Chief of Staff
Long-standing Trump adviser, Stephen Miller has been tapped for deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump’s next administration.
Miller was a policy adviser and speechwriter for Trump in his first term and resumed the function during his campaign, often travelling with Trump to his rallies.
The 39-year-old was also the chief architect of the Muslim travel ban during Trump 1.0 and is the founder of America First Legal, a group described by him as the right’s “long-awaited answer” to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Marco Rubio — Potential Secretary of State
According to the New York Times, Trump is expected to name Florida Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Rubio’s policies are very similar to Trump and he was also among the many considered for vice president.
If confirmed, Rubio would become the first Latino to ever serve as the nation’s top diplomat.
Rubio and Trump have had strained ties in the past; the Florida senator ran against him in 2016. Trump liked to call Rubio “Little Marco,” and things further heated when Rubio made insinuations about Trump, saying, “Have you seen his hands? … And you know what they say about men with small hands?”
Rubio also said that voters should not back Trump in 2016, saying, “Friends do not let friends vote for a con artist.” But he ultimately supported Trump that year and has backed him since then. On Trump’s win, Rubio said last Wednesday that the US will see “pragmatic foreign policy” with Trump in the White House.
Robert F Kennedy Jr — Potential head of Health and Human Services Department
Also known as RFK Jr , he abandoned his independent presidential campaign to back Trump in August. And it seems that this decision will pay off.
The 70-year-old is expected to be given a role focusing on health policy in the Trump administration. He is also a known vaccine sceptic.
Trump, in the past, has said he would let RFK “do what he wants” with women’s healthcare if he makes it to the White House.
Elon Musk
The Tesla CEO emerged as one of Trump’s biggest supporters in the months leading up to the election and spent at least $119 million canvassing for him in the seven battleground states.
There are reports that Musk will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency”, where he would cut costs and streamline what he calls a “massive, suffocating federal bureaucracy”. The agency’s potential acronym would be DOGE — a playful reference to the meme coin cryptocurrency by the same name.
However, some believe that Musk could find himself in a role in global diplomacy. This comes after he was part of Trump’s first call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy last Wednesday.
Those who will be skipped
Trump’s former administration members —UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not find a place in Trump 2.0.
The BBC also reported that Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton has ruled himself out of a job as he expects to hold the third-highest rank in the new Senate Republican majority.
With inputs from agencies