New Trump Cabinet, names under consideration

Presidential candidates usually create transition teams well before the end of the elections to quickly launch the process.

Non-Anne Sears, expert at the Centre for the Study of Presidency and Congress, has served in transition teams for former President George W. Bush and Republican candidate for president of 2012, Mitt Romney.

She told the Voice of America that she has been in touch with members of Mr. Trump's transition team and expects the selection to take place amid a large number of names under consideration.

From what I'm hearing from officials dealing with transitional issues is that they want to really bring the best and brightest to Washington”, Mrs. Sears said. “This means they will come from different parts of the country and will not be alone from New York or Washington”.

I think he's going to try to bring people who are real experts in their fields, whether it's national security, on technology-related issues, or governance efficiency, which I think will be one of his goals”, said Mrs. Sears.

Former Trump cabinet appointees

Some of the high-profile elections in Mr. Trump's second administration are individuals holding high positions in the first administration that needed confirmation from the Senate.

Robert Lighthizer served as the representative for trade for most of Mr. Trump's first term. It can resurface in the new administration in a higher role, such as that of the Secretary of the Treasury.

Mike Pompeo, who served as director of the CIA and Secretary of State at special periods in Mr. Trump's first administration, could return to one of these posts, or to the office of the Secretary of Defence.

John Ratcliffe served as director of Mr. Trump's National Intelligence during the last year of his first term. It could be named in a top post linked to the discovery, or to that of the Attorney General, (as the post of minister of justice is known in the US).

Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of “World Wrestling Environment”, a professional wrestler company, served as management of the Small Business Administration in the first term of Mr. Trump. She is currently one of Mr. Trump's transition team leaders and her name is referring to the post of Secretary of Commerce.

Richard Green, who served as Mr. Trump's ambassador to Germany and later briefly in 2020 as acting director of National Intelligence, is believed to be in the race for the post of Secretary of State. However, Mr. Greenell, an exceptionally combative figure, may be in trouble in the process of confirmation in the Senate. He may also be a candidate for the post of National Security Adviser, a non-level cabinet position for which no confirmation is required in the Senate.

Robert O'Brien, former adviser to Mr. Trump for National Security, who also served as an envoy for hostage affairs, can also receive a high duty in the new administration, perhaps the secretary of State.

Stephen Miller, who was senior adviser to Mr. Trump during his first administration, can also return to the White House. However, even Mr. Miller may face difficulties confirming in the Senate.

Current and former members of Congress

Congressmans and former ones are also being considered as possible names for the new administration, including Utah state senator Mike Lee.

A staunch lawyer and supporter of Mr. Trump, who helped in efforts to reverse the 2020 election outcome, Mr. Lee is believed to be a key candidate for the General Prosecutor's post.

Senator Bill Hagerty of the state of Tennessee is believed to be under consideration for various high positions. He served as Mr. Trump's ambassador to Japan before being elected to the Senate. His name has been mentioned for trade-related positions and diplomacy.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, turned from a fierce critic to a staunch supporter of Mr. Trump, whose name was coveted as a vice presidential candidate last year, is already being considered for the post of State Secretary.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is one of Mr. Trump's most famous supporters in the African-American community. It is being considered among other names for the post of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Senator Tom Cotton from the state of Arkansas, an army veteran and a strong supporter of national defence, is under consideration for the post of secretary of defence.

Another name under consideration for top office at the Pentagon is Mike Waltz, former Army Special Forces member and Colonel of the National Guard who served in Congress representing the state of Florida.

Mr. Waltz was one of the most powerful voices in protecting Mr. Trump in the media.

Lawmaker Mark Green of the state of Tennessee, who heads the National Security Commission in the House of Representatives, is seen as a possible choice to run the Department of Homeland Security.

New York lawmaker Elise Stefanic has been mentioned as possible ambassador to the United Nations.

Business Leaders

Elon Musk played a major role in funding Mr. Trump's campaign and has signaled that he is open to serve in a kind of commission aimed at making the federal government more efficient, but his involvement in an official position in the cabinet seems impossible.

Mr. Musk currently serves as executive director of several companies that have billions of dollars worth of contracts with the federal government, including the SpaceX missile company.

This provides a great opportunity for possible conflict of interest that would make it difficult to confirm it in the Senate.

John Paulson, a billionaire who runs investment funds management companies who have supported Mr. Trump since his first campaign for president in 2016, is said to be under review for the post of Secretary of the Treasury.

Also under consideration for the post is Scott Bessent, an investment fund manager and adviser to Mr. Trump's campaign.

One of the leaders of Mr. Trump's transition team, Howard Lutnick, executive director of the financial services firm “Cantor Fitzgerald”, is a potential candidate for the post linked to economic policies.

There have long been rumours that Jamie Dimon, executive director of the bank “JPMorgan Chase” is being considered for the post of Secretary of the Treasury. Recent reports, however, have suggested he is not interested in such a thing.

RFK Jr factor.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., grandson of former President John F. Kennedy and the son of former general prosecutor Robert Kennedy launched the campaign as an independent candidate for president, but then withdrew and gave support to Mr. Trump.

In exchange, Mr. Trump has offered him a role in shaping public health policies.

During a call with his supporters at the end of the campaign, Mr. Kennedy said that Mr. Trump had “prefigured” control of the Department of Health and Human Services that includes the Centers for Disease Control, Food and Bars Administration and the National Health Institute, or Agriculture Department Secretary.

However, there are questions whether Mr. Kennedy can survive confirmation in the Senate of a cabinet-level position. Once an environmental activist, in recent decades he has become a known skeptic of vaccines and protects conspiracy theories, and lawmakers may hesitate to place him at the helm of a public health-related agency.

Also on the long list of names under consideration for the new administration Trump could be his former main opponents in the preliminary elections, now turned into supporters, Doug Burgum, former North Dakota Governor and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. / VOA