US President-elect Donald Trump is revealing key appointments for his upcoming administration, signaling his plans as he prepares to enter the White House.
Trump announced that Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz will serve as his national security adviser, while Pete Hegseth, a veteran and co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, has been named secretary of defense.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been selected as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel, with Trump’s longtime friend and real estate developer Steve Witkoff appointed as Special Envoy to the Middle East.
Veteran Republican attorney Bill McGinley will be White House counsel, and John Ratcliffe is set to lead the CIA as director, according to Trump.
Additionally, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been chosen to spearhead the newly established “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Several other appointments are in the pipeline:
- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is slated to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin is expected to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik has been tapped as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
- Tom Homan, who once served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, will oversee national border security
According to CNN, insiders report that Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is the likely choice for secretary of state, while Stephen Miller, Trump’s immigration advisor, is anticipated to serve as White House deputy chief of staff for policy.
Sources reveal that Taylor Budowich, a trusted advisor, will soon be named Deputy Chief of Staff of Presidential Personnel and Communications.
Discussions regarding North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum have focused on a potential role as “energy czar,” reflecting his strong alignment with Trump on energy policies.
Former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton is being considered for attorney general, though Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt recently withdrew from the candidate list for this role. Trump has emphasized the critical importance of his attorney general, whom he views as a cornerstone of his administration.
Other names in the running for Treasury secretary include Scott Bessent, a former Trump advisor on economic matters, along with several other candidates.