Trump’s Cabinet And Key Roles: Karoline Leavitt For Press Secretary, Steven Cheung For Communications Director Among Latest Picks

Topline

President-elect Donald Trump selected his campaign’s lead press secretary Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary Friday, not long after he selected campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung as White House communications director—the latest choices for top-level administrative posts, as Trump has made a flurry of appointments since winning the election last week.

Key Facts

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White House Press Secretary: Karoline Leavitt

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, will serve as White House Press Secretary once the president-elect assumes his office. Leavitt, 27, was an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first presidency. She also won the Republican primary in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, becoming the second Gen Z candidate to win a House primary.

White House Communications Director: Steven Cheung

Trump picked his campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, to serve as his communications director at the White House. Cheung was the director of communications for the president-elect’s 2024 presidential campaign and served as director of strategic response during Trump’s last term, after working in communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship previously.

Health And Human Services Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, making good on his promise to give Kennedy broad leeway over public health decisions. Kennedy, who ran for the Democratic nomination then as an independent candidate before dropping out and endorsing Trump, espouses debunked views on public health—including skepticism about the efficacy of childhood vaccines and the Covid-19 vaccine. He has also advocated for removing fluoride from public water, an idea Trump said he as open to. As HHS secretary, Kennedy would oversee 13 public health-related agencies, and has expressed plans to upend many of them, telling an audience at a conference in November he would halt infectious disease studies at the National Institutes of Health if given a role in the Trump administration. “I’m going to say to NIH scientists, God bless you all . . . thank you for your public service,” NBC reported. The appointment is another surprise pick by Trump, whose transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick told CNN late last month Kennedy wouldn’t be in charge of HHS. The selection of Kennedy drew criticism from many Democrats, and some Republicans expressed wariness about the pick, with Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins saying Kennedy “would be a surprising choice” and House Rep. Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., expressing concerns that he could “move against one of the most life-saving technologies in the history of the world,” referring to vaccines. Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence spoke against Kennedy as the pick to lead HHS in a statement Friday and urged Senate Republicans to reject the nomination, citing Kennedy’s support of abortion rights and saying, “If confirmed, RFK, Jr. would be the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history.” Pence became one of the biggest-name Republicans to speak against the selection Friday when he called on the Senate to reject the nomination, which he called “an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration.”

Interior Secretary: Doug Burgum (and Head Of New National Energy Council)

Trump plans to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior, he said at an event Thursday. If confirmed by the Senate, he’ll be responsible for managing vast swaths of federally owned land, administering national parks and handling oil and gas drilling on federal property—which Trump has vowed to ramp up. Trump also tapped Burgum as chairman of the new National Energy Council, which will cut down on regulations and “oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE,” according to Trump. The position will also provide Burgum a seat on the National Security Council. First elected North Dakota governor in 2016, Burgum briefly ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries, but dropped out before the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Trump. A tech executive and investor by trade, Burgum previously ran Great Plains Software, remaining at the company after it was acquired by Microsoft. Last year, Forbes estimated his net worth at at least $100 million.

Veterans Affairs Secretary: Doug Collins

Trump picked former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., as his secretary for veterans affairs. Collins served as a congressman from 2013 to 2021, and was known as a vocal backer of Trump in the chamber during his first administration. He is also a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. Collins vowed Thursday to “streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned.” The former congressman was deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a member of the Air Force’s 94th Airlift Wing.

Solicitor General: Dean John Sauer

Trump tapped Dean John Sauer for solicitor general Thursday. Sauer has been credited with helping win Trump’s presidential immunity case, which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that presidents have some immunity for official acts they take in office. Sauer also served as solicitor general of Missouri for six years and clerked for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

U.s. Attorney For The Southern District Of New York: Jay Clayton

Trump nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, widely seen as one of the most prestigious prosecuting jobs due to the high-profile cases filed in the district, which includes New York City. He will presumably take over for Damien Williams, who has led the office for three years and brought charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs, former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.

Deputy Attorney General: Todd Blanche

Todd Blanche, Trump’s hush money trial lawyer, was tapped as the president-elect’s deputy attorney general. Blanche was lauded as “an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department,” which Trump has often criticized throughout his criminal and civil cases. Blanche called the timing and location of Trump’s hush money trial in New York unfair after the president-elect was convicted on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records.

Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General: Emil Bove

Trump picked attorney Emil Bove as his administration’s principal associate deputy attorney general. Bove represented Trump alongside Blanche throughout the hush money trial and is a former federal prosecutor, having served as assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York for more than nine years. He was co-chief of the office’s national security unit during his final two years.

Presidential Personnel Office Director: Sergio Gor

President and co-founder of Donald Trump Jr.’s Winning Team Publishing company, Sergio Gor, has been tapped to lead the Presidential Personnel Office, multiple outlets reported Thursday. Trump has not officially announced the appointment.

Attorney General: Matt Gaetz

Trump said Wednesday he tapped Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to serve as attorney general, a surprise appointment as Gaetz was not among the names commonly floated in media reports for the role. It’s one of the most high-profile and highly anticipated appointments, as Trump has fiercely criticized the agency for prosecuting him and is expected to drastically change its makeup. Gaetz is a controversial figure in Congress and a staunch Trump supporter. He was investigated by the Department of Justice over allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls, but the agency declined to prosecute him (Gaetz denied the accusation). The House Ethics Committee is also probing whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct or illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts or gave special privileges to friends, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Gaetz led the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last year. Gaetz will be subject to the Senate confirmation process. His father Don Gaetz, a former Florida state lawmaker who cofounded a hospice company, is worth about $33 million, largely due to real estate holdings.

Director Of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard

Trump announced Wednesday Tulsi Gabbard will serve as his Director of National Intelligence, a role that puts her at the head of the U.S. intelligence community. Gabbard is a former Democratic representative from Hawaii and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, perhaps best-known for clashing with Kamala Harris on the debate stage in 2019. She left the party in 2022 and became an independent, before endorsing Trump in August and announcing she had joined the Republican Party. A critic of U.S. military interventions, Gabbard has drawn intense scrutiny for her foreign policy views, including for meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017.

Secretary Of State: Marco Rubio

Trump announced Wednesday he nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state, confirming multiple reports earlier in the week that Trump was expected to tap the Florida senator for the top foreign policy job. Rubio and Trump feuded when they both ran for president in 2016—Rubio criticized Trump’s appearance and called him a “con man,” and Trump gave him the nickname “Little Marco.” The two have since smoothed over their relationship and Rubio frequently campaigned for Trump and was said to be in the running to be his vice presidential pick. Some of Rubio’s foreign policy stances break with Trump, including his co-sponsorship of legislation last year that would prohibit a president from exiting NATO without congressional approval. Rubio would be the first Latino to hold the position, which is subject to Senate confirmation. Forbes estimated Rubio’s net worth at over $1 million on Wednesday—significantly less than some other members of Trump’s inner circle, but a jump since 2015, when he was worth just $100,000.

Deputy Chief Of Staff: Dan Scavino

Trump announced Wednesday former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino will return to his role, and also serve as an assistant to the president. Scavino, who worked as a senior adviser for Trump’s most recent campaign and is a longtime Trump communications staffer, was held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in the House Jan. 6 committee investigation, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute him.

Deputy Chief Of Staff For Legislative, Political And Public Affairs: James Blair

Trump appointed his campaign political director James Blair to the position Wednesday. Blair spearheaded Trump’s grassroots voter outreach efforts and made frequent media appearances during his most recent campaign.

Deputy Chief Of Staff For Communications And Personnel: Taylor Budowich

Trump announced Taylor Budowich, who ran the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC before rejoining Trump’s campaign in August, for the role on Wednesday. Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump’s 2020 campaign, was called to testify in Trump’s federal classified documents case and was also subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee.

Homeland Security Adviser And Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy: Stephen Miller

Trump confirmed on Wednesday previous reports that he was expected to announce Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, plus the additional role of homeland security adviser. Miller was a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and one of the architects of some of his most controversial immigration policies, including his family separation program.

Department Of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy

Trump announced Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, will run a new Department of Government Efficiency (or “DOGE”) alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump said in a statement the department—which has not yet been created—will offer “advice and guidance from outside of Government” and focus on “making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency,” including through spending and regulatory cuts. Musk, a vocal Trump backer who donated over $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, has pitched the department in the past, seemingly naming it after the meme cryptocurrency dogecoin.

Secretary Of Defense: Pete Hegseth

Trump selected Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense Tuesday, praising his status as a combat veteran and role as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Hegseth was deployed in Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq while serving with the Army National Guard. The veteran is the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative organization that has communicated with Trump on the matter of veterans affairs and received backing from billionaire Charles G. Koch—one of the wealthiest people in the world. Hegseth has been subject to renewed controversy regarding some of his tattoos following his nomination, as the Fox host has a Jerusalem cross tattooed on the right side of his chest. The cross’ origins date back to the Christian crusades and have been associated with white nationalism and anti-Islam sentiment, according to NPR. Hegseth has denied personal links to white nationalism, calling the cross on his chest “just a Christian symbol” in an interview with former U.S. Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan. A separate tattoo on Hegseth’s bicep also associated with white nationalist groups resulted in a fellow National Guard member flagging him as a potential “insider threat,” according to the Associated Press. Hegseth’s appointment was mired in further controversy after he it was recently revealed he was the subject of a sexual assault investigation conducted by California’s Monterey Police Department. The probe concerned an alleged 2017 sexual assault involving Hegseth, who was not charged with wrongdoing, according to a department filing, which noted the name and age of the alleged victim is confidential. “Mr. Hegseth has vigorously denied any and all accusations,” Cheung said in a statement to Bloomberg following reports of the sexual assault investigation and controversial tattoos. “We look forward to his confirmation as United States Secretary of Defense.”

Cia Director: John Ratcliffe

Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as the CIA’s director. A former Texas congressman, Ratcliffe served as the director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021 and acted as Trump’s primary intelligence adviser during his last presidency. During his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe declassified unverified Russian intelligence information that claimed Hillary Clinton approved a plan to link Trump to Russia and the Democratic National Committee cyberattacks in 2016. Democrats criticized Ratcliffe’s decision to publicly release the information, alleging he was politicizing unverified information to aid Trump.

White House Counsel: William Joseph Mcginley

Trump picked former White House cabinet secretary and top GOP lawyer William McGinley as his White House Counsel. McGinley was brought into Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and tasked with helping it secure delegates for the Republican National Convention. He worked as Trump’s White House cabinet secretary from 2017 to 2019 and was in charge of advising other cabinet members on policy coordination, optics and ethics, according to Politico.

Special Envoy To The Middle East: Steven C. Witkoff

Steven Witkoff, a GOP donor and real estate investor, will be Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff is chairman of the University of Miami Business School Real Estate Advisory Board and the CEO of Witkoff, a real estate firm he founded in 1997. He is also a longtime friend of Trump’s and one of the president-elect’s golf partners. Witkoff was with Trump during the apparent second assassination attempt on his life, telling NBC that Secret Service agents dived on Trump and got him off his Florida golf course in under 20 seconds.

United States Ambassador To Israel: Mike Huckabee

Trump announced Tuesday he appointed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to serve as his envoy to Israel on Tuesday, touting his military service as he served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years. Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israel and has criticized the Biden administration’s calls for a cease-fire with Hamas. Huckabee has advocated for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967, and has backed Israeli settlers in the territory. A former Southern Baptist pastor, Huckabee regularly leads evangelicals on visits to Israel.

National Security Adviser: Mike Waltz

Trump confirmed Tuesday he appointed Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviser. In recent months, Waltz—a former Army Green Beret—has frequently criticized China, urged NATO members to pay more for defense and said he expects Trump to push Ukraine and Russia toward a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.

Homeland Security Secretary: Kristi Noem

Trump has picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN reported early on Tuesday, citing two unnamed sources. Although no official announcement has been made, Noem is a long-time Trump loyalist who was believed be a contender for Vice President. The appointee will be essential in carrying out Trump’s aggressive immigration plans, in addition to the agency’s duties surrounding cybersecurity, antiterrorism and emergency response.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin

Trump announced Monday he’s tapped former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to lead the EPA, citing his “very strong legal background” and calling him “a true fighter for America First policies” in a statement. Zeldin—a Trump ally who ran for New York governor two years ago—“will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,” the statement said.

Border Czar: Tom Homan

Trump appointed his former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan to the role, he announced Monday, as Trump plans a mass deportation of undocumented migrants during his second term.

Un Ambassador: Elise Stefanik

Trump announced Sunday he’d nominate GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the United Nations ambassador role, and she told the New York Post she had accepted the offer.

Chief Of Staff: Susie Wiles

Trump named his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles chief of staff two days after his election win, marking his first major administrative pick. Wiles will be the first woman to hold the position.

Treasury Secretary

Trump hasn’t nominated anyone yet, but Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., former ambassador to Japan under Trump, is on the speculative short list for this role. Other contenders include Trump’s transition team co-chair, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, former Trump U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, and hedge fund executive Scott Bessent—who spoke recently with Forbes. Bessent met with Trump Friday at Mar-A-Lago, according to Reuters and Bloomberg, though Bloomberg cited people familiar with the process who said the meeting was not a job interview. Trump is expected to narrow his list of candidates by the end of the week, and he is leaning toward someone with Wall Street experience, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing anonymous sources.

Education Secretary

Trump’s choice is unclear, but the agency’s former leader, Betsy DeVos, said she would be willing to return to the role in a recent interview with Education Week. Trump has proposed dismantling the department and giving states control over their public schools.

Key Background

Trump has decamped to Mar-a-Lago since his win Tuesday, holding meetings with his inner circle, administration hopefuls and transition team to craft his second term agenda and build out his staff. Trump is shaping his second-term agenda with the help of several right-wing groups, his closest allies and billionaire backers. Musk, who has been spotted on numerous occasions at Mar-A-Lago since his election, is among those who appear to be influencing Trump’s policy and personnel decisions. Lutnick is also overseeing a team making recommendations for personnel picks and vetting potential candidates, the Times reported, and Miller is expected to play a key role in making the final decisions. The right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute is reportedly the primary driver of Trump’s transition plans and has been crafting possible executive actions for Trump once he takes office. The organization is chaired by former Trump Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon and led by former Trump Domestic Policy Counsel Director Brook Rollins.

Further Reading

What We Know About Trump’s Potential Cabinet—With RFK Jr. And Elon Musk Among The Candidates (Forbes)

Who Will Help Shape Trump’s Policy Agenda? Here Are The Key Groups And Players (Forbes)

Stephen Miller Will Reportedly Lead Trump’s Policy Agenda—Here’s Who Else Could Help Him (Forbes)