Hours after the announcement of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, the President-Elect started to appoint members of his cabinet. Susie Wiles, the GOP advisor and operative to Trump’s campaign made history by becoming the first woman selected as Chief of Staff. Despite a strained relationship with Marco Rubio during the president-elect’s 2016 campaign, Trump appointed Rubio as Secretary of State.
Following Rubio, Trump appointed Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota, as Secretary of the Department for Homeland Security. Mike Waltz, a U.S. representative for Florida, was picked to serve as the National Security Advisor. Pamela Bondi, a former Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019, was chosen as Attorney General. Lee Zeldin, a former U.S. New York representative and Trump ally, was nominated for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, despite holding no official environmental-related degrees.
Similarly, New York’s 21st congressional district representative Elise Stefanik was nominated as UN Ambassador. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and environmental lawyer, was nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additionally, Stephen Miller, senior advisor for policy in the White House, was nominated as Deputy Chief of Staff. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were nominated as administrators for the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump, unlike in his first term, has been very intentional and quick in nominating and appointing his cabinet. Rather than waiting until mid-December and allowing other Republicans to heavily influence his decisions, Trump has decided to take full control of his decisions to nominate loyal allies and friends. Although all his nominations still need to be approved by Congress, a majority Republican congress will help Trump’s nominees.
