Trump chooses the cabinet in the next few days / Names that are rumored for the new administration

2024-11-07 14:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Trump chooses the cabinet in the next few days / Names that are rumored for the

Donald Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump will begin selecting members to serve in his second administration. Trump aides, Vice President-elect JD Vance, Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, confirmed that work is underway to facilitate the transition of power from Biden to Trump.

"Since the formation of the Trump team that will enable the transition of power and our announcement as co-chairs in August, we have been prepared for the next administration of President Trump," the statement said.

"In the days and weeks ahead, President Trump will select the personnel who will serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make Americans' lives affordable and safe."

"We are proud to volunteer our time to present President Trump with a wide range of experts from which he can choose for his team," they added.

The statement said voters gave Trump a mandate "that puts the working men and women of our nation first. As he selects the best people to join his team, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump's agenda starting from day one," the statement said.

Trump may announce his decision on several key positions within days, US media say.

Trump has also prepared a series of executive orders, policy documents and regulatory changes that he is expected to enact on his first day in office.

Before the election, transition chiefs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon met with several potential candidates for high-ranking positions within the Trump administration.

One of the key decisions Trump will have to make is what to do with high-profile supporters who have given his campaign a big boost in recent months, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former son of President Robert Kennedy and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X.

It is not yet clear whether either of them can be confirmed by the Senate for a cabinet position.

Trump has also suggested that his national security team will be tasked with reassessing the United States' stance on Ukraine and Russia, China, Iran and the simmering conflict in the Middle East.

The Secretary of State and the national security adviser will be among the most difficult positions to stay at the forefront of these changes.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is under consideration, as is Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty, who served as Trump's ambassador to Japan during his first term.

Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist and former ambassador to Germany, has also been sought for the position, though he could end up in a number of possible positions.

Grenell is one of several closest loyalists to Trump, who is seen as a possible candidate for the top job.

Grenell was Trump's acting director of national intelligence for several months in 2020 and has also been tipped for a similar role as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Arkansas Senator Keith Kellogg and Ratcliffe are also rumored for the intelligence or national security posts.

To promote his economic platform of tariffs and tax cuts, Trump is expected to lean on longtime allies and loyalists while using Wall Street heavyweights to fill positions in his domestic agencies.

There are several names being floated for Treasury secretary. They include Scott Bessent, who supported Trump during his campaign debates on economic issues.

The roles overseeing immigration and law enforcement will be essential for Trump to advance an agenda he has suggested will include the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Many Trump loyalists have suggested that these are tasks that should be performed by his Justice and Homeland Security departments.

Among those running for attorney general, which Trump has suggested will be among the most important roles he will fill are: Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general; Matt Whitaker. Senator Mike Lee of Utah and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe. Likewise, conservative lawyer Mark Paoletta has addressed Trump directly to deal with the issue of immigration and law enforcement./ CNA