Who are the Key Candidates for Positions in Trump's Second Term?

Donald Trump, following his victory in the presidential election, will begin the process of selecting his cabinet and other senior officials in the coming weeks. Reuters has pointed to some key individuals who are likely to take on important responsibilities such as defense, intelligence, diplomacy, trade, immigration, and economic policymaking. Some of these individuals are being considered for multiple posts. Jamie Dimon, a potential candidate for Secretary of the Treasury, is seen as a strong option, although it is unclear if he will accept the position. Dimon opposes what he views as excessive and unnecessary regulations imposed by the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other agencies. If he joins the administration, he will likely seek to significantly reduce these regulations. The New York Times reported in October that Dimon privately supported Harris for the presidency and believes Trump's actions related to the January 6 attack disqualify him from public office. Scott Basset, a key economic advisor to Trump, is viewed as a top candidate for the Treasury Department. He has long been active in financial markets and taught at Yale for several years, maintaining a good relationship with the president-elect. Basset has long supported non-interventionist policies that were popular in the Republican Party before Trump, but he has also praised Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. He supports the president-elect's economic philosophy, which includes skepticism towards regulations and international trade. John Paulson, a hedge fund manager and major donor to Trump's campaign, is another leading candidate for the Treasury Department. This veteran investor has told friends he is interested in the job. Paulson, a proponent of tax cuts and deregulation, aligns well with other members of Trump's economic team. He has publicly supported targeted tariffs as a tool to ensure U.S. national security and counter unfair trade practices abroad. A major fundraising event hosted by Paulson in April raised over $50 million for the former president. Larry Kudlow, a well-known Fox News personality and former director of the National Economic Council during most of Trump's first term, has less chance of becoming Treasury Secretary, but may take on an economic post if he is interested. While he has privately expressed skepticism about broad tariffs, the policies Kudlow supports do not seem to differ much from those of the president-elect. Robert Lighthizer, a loyal Trump ally who served as U.S. Trade Representative throughout his presidency, is likely to be invited again. Although Basset and Paulson have a higher chance of taking the Treasury post, Lighthizer also has a slim chance and may reprise his former role if he wishes. Like Trump, Lighthizer has been skeptical about trade and strongly believes in imposing more tariffs. He was a key figure in Trump's trade war with China and in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada during Trump's first term. Richard Grenell, a potential candidate for National Security Advisor, is one of Trump's closest foreign policy advisors. He served as Acting Director of National Intelligence and U.S. Ambassador to Germany during Trump's first term. Grenell was present during Trump's private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September. His private interactions with foreign leaders and his controversial persona have made him the center of several scandals, which may complicate his Senate confirmation process. However, he is a leading candidate for National Security Advisor, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, and the possibility of reaching a position that does require Senate approval has not been ruled out. Among the policies he has supported is the creation of an autonomous region in eastern Ukraine to end the war, a position Kyiv deems unacceptable. Robert O'Brien, a potential candidate for Secretary of State, is Trump's fourth and final National Security Advisor from the first term and has a close relationship with Trump, often discussing national security issues with him. He is likely to be considered for Secretary of State or other high-level foreign policy and national security posts. Since Trump left office, he has maintained close communications with foreign leaders and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel in May. His views are somewhat more aggressive than those of some of Trump's other advisors. For example, he has supported military aid to Ukraine more than many of his Republican colleagues and is in favor of banning the TikTok app in the United States. Bill Hagerty, a potential candidate for Secretary of State, is a senator from Tennessee who assisted in Trump's transition process in 2016 and is considered one of the main candidates for Secretary of State. He has maintained good relations with nearly all factions of the Republican Party and is likely to be easily confirmed by the Senate. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan during Trump's first term, during which Trump spoke of his warm relationship with then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Hagerty's policies generally align with Trump's. Earlier this year, he voted against a major military aid package to Ukraine. Marco Rubio, a potential candidate for Secretary of State, is a U.S. senator from Florida and a Republican presidential candidate in 2016, and is another leading candidate for Secretary of State whose policies are close to Trump's. Like Hagerty, he was also a potential candidate for Trump's vice presidency in 2024. Rubio has long been active in Senate foreign affairs, particularly regarding Latin America, and has good connections throughout the party. Mike Waltz, a potential candidate for Secretary of Defense, is a former Army Special Forces member who is now a congressman from Florida and is known as one of the most prominent critics of China in the House of Representatives. He supports legislation related to China aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on critical minerals extracted from China. Waltz is in contact with Trump and is recognized as a serious candidate for Secretary of Defense. Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate for Secretary of Defense, served as CIA Director and Secretary of State during Trump's first term and is one of the main candidates for Secretary of Defense, but may also occupy various positions related to national security, intelligence, or diplomacy. He had considered the possibility of running in the Republican primary against Trump but ultimately decided against it. Now, after a period of somewhat cool relations, he has re-established a friendly relationship with the president-elect. He is one of the staunch advocates for aiding Ukraine among Trump's inner circle, which puts him at odds with many potential senior officials in Trump's government. Tom Cotton, a potential candidate for Secretary of Defense, is an Army officer and senator from Arkansas who has graduated from Harvard College and Law School and is of interest to Trump's financial donors, making him a serious candidate for Secretary of Defense. Like Hagerty, he was also mentioned as an unknown candidate in the final weeks of the vice presidential selection process. Cotton represents the interventionist wing of the Republican Party and has consistently supported military aid to Ukraine. Keith Kellogg, a potential candidate for national security posts, is a retired general who served as Chief of Staff of the National Security Council in the Trump administration and is among the advisors to Trump, being considered for several national security-related posts, although it is unclear what exact role he will take. During the campaign, he presented a plan to Trump that included ending the war in Ukraine and proposed measures such as forcing both sides to negotiate and preventing Ukraine's membership in NATO for the near future. Tom Homan, a potential candidate for Secretary of Homeland Security, served as Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a year and a half during Trump's first term and is one of the candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security. Trump emphasized addressing illegal immigration during his campaign and promised widespread deportations of illegal immigrants. Trump has often praised Homan during the campaign, and Homan has regularly participated in the campaign to garner public support. During Trump's first term, Homan was a leading advocate of the controversial policy of separating children, a policy that separated immigrant children who entered the country illegally from their parents. Chad Wolf, a potential candidate for Secretary of Homeland Security, served as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security for about 14 months during Trump's first term and may be chosen again to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Wolf loyally implemented Trump's strict immigration policies and dispatched federal forces to control protests following the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Portland, Oregon. However, there may be some obstacles in his path. He resigned on January 11, 2021, just days after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump has doubts about reinstating those who resigned in the final days of his presidency. However, Wolf cited legal controversies surrounding his appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security—not the attack on the Capitol—when he resigned. Several judges ruled that his appointment by Trump, which bypassed the Senate, was illegal. Mark Green, a potential candidate for Secretary of Homeland Security, is a former Army flight surgeon and current chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, who has been mentioned by some of Trump's allies in Washington as a candidate for Secretary of Homeland Security. His supporters describe him as loyal to Trump and tough on immigration, claiming he has significant legislative experience. Green was nominated for Secretary of the Army during Trump's first term but withdrew his nomination after increased attention to statements widely regarded as transphobic and Islamophobic. John Ratcliffe, a potential candidate for Attorney General, is a former congressman and prosecutor who served as Director of National Intelligence in the last year of Trump's term and is being considered as a potential candidate for Attorney General, although he may be selected for another position in national security or intelligence. Allies of the president-elect recognize Ratcliffe as being seriously loyal to Trump, which could help him secure Senate confirmation. However, during his tenure as Director of National Intelligence, Ratcliffe often rejected assessments from seasoned staff and was accused by Democrats of politicizing the position. Mike Lee, a potential candidate for Attorney General, is a senator from Utah and another leading candidate for Attorney General. Although this former prosecutor did not vote for Trump in the 2016 election, he later became an unwavering ally and emerged as a key intellectual figure among Trump's supporters. Lee was a key figure in Trump's and his allies' efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election against Democrat Joe Biden and spread unfounded conspiracy theories about the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Suzy Wiles, a potential candidate for White House Chief of Staff, is recognized as the most likely candidate for Trump's White House Chief of Staff. Although her exact political views are somewhat unclear, she is credited with managing a successful and efficient campaign. Her supporters hope she can bring the discipline that was lacking during Trump's first term, which saw several changes in chiefs of staff. Brooke Rollins, a potential candidate for White House Chief of Staff, is the acting director of Trump's Domestic Policy Council and is another candidate for the White House Chief of Staff position. Trump has a close personal relationship with Rollins and often praises him in private circles. He was generally recognized as one of Trump's moderate advisors during his presidency. Among the policies he supported during Trump's first term were criminal justice reforms that reduced prison sentences for some relatively minor offenses. Kash Patel, a potential candidate for national security posts, is a former Republican House staffer who served in various roles in the intelligence and defense community during Trump's first term and has frequently appeared in the current campaign to garner support for the candidate. Some of Trump's allies are inclined to see Patel, recognized as Trump's most loyal supporter, appointed as CIA director. However, any position that requires Senate confirmation may pose a challenge for him.