President-elect Donald Trump is beginning to appoint key figures to his second administration, focusing on aides and allies who were among his most steadfast supporters during the 2024 campaign.
Here’s a look at the individuals he has selected for key positions so far.
Susie Wiles has been named chief of staff for President-elect Donald Trump's second administration. At 67, Wiles brings a wealth of experience from her prominent role as a senior adviser and de facto manager of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
A seasoned political strategist with deep roots in Florida politics, Wiles played a pivotal role in helping Ron DeSantis win his first gubernatorial race in 2018. Six years later, she was instrumental in Trump’s successful defeat of DeSantis during the 2024 Republican primary.
Wiles' appointment marks Trump's first major decision as president-elect, one that could set the tone for his upcoming administration. Known for her close relationship with Trump, Wiles is widely regarded as someone who has earned the president-elect's trust. Her ability to keep Trump focused and disciplined during the 2024 campaign is seen as a testament to her political acumen. Rather than challenging his instincts, Wiles gained Trump's respect by proving her strategies led to success, effectively guiding him to one of his most disciplined campaigns yet.
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Mike Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, as his choice for national security adviser, according to sources familiar with the matter. The decision, which has not yet been formally announced, would position Waltz at the helm of a range of pressing national security challenges.
Waltz, a three-term Republican congressman from Florida, brings significant military and policy experience to the role. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and worked as a policy adviser at the Pentagon under former defense secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. His appointment would place him at the forefront of multiple critical issues, including the ongoing military aid to Ukraine, concerns over the growing Russia-North Korea alliance, the persistent threat from Iranian proxies in the Middle East, and the push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah conflict.
Waltz is known for his hawkish stance on China. He was a vocal advocate for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China's role in the origins of COVID-19 and its treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority. His experience and foreign policy views align with Trump's tough approach to national security.
Tom Homan, 62, has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to oversee the administration's ambitious immigration agenda, with a focus on executing what is expected to be the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. Homan, who previously led U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term, had long been expected to take a key
role in the administration's border security efforts, an issue that was central to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Homan has expressed his commitment to ensuring the deportation process is conducted humanely, despite the scale of the operation. At a July conference in Washington, he emphasized his readiness to lead “the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen,” signaling his strong alignment with Trump’s immigration policies.
His appointment has drawn criticism from Democrats, particularly for his defense of the Trump administration’s controversial "zero tolerance" policy on border crossings, which resulted in the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum. Homan's stance on immigration has made him a polarizing figure, but his loyalty to Trump’s policies remains unwavering.
Elise Stefanik, a Republican representative from New York and one of President-elect Donald Trump's most vocal supporters, has been selected as his nominee for United Nations ambassador. Stefanik, 40, has been a steadfast defender of Trump, notably during his first impeachment, and has emerged as a prominent figure in the GOP.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 2014, Stefanik quickly rose through the ranks, being named House Republican Conference chair in 2021 after her colleague, Rep. Liz Cheney, was ousted for publicly criticizing Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election. Stefanik has held the third-highest position in House leadership ever since.
Her national profile further grew when she led efforts to hold university presidents accountable for antisemitism on their campuses, resulting in the resignation of two such presidents.
If confirmed, Stefanik would represent U.S. interests at the United Nations at a pivotal time, as Trump vows to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022. Trump has also called for peace amidst Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its military operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.
Stephen Miller, a key architect of Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies, has been appointed as deputy chief of staff for policy in the incoming administration. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term and has been a vocal proponent of the president’s focus on mass deportations, a central issue in the 2024 campaign.
Miller played a pivotal role in shaping some of the Trump administration's most controversial policies, including the separation of immigrant families at the U.S. border. Throughout the campaign, Trump emphasized that his approach to immigration, which included deporting individuals living in the country illegally, was key to addressing the nation's economic, national security, and social challenges.
Since leaving office in 2021, Miller has led America First Legal, an organization founded by former Trump officials aimed at challenging the Biden administration and advocating for issues such as free speech, national security, and opposition to certain policies in the media, universities, and government agencies.
President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While Zeldin, 44, lacks direct experience in environmental issues, he has been a steadfast ally of Trump. In a post on X, he outlined his vision for the role, stating, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” He added, “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”
Throughout the campaign, Trump frequently criticized the Biden administration’s promotion of electric vehicles, often mischaracterizing a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. He also reiterated his stance of “Drill, baby, drill,” signaling his support for expanded petroleum exploration.
In a statement, Trump expressed confidence in Zeldin’s ability to balance deregulation with environmental protection, saying, “Lee Zeldin will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”
(Souce: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
