Change of power in the USA: TV man, billionaire, radical: This is what Trump’s team should look like

Donald Trump’s government team is taking shape. In quick succession, the US President-elect announced nominations for important government positions and advisory positions. Actually, at least some of them still need to be confirmed by the Senate. However, Trump is putting pressure on his party colleagues in Parliament to forego voting and instead resort to an exception in order to get his candidates into office more quickly.

When you look at the list of names, you notice that loyalty to Trump seems to be a key qualification – and for some positions, the candidates’ suitability for television. Who did Trump choose for his cabinet, advisory roles and important positions in the White House? An overview.

A TV presenter as defense minister

Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth has no political experience other than an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the US Senate for Minnesota, but is expected to head the Pentagon, one of the US’s most important ministries. “Everyone is just shocked,” CNN quoted a Defense Department representative as saying. Trump praised the ex-soldier’s military experience, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 44-year-old is a staunch supporter of the “America First” policy. With him at the helm, “America’s enemies have been warned.” As a presenter and author, Hegseth campaigned for veterans for many years. Regarding the role of women in the military, Hegseth said they are of no use in combat operations.

A radical as justice minister

The ultra-radical Congressman Matt Gaetz is to become Attorney General – and, according to Trump’s wishes, “to restore the severely shaken faith and trust of Americans in the Justice Department.” The 42-year-old lawyer and abortion opponent has been sitting in the House of Representatives since 2017, is one of the hardliners in his party and is a loyal supporter of Trump. He represents right-wing positions, rejects same-sex marriage and regularly spreads conspiracy theories. Gaetz is one of the MPs who drove the then Republican chairman of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, out of office over a year ago because of a dispute over the budget. He was the driving force of the internal revolt.

A careerist as foreign minister

Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is set to become Secretary of State. Trump praised the 53-year-old as a “strong advocate” for the US, a “true friend of allies” and “a fearless warrior who will never shy away from adversaries.” Rubio has been in the US Senate since 2011 and made a career in politics at a young age. In 2016, the ambitious lawyer tried unsuccessfully to become the Republican presidential candidate. He failed in the primary election campaign against Trump, who insulted him at the time. The son of Cuban immigrants has emerged as a Trump loyalist in recent years. Most recently, he voted against billions in support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.

A controversial governor as Secretary of Homeland Security

With South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Trump wants to place a staunch supporter at the head of the Department of Homeland Security. There, the 52-year-old would play a key role in Trump’s planned “largest deportation program in American history.” The department is responsible for immigration and border protection – and Trump has made mass deportations a priority of his term in office. Noem was at times discussed as his running mate during the election campaign, but her memoirs garnered her negative headlines: In it, Noem described how she shot her young dog, Cricket, because she was unsuitable as a hunting dog. She later explained that this showed her willingness to make tough decisions.

An advocate of a tough China policy as a security advisor

Rep. Mike Waltz is set to become Trump’s national security adviser. The 50-year-old from Florida described China as the US’s “biggest rival” in an opinion piece in the Economist magazine a few days before the election. The next president must quickly end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East to focus on China, he argued. At the same time, Waltz wrote last year with a view to the Republican majority in the House of Representatives: “The era of blank checks for Ukraine from Congress is over.” European countries need to do more.

An aspiring supporter as a UN ambassador

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is set to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in New York. In recent years, the 40-year-old has repeatedly appeared as a loyal ally of Trump and has also stood behind Trump’s false claims about alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The representative from New York state is a member of the leadership of her parliamentary group. In 2014, at the age of 30, she was the youngest woman elected to the House of Representatives. Stefanik was once one of the more moderate members of the party. There can be no more talk of that now.

A secret weapon as chief of staff

With Susie Wiles, Trump has chosen a close confidante for the influential role as chief of staff in the White House. The 67-year-old was Trump’s campaign manager and has barely appeared in public, but is considered a powerful mastermind. “Politico” wrote a profile about the mother and grandmother in the spring with the title: “The most feared and least known political actor in America.” It said that Wiles was not just a senior adviser to Trump, but the “most important one.” The political strategist is considered extremely loyal and discreet. Wiles will be the first woman to serve as chief of staff and will organize the president’s day-to-day administration.

An old confidant as CIA chief

Trump wants to entrust the CIA foreign intelligence service to his long-time companion John Ratcliffe. The former congressman from Texas served as intelligence coordinator during Trump’s first term – focusing particularly on threats from China and Iran. The 59-year-old came under criticism at the time. The Democrats accused him, among other things, of abusing his position for political purposes. Before his appointment, there were doubts about his professional qualifications for the post. Trump now praised Ratcliffe as a “fighter for the truth.”

A tech billionaire advising on spending cuts

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is said to be helping Trump cut government spending. Together with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, he will take over the leadership of a specially created advisory committee, said the US President-elect’s team. This “Department of Government Efficiency” will not be part of the government, but will work with the White House “to advance large-scale structural reforms.” Musk and Ramaswamy’s work should be completed by July 2026.

A migration hardliner pulling the strings in the background

One of the architects of Trump’s restrictive immigration policies during his first term, Stephen Miller, is expected to get a key position in the White House in the new administration. Although the 39-year-old is very controversial, he is expected to become deputy chief of staff and homeland security advisor. Miller already worked as an advisor in the White House during Trump’s first term in office and helped shape his tough stance towards migrants behind the scenes. He is also credited with detailed plans for the mass deportations announced by Trump in the new term.

A side changer as US intelligence coordinator

Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is set to become intelligence coordinator. The 43-year-old was a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021, but has now switched sides and is steadfastly behind Trump. During her time with the Democrats, her positions were often at odds with those of her party. Gabbard traveled to Syria in 2017 to meet ruler Bashar al-Assad – and was heavily criticized for the trip. In 2020 she wanted to become the Democratic presidential candidate, but dropped out of the race with no chance. Trump praised her “fearless spirit and illustrious career.”

Trump also nominated ex-governor Mike Huckabee, known for derogatory comments about Palestinians, as US ambassador to Israel, real estate investor Steven Witkoff as special Middle East envoy and lawyer Bill McGinley as legal adviser in the White House. He is expected to announce further personal details in the coming days.