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

Donald Trump has already decided who he wants at his side as US President in powerful positions. Many of them, such as ministers, still have to be confirmed by the Senate. Before that, an executive cabinet comes into being. Loyalty seems to be the key qualification for his preferred candidates, but so is TV suitability. An overview.

A TV presenter as defense minister

Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth has no political experience apart from an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the US Senate, but is expected to head one of the most important ministries, the Pentagon. Hegseth is an unconventional candidate, said a high-ranking Republican, just like his future boss. “Everyone is just shocked,” CNN quoted a ministry representative as saying. Trump praised the ex-soldier’s military experience, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 44-year-old presents himself as an innovator: It’s time for someone with “dust on his boots” to bring the “fighter ethos” back to the Pentagon. He would pursue an “America First” policy and achieve peace through strength. Hegseth’s statements that women could not be used in combat missions caused irritation. Reports of, among other things, alcohol abuse and alleged sexual assault had put him in distress.

Plan B for the Justice Department

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is slated to serve as attorney general. Trump originally wanted the controversial Congressman Matt Gaetz for the post, but he ultimately resigned from the office after there were doubts about his legal expertise. His nomination was torpedoed by allegations that he had had sex with a minor and used drugs. Bondi is an experienced prosecutor. The 59-year-old has been an active Trump supporter for a long time and supported the then president during the first impeachment trial in 2019. She has adopted Trump’s rhetoric: She will make America safe again and will no longer use the Justice Department as a weapon.

A hedge fund manager as finance minister

The 62-year-old investor Scott Bessent is the founder of the hedge fund Key Square Group. He was previously Chief Investment Officer of George Soros’ Soros Fund Management and is considered an expert in global macro investing. In the new role, he will, among other things, have to find a way to implement Trump’s campaign promises such as tax cuts and new import tariffs. Some economists had criticized the plans that would lead to higher prices for US consumers and put a strain on the national budget. Bessent had defended the proposals in recent months.

An opponent of vaccination as health minister

As Health Secretary, Trump wants former independent presidential candidate and declared anti-vaccination candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He will end “the epidemic of chronic diseases” and make America healthy again, Trump said. Kennedy ran in the presidential election as an independent candidate, but then withdrew his hopeless candidacy and switched to the Trump camp. The 71-year-old comes from the prominent Kennedy family. He was a Democrat for decades, but increasingly distanced himself from the party. He is criticized for spreading conspiracy theories and contacts with right-wing extremist politicians.

A careerist as foreign minister

Trump praises Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as a “strong advocate” for the United States, a “true friend of allies” and “a fearless warrior who will never shy away from adversaries.” The 53-year-old 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 a presidential candidate. The Republican failed in the primary election campaign against Trump, who insulted him at the time. In recent years, the son of Cuban immigrants has emerged as a Trump loyalist. In his view, an end to the Ukraine war should be official US policy. For this to happen, both Russia and the attacked country would have to make concessions. As foreign minister, he received the support of all senators.

A controversial governor as Secretary of Homeland Security

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is a staunch supporter of Trump. At the Department of Homeland Security, the 53-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 recently described the situation on the southern border with Mexico as a “war zone.” The Republican was briefly considered his running mate, but her memoirs garnered her negative headlines: in it, she 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.

A wrestling entrepreneur as education minister

Linda McMahon is co-founder of the media empire World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). During Trump’s first term in office, she headed the US Federal Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Businesses; Before that, she had unsuccessfully tried to be elected to the US Senate. The 76-year-old was now part of the team that prepared Trump’s inauguration. She has a long-standing personal connection to the president, who is considered a big fan of wrestling and martial arts. However, she lacks significant qualifications for the department that Trump wants to hand over to her. During the election campaign, the Republican said at times that he wanted to abolish the Department of Education.

A Wall Street manager as Secretary of Commerce

Howard Lutnick is the head of the New York financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald and was also on the team for the takeover. As trade minister, he would have to work alongside the finance minister to implement customs plans with which Trump wants to encourage companies to produce in the USA. The 63-year-old has been with Cantor Fitzgerald since the 1980s. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 killed more than two-thirds of the financial firm’s New York employees, including Lutnick’s brother.

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. He advocated a quick end to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East in order to focus on China. 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.

A confidant as Agriculture Minister

The lawyer Brooke Rollins (52) held various positions in the White House during Trump’s first term in office and heads the America First Policy Institute, an influential conservative think tank. The Ministry of Agriculture is one of the largest federal agencies. The department doesn’t just cover classic agricultural policy. This also includes programs for the development of rural areas and the important nutrition program SNAP, which offers support to low-income households.

An aspiring supporter as a UN ambassador

Republican MP Elise Stefanik (40) has repeatedly appeared as a loyal ally of Trump in recent years and also stood behind his false claims about alleged fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The MP 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 in the White House

With Susie Wiles, Trump has chosen a close confidante for the influential role. 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 Wiles was Trump’s “most important” advisor. The political strategist is considered extremely loyal and discreet. Wiles is the first woman to hold the post and will organize the president’s day-to-day government.

An old confidant as CIA chief

Trump wants to entrust the 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 China and Iran. At the time, the Democrats accused the 59-year-old of, among other things, abusing his position for political purposes. There were also doubts about his professional qualifications. Trump now praised Ratcliffe as a “fighter for the truth.”

A tech billionaire advising on spending cuts

Entrepreneur Elon Musk is supposed to help Trump cut government spending. He should take over the leadership of a specially created advisory committee. 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.” The work should therefore 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 getting a key position in the White House. Although the 39-year-old is very controversial, he will become deputy chief of staff and homeland security advisor. Miller was an advisor at government headquarters 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 switched sides and is firmly 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.”

A loyal governor as interior minister

Doug Burgum, the wealthy governor of North Dakota, is also expected to chair a newly created National Energy Council that will coordinate all aspects of energy production and use in the United States. In the United States, the Secretary of the Interior is not responsible for internal security, but primarily for the management of nature reserves and public lands. Burgum had tried at times to become the Republican candidate in the race for the White House – but gave up early and threw his support behind Trump. During the election campaign he was considered a candidate for the deputy post. The 68-year-old became rich with a software company. In 2016, Burgum was elected governor. He advocates for more oil and gas production in the USA.