The incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump has started to take shape in chief of staff, national security advisor, and other key positions as the Republican leader plans to target undocumented migrants, shred the regulatory state, and move away from clean energy. Trump’s victory in the US presidential election was a resounding one, and he’s leaving no stone unturned to ensure his administration reflects the hardline MAGA image. JD Vance, Trump's running mate, is set to become the next US vice-president.
On Saturday, the US President-elect announced the formation of the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee to plan inaugural events.
“This will be the kick-off to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again. Together, we will celebrate this moment, steeped on history and tradition, and then get to work to achieve the most incredible future for our people, restoring strength, success, and common sense to the Oval Office,” Trump said in a statement.
Here’s a look at the key figures selected so far:
Susie Wiles – Chief of Staff: A seasoned Republican strategist, Wiles, 67, played a pivotal role in Trump’s 2024 campaign, successfully steering it with a level of discipline rarely seen in his previous runs. Known for her strategic insights in Florida politics, she was instrumental in helping Trump defeat Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the 2024 Republican primary. Wiles’ experience and rapport with Trump make her a powerful figure within the incoming administration. According to a report by Associated Press, Wiles can control some of Trump’s "worst impulses".
"At one point late in the campaign, when Trump gave a widely criticized speech in Pennsylvania in which he strayed from his talking points and suggested he wouldn’t mind the media being shot, Wiles came out to stare at him silently," the report said.
Mike Waltz – National Security Adviser: Florida Congressman and Army National Guard veteran Mike Waltz will serve as Trump’s National Security Adviser, reported AP citing people familiar with the matter. Waltz appointment would mean pulling a Republic member from the House of Representatives where the final tally is still uncertain. An ardent Trump advocate who backed efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Waltz brings a reputation for being hawkish on China. A vocal critic of Beijing, he urged a US boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing human rights concerns and China’s handling of Covid-19.
In a statement last year, Waltz said that as head of the readiness subcommittee: “I am ready to get to work to better equip our military and turn our focus away from woke priorities and back to winning wars. Our national security depends on it.”
Tom Homan – ‘Border Czar’: Former US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan has been tapped to oversee what is expected to be an aggressive approach to immigration. Homan, 62, was a vocal advocate for Trump's "zero tolerance" policy in his first administration, which led to the separation of migrant families at the border. He has vowed to make immigration enforcement humane but is prepared to oversee what he has described as "the largest deportation operation in the nation's history." This appointment signals Trump's intention to revive his hardline stance on border security, a central theme of his recent campaign. According to CNN, Homan sports a gruff persona that’s a good fit for a president-elect who loves a tough guy.
Elise Stefanik – Ambassador to the United Nations: New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a staunch defender of Trump during both impeachment trials, is set to become the US ambassador to the United Nations. Known for her hard-charging stance on international issues and recent efforts to spotlight anti-Semitism on college campuses, Stefanik’s appointment is expected to align US diplomatic strategy with Trump’s America-first foreign policy. She has backed Trump’s calls to secure a peace settlement in Ukraine and has promised to support a ceasefire in the Middle East amid escalating tensions involving Hamas and Hezbollah. A Harvard graduate and former George W. Bush West Wing aide, Stefanik is one of the highest-ranking Republican women ever to serve in the House.
“I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations,” the New York congresswoman said in a statement.
Stephen Miller – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: A key architect of Trump’s first-term immigration policies, Stephen Miller will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. A staunch proponent of mass deportations, Miller is known for his influential role in advancing Trump’s first-term agenda on border security and immigration. Since leaving the White House, Miller has led America First Legal, a group dedicated to challenging policies of the Biden administration and supporting free speech initiatives. At Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, Miller declared that “America is for Americans and Americans only”.
“Seal the border. No illegals in, everyone that’s here goes out — that’s very straightforward,” Miller said at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
Lee Zeldin – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator: Former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin has been named to head the EPA, despite limited experience in environmental policy. A Trump loyalist, Zeldin has positioned himself as an opponent of the Biden administration’s clean energy policies. There's no point in guessing that Zeldin’s first task will likely be to start the process of overturning several of the Biden-era rules on climate action. Trump said 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.”
“President Trump, when he called me up, gosh, he was rattling off 15, 20 different priorities, a clear focus. He wasn’t reading off of some sheet, it’s the top of his head. And if I challenged him to give me 50 more ideas of what to do with this agency to improve the economy, I’m confident he would have done that,” Zeldin said shortly after the announcement.
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