Topline

President-elect Donald Trump has made a slew of appointments to fill top posts in his administration in the days since he won the election, tapping some of his staunchest defenders and loyalists for roles as others vie for remaining Cabinet positions .

Key facts

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text alerts so you’re always up to date with the top stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or Log In here.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: Stephen Miller

Trump is expected to announce Stephen Miller for the position in the White House in the coming days, several media reported on Monday. Miller was a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and one of the architects of some of his most controversial immigration policies, including his family separation program.

Border Tsar: Tom Homan

Trump appointed his former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan to the role, he announced Monday, as Trump plans a mass deportation of undocumented migrants during his second term.

UN Ambassador: Elise Stefanik

Trump announced Sunday that he would nominate Republican conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the role, and she told the New York Post that she had accepted the offer.

Chief of Staff: Susie Wiles

Trump appointed his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles as chief of staff two days after his election victory, marking his first major administrative pick. Wiles will be the first woman to hold this position.

Attorney General

Trump is expected to overhaul the Justice Department and staff it with political loyalists as the agency becomes a key target for Trump during his campaign. Sen. Mike LeeR-Utah, former board attorney Mark Paoletta and former Trump director of National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe are some of the names often used for AG in the media. Federal judge Aileen Kanonwho dismissed the DOJ’s classified documents case against Trump is also on a proposed personnel list that Trump’s team distributed, ABC News reported last month, citing unnamed sources. Speculation is rife that Trump’s advisor, Kas Patelcould be appointed AG. Trump previously said Patel would help create a “blueprint” for his next administration and praised his book “Government Gangsters” as a “road map to ending the rule of the Deep State.”

Minister of Finance

Sen. Bill Hagerty R-Tenn., former ambassador to Japan under Trump, is on the speculative shortlist for the role, along with Trump transition team co-chair Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnickformer Trump US trade representative Robert Lichthizerand billionaires Scott Bessent And Johannes Paulson. The latter two are at the top of Trump’s list, Reuters reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources. Bessent met with Trump at Mar-A-Lago on Friday, according to Reuters and Bloomberg, although Bloomberg quoted people familiar with the process as saying the meeting was not a job interview. Trump is expected to narrow his list of candidates by the end of the week, and he is leaning toward someone with Wall Street experience, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing anonymous sources.

State Secretary

Sen. Marco RubioR-Fla., who campaigned for Trump this year after speaking to him in 2016, is interested in the job, the Miami Herald reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources. Rick Grenell– the former US ambassador to Germany who became the first openly gay Cabinet secretary in US history when he was appointed acting director of national intelligence – and Hagertyare other potential contenders, multiple outlets have speculated.

Minister of Defense

Trump’s team has contacted House Armed Services Chairman Rep. Mike RogersR-Ala. about the role, Fox News reported Friday, citing a source familiar with the discussions. Rep. Mike WaltzR-Fla., is also widely considered a top candidate.

Will Elon Musk, Rfk Jr. and Vivek Ramasamy serving in the Trump administration?

Trump has indicated that he is vaccine skeptical Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would play a prominent role in shaping health policy in his administration, telling an audience in Arizona earlier this month that Kennedy could “do anything he wants” and that he would “work on women’s health and wellness.” ” Trump also recently opened up about Kennedy’s controversial proposal to remove fluoride from public water. Trump has said former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will play a role in his second administration, and he has proposed Tesla as CEO Elon Musk to head a new “government efficiency commission.”

Tangent

Trump ruled out former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as possible choices for his second administration in a Truth Social post over the weekend. Pompeo was considered a potential choice for defense secretary.

Important background

Trump is shaping his second-term agenda with the help of several right-wing groups, his closest allies and billionaire financiers. Musk, who has been spotted repeatedly at Mar-A-Lago since his election, is among those who appear to influence Trump’s policies and personnel decisions. The right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute is reportedly the main driver of Trump’s transition plans and has devised possible executive actions for Trump once he takes power. The organization is chaired by former Trump Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon and led by former Trump Domestic Policy Counsel Director Brook Rollins.

Read more

What We Know About Trump’s Potential Cabinet – With RFK Jr. and Elon Musk among the candidates (Forbes)

Who will help shape Trump’s policy agenda? Here are the main groups and players (Forbes)

Stephen Miller Reportedly Will Lead Trump’s Policy Agenda – Here’s Who Else Could Help Him (Forbes)