With his victory in the 2024 Election, President Donald Trump has selected who he wants to support him in the 47th Administration. During the campaign, Trump made many claims about problems he could solve, and who he picked for his cabinet could show some insight into how, and if, these policies will be implemented. So who did our President select to help run the strongest nation ever? From former Fox News hosts to WWE founders, here are who Trump has put into positions in the 47th presidential cabinet.
Vice-President: The right-hand man to any President, is his Vice-President. JD Vance was selected to be Trump’s running mate on July 15, 2024, and he came in bold. He’s a former Marine and a Senator from the State of Ohio. He believes in stronger immigration rules, countering and preventing Iran’s nuclear program, and refocusing against China. He has also protested against the LGBTQ+ using various medical drugs for gender switching, introducing a bill himself against it just last year. His policies mostly correlate with Trump’s, yet he previously criticized Trump strongly and claimed he would never be with him. Vance’s selection seems to have helped the campaign, showing a more youthful candidate, with experience in the world of Washington, and being able to speak where Trump was not able to. He spoke on numerous podcasts and rallies for the campaign. He quickly became a recognizable face for the new administration. His ideas and policies are very aligned with Trump, and he seems to possibly be a runner for the 2028 Presidential election.
Secretary of State: Trump’s pick for a Secretary of State has not been as much of a shake-up as expected. Senator Marco Rubio is a 53-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, formally representing the state of Florida in the Senate since 2011. Mr. Rubio’s website states some of his important goals including, a hawkish foreign policy on China, Iran, Russia, and voting against a cease-fire in Palestine. Now that he is approved by the Senate, his policy will be much more direct than Biden’s previous attempts, with likely less restraint on Israel and more pressure on Ukraine for peace. His policies seem to be like Trump’s promises for an anti-China policy with higher tariffs and, according to Rubio, to strengthen American “geopolitics, diplomacy, culture, technology, commerce, and trade” on his website, as well as supporting Israel. Overall Marco Rubio seems to be a strong pick for the GOP.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth has been checked for the secretary of defense for the United States, a role which has him control the strongest military in the world. He has some experience serving in the military, and was in the United States National Guard at the rank of Major, a high role as a commissioned officer, meaning he should have concepts of a plan on military necessities. He has also received degrees from Princeton and The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, showing he is quite educated. He’s not as established as many would hope for in a position like his and has complained about certain generals high up in the Pentagon. He has received (though not acted on) a list of 20 “woke” senior military officers who are to be fired, possibly leading to a negative impact on American leadership and future tactics in conflicts. He has also received claims of sexual assault, which he denied, yet it should be known he has still paid the accuser. Many more of his beliefs are available in his books, including “American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free” made in 2020 with his opinions on Trump at the time. He recently was a Fox News reporter for “Fox & Friends” raising speculation on his ability to lead such a vital department. His effects on the Trump Administration could be things like removing and replacing parts of the command, as well as supporting the president on military policy changes for political issues rather than legitimate threats.
“Border Czar”: An important issue to many Americans who voted was the mass televised problem of immigration. President Trump, just like in 2016, has claimed he would enact mass deportations, and started, to deport illegal immigrants. The man selected by Trump to help him? Tom Homan, with previous experience in ICE, during the Obama administration, and as the acting director of ICE during the Trump administration, retired after 34 years of service in 2018. Back during the Obama administration, he came up with the idea of discouraging illegal immigration through threatening to separate families. He is also in favor of the military being used for “shock and awe” to assist in mass deportation. Such mass deportation could result in mass, or at least some economic downturn. Estimates place sizable percentages of workers as immigrants, such as the American Immigration Council’s paper on Texas immigrants, stating in Texas alone, over 100,000 undocumented immigrants are working, helping out communities, and contributing to the economy. Mr. Homan is what the Trump campaign promised to deliver, a man willing to kick out every illegal immigrant he can no matter the problems that might come as a result of it.
Secretary of Health & Human Services: From former presidential candidate, to chosen cabinet member, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been selected to run the HHS (Department of Health and Human Services). He’s claimed vaccines link to autism, made claims on fluoride in water, criticized seed oils, and currently plans to attempt to “Make America Healthy Again”. Many of his claims can be debunked. Such as seed oils being bad, with the Colorado State University nutrition center saying they help by “Promoting alternatives to saturated fats”. Another claim he makes is on vaccines and autism, though the CDC themselves state how they work with other groups like the National Vaccine Advisory Committee to get outreach to lessen fears with real data. He has also previously claimed COVID-19 targeted “Caucasian and black people”, without evidence, leading to backlash. His ideas lack evidence, as the CDC themselves has data on vaccine safety which show how, while deaths occur, vaccines are for the most part, safe. In his position, he could drastically change things, like mandatory vaccines and FDA requirements. These changes could lead to an influx in epidemics, risking American’s health. RFK Jr. being nominated isn’t much of a surprise for many, as he dropped out and instead gave his support for President Trump, and most likely many of his supporters voted with it.
Secretary of Education: Trump’s selection for DOE secretary has been Linda McMahon, Co-Founder of the WWE. She has been an ally of Trump for a long while, and certainly knew him long before, since Trump’s numerous appearances on the WWE. She worked on the Connecticut education board for 1 year, before 2 failed senatorial election campaigns. Mrs. McMahon might just not change anything, as much as she will be in the role of an empty office though, as Trump has pushed the idea of destroying the DOE, which would also get rid of the federal student loan grants it gives, and basic ESSA guidelines the DOE manages. While not seeming important, the role will have a profound effect on the future students of America, limiting low-income student’s future opportunities.
While there are many more agencies, these are some of just some of the important ones. Some of Trump’s picks have withdrawn before the Senate vote like Attorney General nominee Matt Gaetz. He pulled back his nomination after numerous senators across both sides of the political spectrum criticized him for numerous sex-trafficking allegations. As time goes on changes are to come and, President Trump’s selections could rearrange this nation in many ways.
In the Republican Senate and House, many of these changes are likely to pass, and soon enough, Trump’s cabinet will reform America to what they determine America should look like. Many of these selections may try to fulfill an idea known as “Project 2025”, an over 700-word paper on changes that should be made, though it is speculative how many of the ideas in the project will be picked. Many of the ideas stated in these cabinet selections are speculative, as facts and decisions are always changing.
Edited by – Shokhjakhon Samiev & Kimberly Mizrahi