President-elect Donald Trump has started rounding out his cabinet, announcing that several top Republicans, many of whom were thought to be options for his vice president, will fill key roles.
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The newly elected president kicked things off last week when he named his 2024 campaign chair, Susie Wiles, as his Chief of Staff. Wiles, who has earned the nickname the “Ice Maiden,” is known for her effective role in keeping the former president more disciplined than during his other campaigns in his latest run for office.
Often operating behind the scenes, Trump acknowledged in his victory speech that she doesn’t want to be in the spotlight.
“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well-deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” Trump said in a statement.
After he announced Wiles as his Chief of Staff, Trump quickly started filling out the rest of his team.
On Tuesday, it was reported that the president-elect would select South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to NBC News, which cited four people familiar with the decision.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Stephen Miller would be named Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy. This appeared to be confirmed by Vice President-elect JD Vance, who congratulated Miller in a post on X after it was reported on Monday morning.
“This is another fantastic pick by the president,” Vance wrote X.
Miller has been described as an immigration hardliner, along with Tom Homan, Trump’s former acting ICE director, who CNN has reported is Trump’s pick for his “border czar.”
Sen. Ricky Rubio (R-FL), who was reported to be on Trump’s shortlist for vice presidential picks, has also been reportedly selected to be the president-elect’s Secretary of State, according to The New York Times.
Other positions Trump is said to have made selections for include the national security adviser, expected to be Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), according to a report from Reuters. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is believed to be the choice for Trump’s US Ambassador to the United Nations, according to the Associated Press. Trump also confirmed that Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) will be his EPA administrator.
The president-elect still has several selections to make for key positions in his cabinet before he is sworn in for his second term in January.
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