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Jamie Dimon, potential treasury secretary: Jamie Dimon, the chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co, Dimon is considered a strong candidate for treasury secretary. Dimon is an opponent of what he describes as unnecessarily burdensome regulations that have been imposed by the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies. He would likely push for a broad rollback of those regulations should he join the administration, reported Reuters.
Scott Bessent, potential treasury secretary: Scott Bessent, a key economic adviser to Trump, is widely seen as a top candidate for treasury secretary. He has been a longtime hedge fund investor who taught at Yale University for several years. Bessent has a warm relationship with the president-elect and had showered praises on Trump’s use of tariffs as a negotiating tool
John Paulson, potential treasury secretary: A billionaire hedge fund manager and major Trump donor, John Paulson’s name is also doing rounds for the post of treasury secretary. He has publicly supported targeted tariffs as a tool to ensure U.S. national security and combat unfair trade practices abroad.Larry Kudlow, potential treasury secretary: Fox News personality Larry Kudlow, who served as director of the National Economic Council for much of Trump’s first term, has an outside shot at becoming his treasury secretary and would likely have an opportunity to take a separate economics-focused position if he is interested.ALSO READ: Donald Trump to be first convicted felon to hold office. Check his other historic firsts
Robert Lighthizer, potential treasury secretary: A Trump loyalist, Robert Lighthizer served as his US trade representative for essentially the then-president’s entire term. Lighthizer will almost certainly be invited back. He was also at the forefront in Trump’s trade war with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, with Mexico and Canada during Trump’s first term.
Richard Grenell, potential national security adviser: Among Trump’s closest foreign policy advisers, Richard Grenell is a top contender for the post of national security adviser. During Trump’s first four-year term, he served as acting director of national intelligence and U.S. ambassador to Germany. Among the policies he has advocated for is setting up an autonomous zone in eastern Ukraine to end the war there, a position Kyiv considers unacceptable.
Robert O’ Brien, potential secretary of state: O’ Brien was Trump’s fourth and final national security adviser during his first term. He maintains a close relationship with Trump, and the two often speak on national security matters. He is likely in the running for secretary of state or other top foreign policy and national security posts.
Bill Hagerty, potential secretary of state: A U.S. senator from Tennessee who worked on Trump’s 2016 transition effort, Hagerty is considered a top contender for secretary of state. He served as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the first Trump administration. He has maintained solid relations with essentially all factions of the Republican Party, and could likely be confirmed with ease in the Senate.
Marco Rubio, potential secretary of state: Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, is also a top secretary of state contender whose policies hew closely to those of Trump. Like Bill Hagerty, he was a contender to be Trump’s 2024 running mate.
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Mike Pompeo, potential defense secretary: Mike Pompeo served as CIA director and secretary of state during Trump’s first term. He is considered a top contender for secretary of defense but could land in various slots involving national security, intelligence or diplomacy. He stands out as possibly the fiercest defender of Ukraine among Trump’s close allies
Tom Cotton, potential defense secretary: A Harvard College and Harvard Law School-educated Army officer-turned-U.S. senator from Arkansas, Cotton is well-liked among Trump donors and is a serious contender for secretary of defense. Heemerged as a dark-horse contender to be Trump’s running mate in the final weeks of the vice presidential selection process in June and July.
Keith Kellogg, potential national security adviser: Kellogg has Trump’s ear and is a contender for several national security-related positions. He is a retired lieutenant general who served as chief of staff to the National Security Council under Trump.
Tom Homan, potential homeland security secretary: Tom Homan’s name is doing the rounds for the post of homeland security secretary. He served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for a year and a half during Trump’s first term. During Trump’s first term, Homan was a leading advocate of the administration’s controversial child separation policy, during which children of immigrants who had entered the country illegally were detained separately from their parents.
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Chad Wolf, potential homeland security secretary: Wolf served as Trump’s acting secretary of homeland security for roughly 14 months during his first presidency. He loyally carried out Trump’s hardline immigration policies, and he deployed federal agents to Portland, Oregon, to control protests during the riots that followed the murder of George Floyd. He tendered his resignation after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol
Mark Green, potential homeland security secretary: Green is a former Army flight surgeon and the current chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. Green is considered by some Trump allies in Washington as a contender for the top job at DHS. His supporters describe him a Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner who also has significant legislative experience.
John Ratcliffe, potential attorney general: Ratcliffe is a former congressman and prosecutor who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s last year in office. He is seen as a potential attorney general, though he could also take a separate national security or intelligence position. The president-elect’s allies view Ratcliffe as a hardcore Trump loyalist who could likely win Senate confirmation
Mike Lee, potential attorney general: Mike Lee is a US Senator from Utah and is widely seen as another top candidate for attorney general. Lee was a key figure in attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, and has spread unfounded conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Susie Wiles, potential chief of staff: One of Trump’s two co-campaign managers, Wiles is seen as the odds-on favorite to be Trump’s White House chief of staff. She is credited with running a successful and efficient campaign. Supporters hope she would instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump’s first term
Brooke Rollins, potential chief of staff: The former acting director of Trump’s Domestic Policy Council, Rollins is also a contender for chief of staff. Trump has a close personal relationship with Rollins, and often compliments her in private settings. She was generally considered one of Trump’s more moderate advisers while in office.
Kash Patel, potential candidate for national security posts: Kash Patel is a former Republican House staffer who served in various high-ranking staff roles in the defense and intelligence communities during Trump’s first term. Patel has frequently appeared on the campaign trail to rally support for the candidate.
FAQs
Who is Jamie Dimon and what position is he considered for?
Jamie Dimon is the CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co. He is being considered a strong candidate for treasury secretary.
What is Mike Pompeo’s previous experience in government?
Mike Pompeo served as CIA director and secretary of state during Trump’s first term
What is Susie Wiles known for in Trump’s campaign?
Susie Wiles is one of Trump’s co-campaign managers and is viewed as the favorite to become Trump’s White House chief of staff
What experience does Kash Patel have in Trump’s administration?
Kash Patel is a former Republican House staffer who served in high-ranking roles in the defense and intelligence communities during Trump’s first term.
(with inputs from Reuters)
