Who will Trump choose for his new cabinet: Elon Musk, Kennedy Jr, Trump Jr?
Báo Dân trí•07/11/2024
(Dan Tri) - A number of old and new faces are expected to hold positions in Donald Trump's cabinet when he returns to the White House.
Former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk (Photo: Getty).
Former US President Donald Trump, who is expected to return to the White House in January 2025, has not yet been involved in formal discussions regarding his new cabinet. However, following Mr. Trump’s travels, television appearances and rallies, speculation has swirled about some of the people who could be chosen for his new administration. Elon Musk Elon Musk, who has become an official “cheerleader” for Mr Trump and has racked up billions in federal contracts, is said to have sought a position in a second Trump administration. Mr Trump has said he wants the tech billionaire to have some role in his administration. The world’s richest man has proposed creating a Department of Government Efficiency. Robert F Kennedy Jr Robert F Kennedy Jr, the grandson of the late President John F. Kennedy, who ran an independent presidential campaign and at one point reached 10% of the vote, strongly believes he has a chance to take on a role in Mr Trump's cabinet after he endorsed the Republican presidential nominee. Although senior members of Mr Trump's campaign have ruled out Mr Kennedy getting a job at the Department of Health and Human Services , Mr Trump has said he will let Robert F Kennedy Jr "do what he wants" with women's health care. Donald Trump Jr Although he is no longer as prominent on the Trump campaign trail as he was in the previous election, in this year's election, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is still active behind the scenes and supports his friend JD Vance to become Trump's running mate and vice presidential candidate. Donald Trump Jr. is expected to play a certain role in Trump's new cabinet. Mike Pompeo Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director and US secretary of state and staunch Trump ally, has chosen not to challenge his former boss for the Republican nomination. The staunch supporter of Israel and arch-rival of Iran is seen as a key candidate for a top role in Trump's new administration, possibly as secretary of defense or secretary of state. Richard Grenell Richard Grenell, one of Mr Trump’s closest foreign policy advisers, could be in the running for secretary of state or other top national security and foreign policy posts. A former US ambassador to Germany and a vocal supporter of Mr Trump’s “America First” slogan on the international stage during his first term, he has advocated for the creation of an autonomous region in eastern Ukraine to end the war there, a stance Kiev has rejected. Tom Cotton The far-right Republican senator from Arkansas emerged as a leading candidate to be Trump’s running mate in the final weeks of the vice presidential selection process. In a famous 2020 New York Times op-ed titled “Send In the Troops,” Tom Cotton likened the Black Lives Matter protests to an insurrection and urged the government to deploy the U.S. military against the protesters by invoking the Insurrection Act. Cotton is a favorite among Trump donors and has also been considered a candidate for defense secretary. Ben Carson Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, has pushed for a nationwide abortion ban, a stance that is at odds with most Americans and even Trump himself. Carson could be Trump’s nominee to be secretary of housing and urban development. Scott Bessent A key economic adviser to Mr. Trump and an ally of vice presidential candidate JD Vance, Scott Bessent, head of macro hedge fund Key Square, is considered a potential candidate for Mr. Trump’s cabinet. The Wall Street investor and prominent Trump fundraiser has praised Mr. Trump’s use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. Michael Waltz Former US Army Green Beret and current Florida congressman Michael Waltz has cemented his reputation as a leading advocate for a tougher stance on China in the House of Representatives. He has played a leading role in sponsoring legislation aimed at reducing US dependence on Chinese-sourced minerals. Waltz is known to have a strong friendship with Mr Trump and has also been vocal in his support for US support of Ukraine, while pushing for greater oversight of US taxpayer funds allocated to support Kiev’s defence efforts. He has been reported by US media as a candidate for defence or state secretary. Robert Lighthizer Robert Lighthizer is Donald Trump's top trade official. He is a staunch believer in tariffs and a leading figure in Trump's trade war with China. Described by Trump as "the greatest trade representative in American history," Lighthizer is almost certain to return to the new cabinet. While Scott Bessent and billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson may have a better shot at becoming treasury secretary, Lighthizer could either reprise his old role as US trade representative or become the new commerce secretary. Brooke Rollins A former White House policy adviser, Brooke Rollins has a close personal relationship with Mr Trump. Widely regarded as one of Mr Trump’s more moderate advisers, Rollins supported criminal justice reforms during the former president’s first term, commuted prison sentences for some relatively minor crimes and was considered a leading candidate for chief of staff. Susie Wiles One of Mr Trump’s two co-campaign managers, Susie Wiles, may be competing with Brooke Rollins for the chief of staff job. Although her political views remain murky, she is widely seen as having led a successful presidential campaign. Stephen Miller Stephen Miller was a senior policy adviser early in Trump’s first term and a key architect of the Muslim travel ban. Miller is expected to return to the White House for Trump’s second term, when Trump has vowed to carry out the largest deportation drive in US history.
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