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What Trump's New Cabinet and Administration Picks Have in Common

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What Trump's New Cabinet and Administration Picks Have in Common

A number of patterns have emerged among the people President-elect Donald J. Trump has indicated he wants to fill his cabinet and other senior-level positions in his administration.

Some points of commonality are historically typical among senior White House and cabinet officials — Harvard, Yale and Princeton are well represented among his selections’ alma maters, for instance. Other uniting factors are unprecedented: Many on the list have denied or questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election, often a prerequisite for gaining Mr. Trump’s favor. And some lack the traditional qualifications shared by their predecessors.

Indeed, it appears that the most important qualifier in Mr. Trump’s mind has been fealty to him, which many of his picks have demonstrated in various ways over the past few years.

See some of the links between more than 60 potential members (in some cases pending confirmation) of the incoming administration, below.


At least 5 are billionaires.

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Mr. Trump has picked two billionaires to lead key economic departments, raising questions about whether his administration will follow through on promises to boost the working class.

Scott Bessent, his choice for treasury secretary, is a hedge fund manager who invested money for George Soros, a liberal philanthropist, for more than a decade. Howard Lutnick, his pick for commerce secretary, is a Wall Street executive. Both Mr. Bessent and Mr. Lutnick have been vocal in their support for Mr. Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports, although they may prefer a more targeted approach.

Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead what Mr. Trump is calling the Department of Government Efficiency. Mr. Trump has said the new initiative would operate outside of the government and offer input to federal officials.


At least 8 have been major Trump donors.

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The president-elect has also selected major campaign donors for key positions, including four to lead cabinet agencies: Mr. Lutnick and Mr. Bessent, as well as Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department and Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department. (Ms. McMahon and Mr. Lutnick are also co-chairs of the Trump transition.) As of the last federal filing, their contributions to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle ranged from $350,000 to $20 million.

John Phelan, Mr. Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, and his wife, Amy, donated more than $1 million to Mr. Trump’s joint fund-raising campaign committee.

Steven Witkoff, a billionaire real estate mogul who has given nearly $2 million to Mr. Trump’s political causes over the past decade, was named special envoy to the Middle East. He was on the golf course with Mr. Trump in September during a second assassination attempt.

Mr. Musk poured at least $75 million into a new pro-Trump super PAC and promised on Oct. 19 to award one voter $1 million every day through Election Day. The Justice Department warned Mr. Musk that the giveaway might be illegal, but a judge in Philadelphia refused to halt the sweepstakes.

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Charles Kushner, Mr. Trump’s pick for ambassador to France, is a real estate executive who gave at least $2 million to support Mr. Trump.


At least 12 hosted or co-hosted events at Mar-a-Lago.

After Mr. Trump left the White House, Mar-a-Lago became the headquarters of the MAGA movement. Events hosted by right-wing organizations and politicians there largely replaced traditional Palm Beach society galas on the resort’s calendar, as a visit became an essential rite for many Republican candidates.

Many of Mr. Trump’s recent picks were regular fixtures at Mar-a-Lago during this time. Some did more than visit, choosing to host expensive receptions on the property. As Mar-a-Lago’s owner, Mr. Trump is the beneficiary of its profits.

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Several of the proposed officials have held campaign fund-raisers or served on the host committee to support another candidate’s event. Others hosted or co-hosted larger events for organizations they lead or champion.


At least 13 made appearances at Trump’s criminal trial in New York.

Mr. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan was a staging ground for allies to prove their loyalty. Several of his recent picks traveled to New York in the spring to show support. Some were there in a professional context. Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s choice for deputy attorney general, was one of his trial lawyers, and Susie Wiles, Mr. Trump’s incoming chief of staff, was co-chair of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Others, like Vice President-elect JD Vance and Doug Burgum, Mr. Trump’s pick for interior secretary, attended the trial as spectators and attacked members of the presiding judge’s family on behalf of Mr. Trump, who was under a rule of silence. Both were considered potential running mates at the time.

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At least 17 are associated with the America First Policy Institute or Project 2025.

Mr. Trump spent much of the campaign distancing himself from Project 2025, a sprawling initiative spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation that included a “blueprint” document for a new conservative administration that was authored in part by former Trump staffers. But since winning the election, Mr. Trump has picked at least seven people with ties to the controversial conservative policy initiative to serve in his administration.

Project 2025 also includes a database of Heritage-vetted personnel intended to help a Republican president build rank-and-file staff. It remains to be seen to what extent those candidates will be hired in the new administration.

The America First Policy Institute, which like the Heritage Foundation is a pro-Trump think tank, is also heavily represented in his picks so far. At least 11 of the people among his picks have ties to the upstart policy group. Much like Project 2025, the think tank has prepared staffing plans and a policy agenda, and it reportedly has drafted nearly 300 executive orders ready for Mr. Trump’s signature.

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At least 11 are or have been Fox hosts or contributors.

Some of Mr. Trump’s appointees are closely linked to Fox as either hosts, former hosts or contributors. Pete Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends” until he became Mr. Trump’s pick for defense secretary. Mr. Hegseth’s co-host was Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Sean Duffy, Mr. Trump’s cabinet pick for transportation secretary. Mr. Duffy also co-hosted a show on Fox Business.

Mr. Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, hosted a show on Fox for seven years. More recently, Mr. Ramaswamy was tapped to host a five-part series on Fox Nation.

Many more figures in Mr. Trump’s orbit are frequent guests on Fox News, and several not counted here have contributed digital columns to the Fox News website. Mr. Wright caught Mr. Trump’s attention in part through his appearances on Fox News.

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At least 9 are or have been registered lobbyists.

The revolving door between lobbying and government is a tradition in Washington — and one of the practices Mr. Trump pledged to eliminate when he said he would “drain the swamp.” But some of the people Mr. Trump has tapped for his administration have deep ties to that very swamp.

Ms. Wiles was registered as a lobbyist until early this year. Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, joined a lobbying firm run by a prominent Florida fund-raiser after she finished her second term as Florida attorney general. Mr. Duffy lobbied for a coalition of airlines in 2020.

Some of Mr. Trump’s selections not shown here have acted as lobbyists without officially registering — another longstanding custom in the nation’s capital. Russell T. Vought, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, noted in paperwork for his 2017 Senate confirmation hearing that he had “engaged in grassroots lobbying.”

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At least 28 served in or advised the previous Trump administration.

More than two dozen of Mr. Trump’s cabinet and other senior-level picks also served in some capacity in his first administration.

Some have been chosen for roles related to their previous jobs. Thomas Homan was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Mr. Trump’s first term and has been named the border czar, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, for the coming term.

Others have been tapped for roles less related to their previous positions. Ms. McMahon was the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, and she is now Mr. Trump’s choice for education secretary.

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Several on this list did not have official, full-time jobs during Mr. Trump’s last term, but they were chosen by him to sit on advisory boards. Those people include Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Musk.


Explore the members of Mr. Trump’s proposed senior staff below.

Scott Bessent
Potential role

Treasury secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Jay Bhattacharya
Potential role

National Institutes of Health director

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
James Blair
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Todd Blanche
Potential role

Deputy attorney general

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Pam Bondi
Potential role

Attorney general

Role in
first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Massad Boulos
Potential role

Senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
James Braid
Potential role

White House legislative affairs director

Role in
first term

Deputy to the associate director for
legislative affairs

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Taylor Budowich
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Doug Burgum
Potential role

Interior secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Brendan Carr
Potential role

F.C.C. chairman

Role in
first term

F.C.C. commissioner

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Potential role

Labor secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Steven Cheung
Potential role

White House communications director

Role in
first term

White House director of strategic response

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Doug Collins
Potential role

Veterans affairs secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Sean Duffy
Potential role

Transportation secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Yes
Tulsi Gabbard
Potential role

Director of national intelligence

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Sergio Gor
Potential role

White House director of personnel

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Sebastian Gorka
Potential role

Deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism

Role in
first term

Deputy assistant to the president and strategist

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Jamieson Greer
Potential role

U.S. trade representative

Role in
first term

Chief of staff to trade representative

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Vince Haley
Potential role

Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Role in
first term

Deputy assistant to the president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Kevin Hassett
Potential role

Director of White House National Economic Council

Role in
first term

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Pete Hegseth
Potential role

Defense secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Pete Hoekstra
Potential role

Ambassador to Canada

Role in
first term

Ambassador to the Netherlands

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Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Thomas Homan
Potential role

Border czar

Role in
first term

Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Mike Huckabee
Potential role

Ambassador to Israel

Role in
first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Keith Kellogg
Potential role

Special envoy to Ukraine and Russia

Role in
first term

National security adviser to the vice president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Potential role

Health and human services secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Charles Kushner
Potential role

Ambassador to France

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Alex Latcham
Potential role

White House public liaison director

Role in
first term

Special assistant to the president

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Karoline Leavitt
Potential role

White House press secretary

Role in
first term

Assistant White House press secretary

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Howard Lutnick
Potential role

Commerce secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Martin A. Makary
Potential role

F.D.A. commissioner

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Bill McGinley
Potential role

White House counsel

Role in
first term

White House cabinet secretary

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Linda McMahon
Potential role

Education secretary

Role in
first term

Small business administrator

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Stephen Miller
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

Senior adviser

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Elon Musk
Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in
first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Janette Nesheiwat
Potential role

U.S. surgeon general

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Kristi Noem
Potential role

Homeland security secretary

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Jim O’Neill
Potential role

Deputy secretary of health and human services

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Mehmet Oz
Potential role

Medicare and Medicaid administrator

Role in
first term

Member of president’s council on sports, fitness and nutrition

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Kash Patel
Potential role

F.B.I. director

Role in
first term

Chief of staff to acting defense secretary

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
John Phelan
Potential role

Navy secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Matt Brasseaux
Potential role

White House political affairs director

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Vivek Ramaswamy
Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in
first term

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
John Ratcliffe
Potential role

C.I.A. director

Role in
first term

Director of national intelligence

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Brooke Rollins
Potential role

Agriculture secretary

Role in
first term

Acting domestic policy adviser

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Marco Rubio
Potential role

Secretary of state

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
D. John Sauer
Potential role

U.S. solicitor general

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Dan Scavino
Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in
first term

White House deputy chief of staff

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Will Scharf
Potential role

White House staff secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Elise Stefanik
Potential role

U.N. ambassador

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Scott Turner
Potential role

Housing and urban development secretary

Role in
first term

Executive director of White House opportunity and revitalization council

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
JD Vance
Potential role

Vice president

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Russell T. Vought
Potential role

Office of Management and Budget director

Role in
first term

Office of Management and Budget director

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Michael Waltz
Potential role

National security adviser

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Yes
Lobbyist
Dave Weldon
Potential role

C.D.C. director

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Matthew Whitaker
Potential role

NATO ambassador

Role in
first term

Acting attorney general

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Susie Wiles
Potential role

White House chief of staff

Role in
first term

Advertisement
Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Yes
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Steven Witkoff
Potential role

Middle East envoy

Role in
first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare
Yes
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Alex Wong
Potential role

Assistant to the president and principal deputy national security adviser

Role in
first term

Deputy special representative for North Korea

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Yes
Chris Wright
Potential role

Energy secretary

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Yes
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist
Lee Zeldin
Potential role

E.P.A. administrator

Role in
first term

Billionare
Major donor
Hosted M.A.L.
event(s)
Yes
Attended
N.Y. trial
Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI
Yes
Ties
to Fox
Lobbyist

Methodology

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This list reflects 61 cabinet and senior-level position picks that Mr. Trump had announced as of noon Eastern on Dec. 2.

To determine ties to Project 2025, The Times checked Mr. Trump’s proposed staff members against the authors, editors and contributors to the Project 2025 playbook, as well as the instructor lists in Project 2025’s training programs. Ties to the America First Policy Institute were determined by whether an individual had a listed role on the conservative group’s website or has served as a fellow for the group.

To determine ties to Fox News, The Times searched for each staff pick on Fox’s website, which lists individuals’ affiliations with Fox News. In instances where a biographical page was not available for a nominee, The Times attempted a further search on the Internet Archive and consulted news articles that described other relationships between the potential nominees and appointees and Fox News. In many cases, nominees had a presence on the Fox News website in the form of submitted opinion articles, but were not described as Fox contributors, so The Times did not classify them as being tied to Fox directly.

Accounts by Times reporters and photographers who covered Mr. Trump’s trial in New York were used to determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks attended the trial.

Those labeled billionaires have been referred to as such in other Times coverage.

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Major donors include people who gave at least $250,000 to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle.

The Times used congressional lobbying disclosure databases to determine whether an individual is or has ever been a registered lobbyist.

To determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks hosted or co-hosted an event at Mar-a-Lago, The Times used permits from the town of Palm Beach; federal, state and county campaign finance records; tax records; social media posts; and promotional materials from organizations that held events.

The Times used the official White House archive from the first Trump administration to determine whether people selected for the second administration also served in the first. Some held multiple positions during the course of the administration. In most cases, the chart reflects the last position they held.

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McCarthy says Trump will use ‘everything he can’ to force Senate action on SAVE America Act

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McCarthy says Trump will use ‘everything he can’ to force Senate action on SAVE America Act

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As infighting over the SAVE America Act throws congressional Republicans into disarray, President Donald Trump’s bid to get the stalled election bill across the finish line gained one notable ally.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News Digital that he supports the election integrity measure and indicated that Trump should continue to use every available tool to pressure the Senate to pass it.

“He’s going to try everything he can to make sure he passes that through,” McCarthy said in a brief interview outside the U.S. Capitol. 

The ex-speaker’s comments came after Trump abruptly called off a signing ceremony Wednesday for a bipartisan housing bill to pressure the Republican-controlled Senate to act on the SAVE America Act.

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President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs Reading Regional Airport in Reading, Pa., on June 23, 2026. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

IRATE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE TRUMP OF HANDING DEMOCRATS A WIN AFTER BLOWING UP HOUSING PACKAGE

The move surprised Republican lawmakers, some of whom were praising the bill’s passage at a press conference when Trump’s Truth Social post broke.

But Trump has repeatedly cast the election measure — requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections and voter identification requirements — as his top legislative priority.

The legislation’s momentum, however, has slowed in the upper chamber, where Republican leadership insists the votes aren’t there amid widespread Democratic opposition. Senate Republicans have also been unwilling to eliminate the legislative filibuster, which requires a 60-vote threshold to pass the legislation.

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Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks during a ceremony honoring President Ronald Reagan on the 115th anniversary of his birthday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2026. (Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group)

TRUMP CALLS MAIL IN VOTING CORRUPT AS SENATE BEGINS DEBATE ON SAVE ACT REQUIRING VOTER ID

Amid the SAVE standoff, a group of conservative lawmakers effectively shut down the House floor in an effort to force Senate action on the election bill. 

But the Senate recessed Wednesday for two weeks over the July 4 holiday, leaving the measure in limbo until lawmakers return.

The conservative-led blockade sparked fierce backlash, with several members inside the GOP conference telling Fox News Digital the move risked torpedoing their own legislative agenda.

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Meanwhile, the House has also yet to pass a version of the legislation incorporating several of the president’s priorities, including a mail-in voting crackdown and provisions banning men from competing in women’s sports and child sex change procedures. 

Trump has not indicated whether he will sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, despite the likely existence of a veto-proof majority.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters Thursday that the housing bill had been transmitted to the White House for Trump’s signature following a meeting with the president.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol on June 10, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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Trump now has 10 days to sign the package or veto it. If he does nothing, the legislation automatically becomes law at the end of the 10-day period.

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Trump budget request omits funds for L.A. fire relief, prompting criticism from senators

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Trump budget request omits funds for L.A. fire relief, prompting criticism from senators

California’s two Democratic senators on Thursday criticized the Trump administration after it requested $87.6 billion from Congress to address some of the nation’s most “urgent needs” but omitted funding for victims of last year’s Los Angeles wildfires.

“Donald Trump’s desire to punish Los Angeles and the state of California for not voting for him, means once again that thousands of Angelinos are left watching this administration fight for anything but them, their businesses, and their communities,” Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff said in a joint statement.

“These fires did not discriminate based on party or political preference. Neither should this administration,” they added.

The omission is the latest strain in a yearlong standoff between California leaders and the Trump administration over federal disaster aid, and it comes after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger met with President Trump at the Oval Office in April to request the funding.

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At the meeting, Trump signaled his commitment to working with local officials to help with disaster recovery efforts. The officials asked for $16 billion that would be split between the city and county. The money would consist primarily of disbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency flagged for communities hit by the fires, part of a $33.9-billion wildfire relief funding request made by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Two months later, those talks have yet to yield results sought by local leaders.

The budget request, submitted by the Office of Management and Budget on Wednesday, mostly seeks funding for the Pentagon to address costs related to the Iran war. It also includes $11.1 billion in economic assistance for American farmers, $1.4 billion to address the Ebola virus outbreak in Central Africa, $500 million to support “ongoing efforts to complete restorations and construction projects” across the nation’s capital and $1 billion to boost the pensions of workers at General Motors that were cut as a result of the automaker’s bankruptcy.

“I urge the Congress to take action on these important and urgent requests as soon as possible,” White House budget director Russell Vought wrote in a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Vought said the administration was open to discussing “additional relief for other urgent matters.” The White House did not immediately respond when asked why the budget request did not mention the Eaton and Palisades disaster relief funds.

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State leaders, including Newsom, have repeatedly accused the Trump administration of stonewalling billions in wildfire aid. The governor visited Washington in December to meet with lawmakers, including three who serve on the Senate and House appropriations committees, to push for the funding.

The governor also attempted to meet with FEMA about the matter, but said his request was denied. Newsom, a political foe of Trump’s, would not say whether he had attempted to meet with Trump to talk about the recovery efforts.

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Trump administration pledges $150M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes

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Trump administration pledges 0M in aid, deploys Navy warships after deadly Venezuela earthquakes

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Following a catastrophic set of earthquakes that left at least 235 people dead in Venezuela, the Trump administration has activated a government-wide humanitarian response, pledging $150 million in aid and deploying U.S. Navy warships to assist in life-saving rescue operations.

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The rapid mobilization Thursday comes after back-to-back magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela roughly 120 miles west of Caracas Wednesday night. 

The rare earthquake “doublet” injured more than 940 people and turned the state of La Guaira into a disaster zone, while forcing the closure of the damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport, according to Venezuela’s Health Ministry.

US RESCUE TEAMS TO DESCEND ON HARD-HIT CARIBBEAN AFTER CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE MELISSA’S IMPACT

Rescuers search for victims in a collapsed building following an earthquake in Caracas on June 24, 2026. (Manaure Quintero / AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. Department of State announced on Thursday it is mobilizing $150 million in aid, which includes $50 million in new bilateral awards for relief partners on the ground — such as Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services and World Vision — along with a $100 million contribution to a United Nations humanitarian pooled fund.

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To spearhead efforts on the ground, the State Department has deployed a regional Disaster Assistance Response Team alongside two highly specialized urban search-and-rescue teams from fire departments in Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California. 

U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS

Members of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s international urban search and rescue team (USA-2) prepare to leave for Venezuela, in Pacoima, Calif., Thursday. (Blake Fagan/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said it is surging assigned U.S. military forces to the region, directing the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS Billings to Venezuela to back the State Department-led operations.

The USS Fort Lauderdale will serve as a “floating command center” with a flight deck to support heavy-lift helicopters and a well deck to launch landing craft, according to SOUTHCOM.

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Meanwhile, the agile USS Billings will provide critical support close to the shorelines to accelerate the disaster response missions.

U.S. SOUTHCOM said it has directed USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and USS Billings (LCS 15) to Venezuela to support State Department-led U.S. government relief operations in Venezuela. (@Southcom/X)

SOUTHCOM said it is also sending rotary-wing aircraft, which will provide critical life-saving airlift support, transporting U.S. government response personnel, search and rescue teams and partners during relief operations.

Amid the crisis, the State Department emphasized that the safety of U.S. citizens remains the administration’s highest priority.

“The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to U.S. citizens and their families in the affected areas,” officials wrote in a statement. “The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to helping Venezuela recover from this devastating disaster and will continue to explore additional ways to provide meaningful assistance during this critical time.”

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U.S. citizens in Venezuela are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and can contact the State Department 24/7 at 202-501-4444 for emergency assistance.

Family members in the U.S. seeking information on loved ones can call toll-free at 888-407-4747.

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