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The US President has a key role in appointing the leaders who manage key aspects of US government and foreign policy, influencing the political and administrative direction of the country. The appointments the US President can make are in accordance with the US Constitution and federal laws and most of these appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.
Republicans, after the Senate, also won a majority in the House of Representatives. With majorities in the two chambers, Trump will have no problems implementing his political agenda and this we could say without hesitation gives him the opportunity to control everything in Washington. Trump and American conservatives control the presidency and both houses of the legislature. Although there are almost two months to go before the 47th president takes office in the White House on January 20, Trump has already announced some of his team.
Ahead of the transfer of power between the current Biden administration and the one Trump will lead for the next four years, a meeting (Wednesday, November 13) between the two leaders took place at the White House. While the two have sparred quite seriously in recent years (Biden has labeled Trump a danger to democracy and Trump has called Biden incompetent), the latest meeting between the two was about as decent as it gets. Joe Biden promised Trump a smooth transfer of power.
“It will be as smooth as smooth can be. Politics is rough and it’s often not a pleasant world, but today it is, and I’m grateful that it’s going to be as smooth a transition as it can be, Joe,” Trump replied to Biden during the talks.
Republican Congressman Michael Waltz appointed as national security adviser
The appointment of Florida Republican Congressman Mike Waltz to the ultra-strategic position of White House national security adviser was announced by Donald Trump on the 12th of November. Trump introduced Mike Waltz as an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran and global terrorism. Mike Waltz, who has promised to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, will be the foreign policy architect of Trump’s second term. In the past, the congressman has portrayed himself as a staunch defender of Trump’s “America first” foreign policy program. Waltz, with a 27-year career in the military (a former Special Forces fighter served in Afghanistan) sits on three established policy committees: intelligence, foreign affairs and military. The post of national security adviser is one of the most important in the White House.
“I am honored to announce that Mike Waltz, a member of Congress, is appointed national security adviser in my cabinet,” Donald Trump said in a statement.
On the nearly 1000-day conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Mike Waltz argued that there is a way for the US to end this war.
“We can do it economically, we can do it diplomatically,” Mike Waltz told CNN.
Mike Huckabee takes over as US ambassador to Israel
Also on Tuesday (Nov. 12), Donald Trump announced that he will appoint former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel.
“He adores Israel and the people of Israel, and reciprocally, the people of Israel adore him. Mike will work tirelessly to return peace to the Middle East!” said Trump in a statement.
Israel’s main ally is the United States and Trump’s return to the White House creates uncertainty over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Trump has said he does not want to involve the US in wars.
“I will not start a war. I’m going to stop them,” Trump claimed.
It is known that during his first term in office, Trump made numerous actions considered to be in favor of Israel. Among these actions was recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as well as suspending financial support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Also during his first term in office Trump contributed to normalizing relations between Israel and Arab countries under the Abraham Accords.
John Ratcliffe takes over as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The new CIA chief will be the former Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Considered a close ally of the president-elect on the 5th of November, John Ratcliffe served as DNI chief in Trump’s first term for 10 months (May 2020-January 2021). In recent history Ratcliffe has served as co-chair of the Center for American Security (CSA). CSA is a think-tank that advised Trump during the 2024 campaign on national security issues. In 2020 when he was confirmed as head of the DNI by the Republican-majority Senate, all Democratic senators voted against Ratcliffe’s nomination citing his lack of experience and his support for Trump. Now that Republicans have a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, John Ratcliffe will be unemotionally approved as CIA Director.
“I look forward to John being the first person to ever serve in the top two positions in our intelligence community. He will be a fearless fighter for the constitutional rights of all Americans, while ensuring the highest levels of national security and peace through strength,” Trump claimed in the statement announcing the nomination of John Ratcliffe as CIA director.
As the future special envoy to the Middle East, businessman and philanthropist Steve Witkoff is considered a respected leader. He has, according to Trump’s claims, made every project and community he has been involved in stronger and thriving. Witkoff, known as a personality in the world of global real estate trends, founded Witkoff Real Estate in 1997. Prior to that, he co-founded the real estate firm Stellar Management Company and was the legal representative for investors at Dreyer & Traub and Rosenman & Colin. Along with former senator Kelly Loeffler, Steve Witkoff will handle Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
“He will be a relentless voice for peace and will make us all proud,” Trump says.
Elon Musk to head new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)
One of Donald Trump’s closest friends, along with a major donor during this year’s presidential campaign, will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. They are Vivek Ramaswamy (former Republican presidential candidate) and Elon Musk. DOGE’s work is due to end no later than July 4, 2026. This date coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. The president-elect explained that DOGE will provide advice and guidance from outside the administration.
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce excessive regulation, cut wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies. They will provide advice and guidance from outside the administration and work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to promote large-scale structural reforms and stamp an entrepreneurial approach to government never before seen”,Trump says.
Alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, 53-year-old Elon Musk will head the new Department of Government Efficiency. Ranked by Forbes as the richest man on the planet (his fortune is estimated at more than $300 billion), he revealed (in May 2021) that he has Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) and that more recently, to treat his tendency towards depression, he has been using ketamine (a powerful anesthetic sometimes misused for stimulant or euphoric purposes). The owner of the social media platform X and Founder of Tesla (the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles) and SpaceX, was one of the largest contributors during Trump’s presidential campaign (over 100 million dollars) . Musk is the father of twelve children and has been divorced three times. To sever all ties with his father one of his transgender daughters has filed a formal request to change her surname and gender. Analysts expect the billionaire to exert his influence in the new position to help his companies and receive favorable government treatment.
Marco Rubio – Secretary of State, Tulsi Gabbard- head of the National Intelligence Directorate
US media reports gave Florida Senator Marco Rubio the first chance to become Secretary of State. Marco Rubio is known for his anti-China stances and Trump has labeled him as a staunch defender of the American nation, a true friend to allies and a fearless warrior who will never back down in the face of adversaries. Tulsi Gabbard, a former military and Democratic Party defector, will head the National Intelligence Directorate. Gabbard posted on X, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying the war could have been avoided if the Biden administration and NATO had simply heeded Russia’s legitimate concerns about Ukraine’s possible NATO membership.
Senior officers to be fired
A list of senior officers to be fired, in what is being labeled an unprecedented Pentagon reshuffle, is on the desk of President-elect Trump’s transition team. These alleged future firings are still in the early stages of discussion and could change as the Trump administration takes shape. The president-elect has publicly lashed out at defense chiefs who have criticized him but it’s unclear whether he will move to mass layoffs at the Pentagon at a time of global turmoil, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump has often talked about firing “woke” generals and those responsible for the problematic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
At the same time Tom Homan will be in charge of the largest operation to expel illegal migrants in US history. Homan will be tasked with implementing Trump’s promise to deport illegal migrants. Trump’s first major appointment was Susie Wiles, as chief of staff. A campaign architect, Wiles brought her the vote for Trump to 312 major electors compared to the 226 that Kamala Harris got. JFK’s nephew has been appointed to the post of Secretary of Health. By profession lawyer Robert Kennedy Jr. (70) ran as an independent presidential candidate but withdrew from the race in favor of Trump. Robert Kennedy Jr is known for spreading conspiracy theories and has been skeptical of vaccines.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the food industry and pharmaceutical labs that have engaged in public health deception and misinformation. He will restore America to health,” President-elect Donald Trump said on his Truth Social network.