Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr. and More: A Breakdown of Trump’s Cabinet Nominees
CONFIRMED
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Advocate for deficit reduction, has said he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt, including by slashing government programs and other spending.
- Former money manager for George Soros, a big Democratic donor, founded the hedge fund Key Square Capital Management.
- Would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
- Two-term governor of North Dakota and wealthy software executive.
- Ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination but dropped out and endorsed Trump, campaigning on his behalf for months.
- Was on Trump’s short list for vice president.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
- Former U.S. House member from Wisconsin and Fox Business host who was one of Trump’s most visible defenders on cable news.
- Served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing.
- Before entering politics, he was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy.
PETE HEGSETH
- Former co-host of Fox News Channel’s "Fox & Friends Weekend" and contributor with the network since 2014.
- Served in the Army National Guard from 2002 to 2021, deploying to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011 and earning two Bronze Stars but lacks senior military and national security experience.
- Confirmation prospects came into question after a woman told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her in 2017, according to a detailed investigative report recently made public.
- Reports have surfaced about his drinking, and questions have been raised about his comments that women should not serve in combat.
HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM
- Two-term governor of South Dakota.
- Has supported Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda, sending South Dakota troops to the border with Mexico to discourage migrants from entering the U.S.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR JOHN RATCLIFFE
- Former congressman from Texas.
- Served as director of national intelligence for the final months of Trump’s first term, leading the U.S. government’s spy agencies during the 2020 presidential election and the transition to a new administration.
- Ran for president as a Democrat, then as an independent, then endorsed Trump.
TULSI GABBARD – DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
- Former Democratic House member from Hawaii.
- Sought 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and left the party in 2022.
- Served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait.
- Has been accused of echoing Russian propaganda.
AWAITING HEARINGS
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer – Labor Secretary
- Republican U.S. House member from Oregon narrowly lost her reelection bid in November but had received strong backing from union members in her district.
- Endorsed legislation that would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns, penalize companies that violate workers’ rights and weaken "right-to-work" laws.
- Jamieson Greer – United States Trade Representative
- International trade attorney and partner at King & Spalding, a Washington law firm.
- Previously was chief of staff to Robert Lighthizer, who was the trade representative in Trump’s first term.
- Linda McMahon – Education Secretary
- Billionaire professional wrestling mogul. Led the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019 in Trump’s first term.
- Twiced ran unsuccessfully in Connecticut as a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate.
- Has expressed support for charter schools and school choice.
CONCLUSION
The nominees for Trump’s cabinet have undergone various levels of scrutiny, with some having received confirmation and others awaiting hearings. The confirmation process has been marked by controversy and debate, particularly surrounding the appointments of Pete Hegseth and John Ratcliffe.
FAQs
- Who is Pete Hegseth?
- Pete Hegseth is a former co-host of Fox News Channel’s "Fox & Friends Weekend" and contributor with the network since 2014. He is a veteran of the Army National Guard and has been a vocal defender of Trump.
- What is the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth’s appointment?
- Hegseth’s appointment has been met with controversy due to allegations of sexual assault and his comments on women serving in combat.
- Who is John Ratcliffe?
- John Ratcliffe is a former congressman from Texas and director of national intelligence for the final months of Trump’s first term. He ran for president as a Democrat and later endorsed Trump.
- What is the significance of Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment?
- Tulsi Gabbard’s appointment as director of national intelligence is significant due to her history as a Democratic presidential candidate and her departure from the Democratic Party in 2022.
