Elon Musk, Robert Kennedy Jr., Mike Pompeo, Mark Rubio: that is, the richest man in the world, well-known Republicans and many of his loyal supporters are likely to join the new administration of Donald Trump.
The Republican transition team is expected to present a first list of ministers and advisers "in the coming days and weeks", ahead of his inauguration on January 20.
Who will be the "who is who" of the new Trump administration?
"There are people coming back, some new ones joining the team, not just big names, but Democrats, independents, from the corporate space," Jason Miller, an adviser to the billionaire, told Fox News without confirming the names. released by the media.
Yesterday, Thursday, Trump announced his first major appointment: 67-year-old campaign manager Susie Wiles as his chief of staff.
This is a strategically important position in the White House, with Wiles becoming the first woman to hold it.
The president's chief of staff usually has a lot of influence: he manages the White House staff, organizes the president's schedule and time, and maintains contact with government agencies and congressmen.
"Susie is tough, smart, innovative, admired and respected by all," Trump said in a statement. "I have no doubt he will do our country proud."
People who have worked with Wiles said yesterday that she would provide stability and sound counsel to the Republican.
Her position will be even more critical as Trump in his previous term as US president (2017-2021) changed four chiefs of staff – an unusually high number – who failed to manage the unpredictable president.
In fact, one of them, retired general John Kelly, called him a "fascist" in October.
Wiles has worked on Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign and helped Florida Sen. Ron DeSandis get elected in 2018. She also worked on both of Trump's previous campaigns, in 2016 and 2020.
Grenell, Pompeo, Musk and Kennedy
The secretary of state is the face of the US abroad and should implement Trump's "America First" policy of isolationism, especially vis-à-vis Ukraine, NATO and Europe.
For this position, the name of Richard Grenell, former US ambassador to Germany (2018-2020), is heard strongly. He has served as interim Director of Intelligence and Special Envoy for Kosovo and Serbia. Besides, Grenell participated in the Republican's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"To avoid war, it's better to have a bastard as a diplomat," said Trump earlier this year, who has boasted that in his first term the US has not been involved in new wars and has pledged to end conflicts in the Middle East. East and Ukraine.
According to the American press, Grenell could take the position of homeland security adviser in the White House, in which case Marco Rubio will become secretary of state.
The Florida senator told CNN he is "still interested in serving the country."
Mike Pompeo, secretary of state in the previous Trump administration, is tipped to take over as Pentagon chief.
Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a staunch supporter of Trump, is being considered for the position of US ambassador to the UN, a source familiar with the matter said.
The director of the CIA may be an ultra-conservative ex-congressman from Texas, John Ratcliffe.
Besides, Elon Musk, who invested more than 100 million in Trump's election campaign, he may undertake to deeply reorganize the federal state, taking over a department of "Government Efficiency".
If Musk and Trump manage to maintain the close relationship they have built, they have stated that they wish to cut 2 trillion. dollars from the federal state budget, which amounts to 7 trillion. But they still haven't specified the way.
For his part, Robert Kennedy Jr., nephew of assassinated US President JFK and a former independent presidential candidate who ran with Trump, may be in charge of public health policies.
A known critic of vaccines, he told NBC that he "will not deprive anyone of vaccines," but added that Americans should be able to "decide for themselves."
Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, will not return to the White House, the Financial Times reported today, but could advise the new president on his Middle East policy.
Source: protothema.gr