Some of Trump’s key cabinet picks provide clues to how his administration will approach the business world
President-elect Donald Trump is quickly fleshing out his cabinet, giving a sense of what his second administration will look like.
Trump’s slew of picks announced in recent days share a common theme: loyalty. (You can find the running list of Trump administration staffers here.)
With Republicans maintaining control of the House and winning the Senate, the president-elect will enter the White House this January with incredible power to shape the country to his vision.
Let’s break down some of Trump’s recent appointments and the impact they could have on the business world:
US Attorney General — Matt Gaetz: A surprising pick, to say the least, the representative from Florida caused havoc within his own party when he led the push to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership last year.
Gaetz was also the subject of sex-trafficking allegations that led to an investigation by the very agency he’s being nominated to lead. (The Department of Justice declined to pursue charges, but he’d been facing a probe from the House Ethics Committee.) House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that Gaetz had resigned from Congress.
He’s also clashed with the tech industry, suggesting Americans have an “obligation to use” their Second Amendment right when it comes to Silicon Valley companies censoring conservatives. Gaetz’s appointment requires confirmation from the Senate, which is far from a shoo-in.
Secretary of State — Marco Rubio: The Florida senator is an outspoken critic of China and a supporter of Taiwan. In fact, China sanctioned him twice, and his ability to travel to the country is somewhat in question.
The appointment adds another wrinkle to the heightening tension between the US and China. Trump has said he wants aggressive tariffs against Chinese imports, and Rubio has raised the alarm on what he views as China’s plan to harm the US economy.
Pete Hegseth is a veteran who became famous as a Fox News host. Now he’s Trump’s nominee for defense secretary.
Secretary of Defense — Pete Hegseth: The Army veteran and Fox News host has been outspoken about the US involvement in geopolitical conflicts. Hegseth is among the growing number of Republicans questioning the US support of Ukraine. He also said he doubted Russia would invade Poland if it successfully took over Ukraine.
When it comes to Israel, Hegseth has been a staunch supporter. He’s also pushed back against calls for a cease-fire and criticized pro-Palestinian protesters.
Hegseth’s takes aren’t limited to international affairs. He’s been critical of women serving in combat roles and diversity and equity policies in the US military.
Treasury secretary — TBD: Trump’s pick for his top economic advisor is being closely watched considering the key role the economy played in the election. The two front runners appear to be Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive, and Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of Trump’s transition team and the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald.
Bessent was initially viewed as the favorite, but Lutnick is reportedly making a last-ditch effort to be considered for the job.
