Roll call of people who could serve in Trump's administration

The selection process is expected to be based on loyalty to Mr. Trump and his vision for America. President-elect Trump and his team have identified a number of close allies who could be appointed to cabinet positions or have roles in the White House.

President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters)

The list of people who could serve in a Trump administration includes:

Billionaire Elon Musk

Billionaire Elon Musk was one of the most vocal supporters of Mr. Trump during the recent election. Because of that, this billionaire could become an influential figure in the upcoming US administration.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and social network X, is not expected to take a seat in the administration and it is unclear whether he will have an official government title. The billionaire has said he would like to serve on a commission to cut government spending. He could also advise President Trump on issues such as immigration and electric vehicles. Musk has nominated several employees of one of his companies, SpaceX, for government positions, according to the New York Times.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump has spoken publicly about giving Robert F. Kennedy a key administration position related to health, food and women’s health. The position would not be a cabinet position, but would be assigned to oversee health and food, according to one source. Nominees for administration positions must be confirmed by the Senate, which could be difficult for Kennedy even with a Republican majority.

Kennedy has said he would likely seek to reshape public health policy regardless of his position. He has also said the Food and Drug Administration should be abolished and that he would seek more data on vaccines, although he would not seek to eliminate them. Kennedy has been criticized for his anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller served as a senior adviser to President Trump during his first term and is expected to serve in the same role at the White House.

Mr. Miller was the architect of some of Mr. Trump's first-term immigration policies, including an executive order banning people from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Miller will have a key role as the president-elect seeks to deliver on his promises to deport people en masse, reduce protected status for certain groups and restrict immigration to the U.S. Miller’s position will not require Senate confirmation, several sources said.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio

According to many sources, Senator Marco Rubio is one of the candidates for the position of US Secretary of State.

Marco Rubio has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was on the short list of people to be Trump's running mate and, if nominated for Secretary of State, would have no difficulty in getting confirmed by the Senate.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum

Mr. Trump has said several times that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum would be his choice for Secretary of Energy.

“Governor Burgum probably knows more about energy than anybody I know,” Trump said at a campaign rally. When Trump called Burgum to tell him he had been chosen as his running mate, he greeted Burgum as “Mr. Secretary.”

Republican Senator Bill Hagerty

Bill Hagerty served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan under the first Trump administration and could be nominated for secretary of state, treasury secretary or commerce secretary. Before serving as ambassador and senator, Hagerty was an economic adviser to President George W. Bush and then a top economic official in Tennessee.

Robert O'Brien

Robert O'Brien, who previously served as Trump's top hostage negotiator and then national security adviser, is seen as a potential candidate for secretary of state or a key position on Trump's national security team.

Congressman Mike Waltz

Mike Waltz is a veteran who has publicly expressed his desire to serve in the Trump administration. Mr. Walz could be a pick for Secretary of Defense or head of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Richard Grenell

Richard Grenell is a top Trump ally and former US ambassador to Germany and acting director of intelligence. He is also a candidate for US secretary of state.

Mr. Grenell accompanied Mr. Trump in a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and has been a constant presence in Mr. Trump's campaign.

John Paulson

John Paulson is said to be among those being considered for the position of Treasury Secretary. Mr. Paulson is a hedge fund manager who contributed to all three of Mr. Trump's White House campaigns.

This is the top economic position in a government and is part of the cabinet.

Senator Eric Schmitt

Eric Schmitt is well-liked by Mr. Trump and his allies and is a likely pick for attorney general.

Mr. Schmitt served as Missouri attorney general and assisted Mr. Trump in preparing for the June debate with President Biden.

Other notable characters

Other notable names in the Trump administration's selection process include James Blair, who oversaw the campaign's political operations; Margo Martin, who served in the first Trump administration's press office; Representative Thomas Massie, who has said he is ready and willing to take a position at the Department of Agriculture in the incoming administration; Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate who has turned to Trump; and Brooke Rollins, who headed Trump's domestic policy team during his first term and is now the head of the America First Policy Institute.

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