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Marco Rubio, Matt Gaetz nominated

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President-elect Donald Trump continues to round out his new administration and announced additional positions on Wednesday.

After meeting President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss the transition of power, he confirmed the nominations of several key allies to join his Cabinet, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as secretary of state.

The president-elect also announced he plans to bring Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with him when he takes office again on Jan. 20.

On Tuesday, he announced that Tesla CEO and billionaire backer Elon Musk will lead what he calls the “Ministry of Government Efficiency” alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Its announcement said the two tech entrepreneurs would offer “advice and guidance from outside government.” The creation of the new department would benefit from congressional support, made possible because Republicans won both the U.S. House and Senate in this election.

Here's what you should know about the latest picks for Trump's Cabinet.

Trump Transition Live Updates: Rubio is nominated for Secretary of State; Gaetz AG

Trump appoints Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

Trump has agreed to nominate U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as the next secretary of state, the president-elect announced Wednesday.

The Cuban American, who went from being a Trump opponent to a close ally, is said to be the first Latino to hold the position. He brings extensive foreign policy experience and currently serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has held his seat in the Senate since 2011.

“As Secretary of State, I will work every day to implement his foreign policy agenda. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will build peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else,” Rubio said in an interview post on X

US Senator Rick Scott of Florida wrote on Monday that his colleague would serve as the country's top diplomat in the incoming Trump administration. He emphasized that Rubio “will restore American leadership around the world, especially in Latin America, as he represents the United States with dignity and courage!”

Trump nominates Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general

Rep. Matt Gaetz will be named the next attorney general, Trump announced Wednesday. The firebrand lawmaker, who has represented Florida's 1st Congressional District since 2017, will soon oversee the Justice Department, which he has long criticized and investigated.

The Florida Republican later resigned from office “effective immediately,” setting up a special election for the western Florida district.

Gaetz accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of using the Justice Department as a weapon against Trump during his presidential campaign. He also claimed that FBI Director Christopher Wray “fortunately had no idea” about how agents conducted their investigations.

The House Ethics Committee has investigated Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. The DOJ ended the investigation in February 2023 without charging Gaetz.

Trump taps Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence

Trump also announced he would nominate former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, a Cabinet-level post.

The Army veteran previously served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She later ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, but switched to the Republican Party this year.

“I know that Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community by standing up for our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength,” Trump said in a statement.

Trump's Cabinet Decisions So Far: What We Know

  • Chief of Staff: Trump named his senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles As his White House chief of staff, she was the first woman in history to hold that title. The Florida political consultant largely stays out of the spotlight but has been credited with aiding Trump's political comeback.
  • Attorney General: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been named the next attorney general to oversee the Justice Department, which he has long criticized.
  • Foreign Minister: US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida will be named the next Secretary of State. He will bring foreign policy experience through his roles on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As a Cuban American, he will be the first Latino to become secretary of state.
  • Director of National Intelligence: Former Congressman Tulsi Gabbard is appointed director of national intelligence. The former Democratic presidential candidate turned Republican represented Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District from 2013 to 2021.
  • Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: Longtime Trump advisor Stephen Miller has been nominated to serve as deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump's next administration. The 39-year-old served as a senior adviser to Trump and head of speechwriting during the Republican's first term in the White House and is considered a co-creator of Trump's immigration policy.
  • Ambassador to the United Nations: Trump nominated Elise Stefanika five-term Republican who represents a district in northern New York as his choice for U.N. ambassador. She is the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and a former candidate for Trump's vice presidential running mate.
  • “Border Czar”: Trump appointed Tom Homan Monitoring deportation policy and aviation security. Homan was a Border Patrol agent for 34 years and served as acting ICE director in Trump's first administration. He stirred controversy over strict immigration enforcement, including the “zero tolerance” policy that separated families of undocumented immigrants.
  • EPA boss: Trump appointed Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zeldin was a congressman for parts of Long Island, New York and ran in the 2022 gubernatorial race but lost to Kathy Hochul.
  • National Security Advisor: Trump named Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. Waltz held civilian positions at the Pentagon, served on the House Armed Services Committee and supported Trump's isolationist view of foreign relations.
  • US Ambassador to Israel: Trump announced he was nominating a former candidate Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as its US ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and former Fox News host who twice unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination. His daughter is Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House press secretary during Trump's first presidency.
  • Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: Trump appointed his former director of national intelligence John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Ratcliffe was previously a member of the House of Representatives from Texas before serving as director of national intelligence at the end of Trump's first presidency.
  • Defense Minister: Trump nominated the Fox News host Pete Hegseth to the Minister of Defense. Hegseth, a Fox News commentator, served in the U.S. Army National Guard and led veterans advocacy groups.
  • Minister of Internal Security: Trump announced his election South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to become Minister of Internal Security. The election gives the hardline conservative governor, who has sent the state's National Guard to the southern border, a key role in immigration.
  • White House Counsel: Trump typed William McGinley to serve as his White House adviser. McGinley, a partner at the Washington-based law firm Holtzman Vogel, worked as a White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first presidency.

What are the cabinet positions?

The Cabinet advises the President on matters relating to his respective offices.

These are the Cabinet positions of the 15 executive departments that must be confirmed by the Senate:

  • Foreign Minister
  • Minister of Defense
  • Attorney General
  • Interior Minister
  • Minister of Agriculture
  • Minister of Commerce
  • Minister of Labor
  • Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Minister of Transport
  • Energy Minister
  • Minister of Education
  • Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  • Minister of Internal Security
  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
  • Finance Minister

Advisors to the Cabinet and the President also include the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, the Ambassador to the United Nations, the Director of National Intelligence, the U.S. Trade Representative, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors, the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the head of the Small Business Administration.

Featuring: Tom Vanden Brook, David Jackson, Savannah Kuchar, Victor Hagan, Bart Jansen, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Riley Beggin, Michael Collins, Joey Garrison; Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati investigator

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