Bhubaneswar: With the USA Elections 2024 done and dusted, and Trump making a stunning comeback to the White House with a smart win over Democrat rival and VP Kamala Harris, the gossip in America is now hovering around the who’s who going to be in the Donald Trump's team 2.0.
And with the campaign behind him, Trump can now turn his attention to putting together a cabinet and a staff to carry out his agenda. Time for Trump to implement his slogan "Trump Will Fix it."
In order to get a whiff on who will be in Don’s 2.0 team, a glance at the media gossips (US Today and The Sun) worldwide put the glare on the following personalities.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he mounted his own bid for president as an independent after failing to gain traction in the Democratic primary. Finding that didn’t work out, Jr Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.
Kennedy, an anti-vaccine activist with no medical degree, is expected to land a prominent position in the new administration. Kennedy during the Covid-19 pandemic has frequently repeated unfounded claims, including linking vaccines to autism in children.
In Madison Square Garden rally in October, Trump told supporters he would let Kennedy “go wild on health.”
More so, Kennedy Jr has hinted at one possible initiative, taking on to X, Jr Kennedy said, "the Trump White House will advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water," on inauguration day.
This hints at Kennedy Jr getting a top assignment on Health.
Elon Musk
The new owner of X (formerly twitter) and billionaire businessman, investor has been an ardent Trump supporter. He pumped over $118 million to a Trump-backing political action committee, besides using his social media platform X to spread “false and misleading claims” about voter fraud.
Now, Trump will return the favor. During his victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning, Trump has said he plans to establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to be headed by Musk.
At an event in September, Trump said, “The department would be tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government."
Stephen Miller
Known for his anti-immigration views, Miller served as senior advisor to Trump during his first term and is credited with shaping Trump’s immigration policies, which included separating migrant children from their families and a ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries. Trump has vowed to mobilize mass deportations during his second term. Miller, who campaigned for Trump 2.0, is expected to play a role in that effort.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Indian American Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who has never held public office, sought the GOP nomination for president but backed Trump after suspending his campaign in January. Ramaswamy has been an ardent Trump supporter, appearing frequently on the cable news shows to defend Trump against his critics. Trump has hinted that Ramaswamy could have a role in his administration, suggesting that he could oversee major government initiatives.
Michael Flynn
A retired Army lieutenant general, Flynn was an early supporter of Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign and served as Trump’s national security adviser during his first term. Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials in late 2016. Trump pardoned Flynn in the final weeks of his first term. Flynn, among the most vocal of a cadre of Trump allies calling for prosecution and even violence against Trump’s political enemies, spent the past year crisscrossing the country recruiting an army of volunteers to help carry out Trump’s vow of retribution on the “enemy within.”
Mike Pompeo
The former CIA director and secretary of state is considered a top contender for either defense secretary, reports The Sun.
Among Trump's closest allies, he is one of the fiercest defenders of Ukraine.
As per The Sun report, Mike Waltz, a congressman from Florida, and Tom Cotton, a Harvard College and Harvard Law School-educated Army officer-turned-senator from Arkansas, are also believed to be in the running for the defence role.
Richard Grenell
As per a report in The Sun, Among Mr Trump's closest aides on foreign policy, Richard Grenell is thought to be a potential pick for national security adviser.
Mr Grenell has in the past supported establishing an autonomous zone in eastern Ukraine to end the war, an idea that Kyiv rejected as unacceptable.
Larry Kudlow
The Sun reports that Fox News personality Larry Kudlow served as director of the National Economic Council for much of Mr Trump's first term and is said to be a contender for his treasury secretary this time around.
Other names being linked to the post include John Paulson - a billionaire hedge fund manager and donor, who hosted a fundraiser that raked in more than $50m (£38m) for the former president.
Marco Rubio
The Sun further reports that Marco Rubio, a Florida senator, who unsuccessfully ran against Mr Trump to be the Republican's presidential candidate in 2016, is a potential candidate for secretary of state.
His policies are very much in line with Mr Trump's and he was a contender to be his 2024 running mate before JD Vance landed the role.
Bill Hagerty - another of the running mate contenders - is also being linked to the position, as is Robert O'Brien, who served as Mr Trump's fourth and final national security adviser during his first term.
WHO IS OUT?
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump
The president-elect’s eldest daughter and son-in-law were among his closest advisers during his first term but stepped away from politics after his defeat in 2020.
When Trump began his third bid for the White House nearly two years ago, Ivanka Trump said she and her husband planned to prioritize their children and family life. Neither played a role in his re-election campaign, although they did appear on stage with him at his victory celebration in West Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning.
In June 2023, Mr Trump said he didn't want his children to serve in a second administration, saying it was "too painful for the family".
