President-elect Donald Trump made a series of swift announcements on Friday evening, starting at 6:52 p.m. with his pick for Treasury secretary, followed by a director for the Office of Management and Budget, Labor secretary, deputy national security adviser, and surgeon general. By the end of the evening, he had named nine high-ranking officials for his administration. The next day, Trump completed his core Cabinet roles with the nomination of Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary.
This fast-paced transition process is a departure from Trump’s 2016 transition, marked by a flurry of surprising decisions made at a rapid pace. Within just two and a half weeks since Election Day, Trump had filled 20 key administration roles, including leaders for all 15 executive agencies. There are still four top positions awaiting official appointments, which could potentially be elevated to cabinet level at the president’s discretion.
The speed and volume of these nominations contrast with Trump’s previous transition, where more establishment selections were made. This time, Trump has chosen anti-establishment loyalists for top positions, reflecting his hindsight and the support of the GOP.
In the Treasury department, Trump deliberated carefully before selecting hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as the secretary. The process was complicated by competition from Howard Lutnick, leading to public disagreements and additional candidates being considered. Ultimately, Bessent emerged as the nominee.
For the Department of Labor, Trump surprised many by choosing Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who had shown support for pro-union legislation. Despite some conservative concerns, Chavez-DeRemer’s appointment was well-received on both sides of the aisle.
In national security, Trump opted for a more traditional choice, Alex Wong, for the No. 2 spot on the National Security Council over Sebastian Gorka. Gorka was appointed as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.
As for the surgeon general position, Trump selected physician and Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat, drawing praise from public health leaders. This decision was seen as a positive contrast to his nomination of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Trump administration’s Cabinet is now complete, with a mix of traditional and anti-establishment figures chosen for key roles. This dynamic transition process reflects Trump’s approach to governance and his vision for his administration.
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