‘Common sense agenda’: Donald Trump poised to make huge cabinet call in ‘days’

There’s the rocketman, the new right hand woman and the ice maiden. Who will be in Trump’s new administration?

After taking out the election, Donald Trump now has 74 days to decide who will be heading to the White House with him.

His allies are already jostling to put themselves in the running for certain roles - with chief of staff and Attorney General expected to be the most sought after spots.

And Mr Trump plans to waste no time.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Trump-Vance Transition Co-Chairs Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick said the President-elect would be making his cabinets calls in the “days and weeks ahead”.

Donald Trump plans to waste no time when it comes to picking his new cabinet. Picture: AFP

“As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on Day 1,” the statement said.

So who will be selected?

The cheerleaders

Two of Mr Trump’s biggest supporters throughout this campaign have been Tesla boss Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr, with both poised to land some kind of advisory role within the administration.

Mr Trump has previously stated his desire for Mr Musk to lead a commission into federal cost-cutting - however his role likely won’t be full-time due to his own business commitments.

Mr Musk won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Picture: AFP

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended Mr Trump’s victory party at the Palm Beach Convention Center. Picture: AFP

As for Mr Kennedy Jr, Mr Trump has previously promised him a “big role” within his second administration - likely in a health capacity.

During his victory speech, he declared Mr Kennedy Jr. - the nephew of JFK - will “help make America healthy again” adding that “we’re going to let him go to it”.

This is probably a good time to point out that Mr Kennedy Jr is an environmental lawyer who has no medical or public health degrees whatsoever.

He has, however, promoted multiple anti-vaccine conspiracies and has vowed to take fluoride out of US water and “toxins” out of food.

The children

As we’ve seen from Mr Trump’s election campaign, Ivanka Trump has taken a huge step back from supporting her father.

This came nearly two years ago when Mr Trump announced his third White House bid.

Despite joining the President-elect onstage during his victory speech, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner won’t be joining the new administration. Picture: AFP

“I do not plan to be involved in politics. While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” she said at the time.

Now, Mr Trump has a new right-hand woman - Lara Trump.

Lara is the wife of Mr Trump’s third son Eric and took on the role of reaching out to female voters in the lead-up to the election.

Lara has also served as a valuable asset as co-chair of the Republican Party.

Last year, Mr Trump said he didn’t want his children to serve in a second administration, saying it was “too painful for the family” - but Eric and Donald Trump Jr have also been key in his 2024 campaign.

(L-R) Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump, Lara Trump, Michael Boulos and Donald Trump Jr on stage during Donald Trump’s victory speech. Picture: AFP

We can expect to see Lara, Eric and Donald Jr remain in Mr Trump’s inner circle.

Chief of staff

During his last term, Mr Trump had a total four chiefs of staff.

Of those, the longest serving was John F. Kelly, a former Marine general, who in the lead up to the election warned that Mr Trump would rule like a dictator. Yikes.

So whoever is selected will need to made of tough stuff.

Enter, the ice maiden.

Susie Wiles has spent several decades working in politics. Picture: AFP

This is the name given to Mr Trump’s campaign manager Susie Wiles, who was brought out by the President-elect during his victory speech. In fact, Mr Trump mentioned her a total seven times throughout.

“Susie likes to stay in the back, let me tell you. We call her the ice maiden,” he told his crowd of supporters.

Right now, she is leading the race, however former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former White House domestic policy adviser Brooke Rollins are also being heavily considered for the job.

The Attorney General

Whoever is selected as Mr Trump’s AG will likely have quite a unique posting - paving the way for the dismissal of the President’s two federal criminal cases.

They will also likely defend Mr Trump against his criminal in New York and Georgia.

Former acting United States Attorney-General Matt Whitaker. Picture: Newswire

Among those being floated for the role is Texas AG Ken Paxton, who like Trump has also been indicted and impeached, Matt Whitaker, who has previously served in an acting capacity for Trump, senator Mike Lee of Utah who turned from a Trump sceptic to one of his best allies in the senate and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.

Defence

Both the new secretary of state and national security adviser will be handed huge tasks early on as Mr Trump looks to reassess the state of the Gaza war, the Ukraine/Russia conflict, China and Iran.

Former CIA director Mike Pompeo, who is a huge ally of Mr Trump, is poised to pick up one of the roles after electing not to run in the Republican nomination.

Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaks at a Trump campaign rally earlier this month. Picture: AFP

Other candidates for the key defence roles include a finalist for Trump’s VP Marco Rubio as well as Tennessee Senator and Mr Trump’s former ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty.

Former Fox News contributor Richard Grenell, who has become on of Mr Trump’s closest foreign policy advisers, is also gunning for a defence role.

Intelligence, diplomacy, trade, immigration and economy

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Picture: AFP

There are a range of names being floated for these roles, but Mr Trump has vowed to go with those who stuck with him throughout his campaign.

Donald Trump’s most senior trade official Robert Lighthizer - who helped lead Mr Trump’s China tariff war - is almost certain to be in his cabinet in one of these roles, most likely either US trade representative or commerce secretary.

The Treasury secretary will likely be either billionaire hedge funder Scott Bessent or billionaire financier John Paulson.

Senior policy adviser Stephen Miller - who played a huge hand in Mr Trump’s Muslim travel ban - is also expected to return to the White House to help the President-elect carry out his plans for a mass deportation of illegal immigrants.