DAYS after storming to an Election Day victory, Donald Trump has been slowly carving out his cabinet.

So far, his nominations include former Republican presidential rivals, firebrand politicians like Matt Gaetz, Tesla mogul Elon Musk, and now Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Donald Trump has started nominating his cabinetCredit: Getty
And Trump, 78, is sure to keep drip-feeding names on his social media platforms before his January 20, 2025, inauguration.

Trump’s cabinet consists of the commander-in-chief, his Vice President-elect, JD Vance, and 15 heads of executive departments.

The president-elect has not formed his entire cabinet yet, but here is what we know so far.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was nominated as the Secretary of Health and Human ServicesCredit: Getty
President-elect Trump stood by his promise and nominated his former presidential rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the top job at the Department of Health and Human Services.

When Kennedy Jr. suspended his presidential campaign in August and joined forces with Trump, he said the pair had a lot in common.

At the time, Kennedy Jr. described his alliance with Trump as “a unity party,” an arrangement that would “allow them to disagree publicly and privately and seriously.”

The former independent presidential candidate said Trump offered him a cabinet role if he won the election.

Now, Trump has kept his promise, naming Kennedy Jr. as the HHS secretary.

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a statement on X.

“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of an Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.

“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Don Jr. was the first to announce Kennedy Jr.’s role and praised his father for keeping his promise.

Trump has previously said he would let Kennedy Jr. “go wild on health.”

Kennedy Jr. has long been outspoken, and often times condemned, for his opposition to public health measures, pushing misinformation about vaccines being linked to autism and pledging to rid schools of ultra-processed foods.

“Here’s a man who presents himself as an advocate for science but embraces the least scientific aspects of the medical system,” Peter Lurie, a former FDA official in the Obama administration, told the Washington Post.

MATT GAETZ

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Gaetz’s nomination for the role of attorney general has sparked controversyCredit: AP
President-elect Trump raised eyebrows among some Republicans when he nominated Matt Gaetz for the role of attorney general, head of the Department of Justice.

Gaetz, who decisively won Florida’s 1st Congressional District on the far west of the panhandle, is a Trump loyalist and said it would be an honor to serve in the administration.

He even nominated Trump for speaker in January 2023 when now-former speaker Kevin McCarthy struggled to get the votes to assume the role.

But Gaetz does not come without baggage and has been embroiled in controversy.

He was being probed by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl.

The woman at the center of the investigation testified to the House Ethics Committee on November 14, alleging she and Gaetz had sex when she was a 17-year-old high school student, according to ABC News.

Gaetz has long denied any wrongdoings.

A report was about to be released, but Gaetz resigned from Congress, in effect short-circuiting the process.

Gaetz’s nomination sparked concern among some Republican lawmakers, with some senators thinking he wasn’t a serious pick.

PETE HEGSETH

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Fox News star Pete Hegseth has been nominated for Secretary of DefenseCredit: Getty
Fox News star Pete Hegseth has been nominated to serve as Trump’s defense secretary.

Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran and completed tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

He also ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012 before dropping out of the race.

Like Gaetz’s nomination, Hegseth’s has sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill.

Trump has hailed Hegseth as a tough, smart, and true believer of his America First policies.

MARCO RUBIO

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Rubio has urged the war in Ukraine to be wrapped upCredit: Reuters
Marco Rubio, a leading politician who has called for more transparency when it comes to UFOs, has been nominated to serve as secretary of state.

The Florida senator has been a critic of China and Iran and is thought to be a foreign policy hawk.

Rubio’s nomination comes more than eight years after he ran alongside Trump for the GOP nomination in 2016.

Rubio and Trump previously locked horns, and the tycoon called his rival “Little Marco” during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

The senator hasn’t been previously frightened to call out Trump’s foreign policy.

In 2019, he claimed Trump abandoned the military effort in Syria before the war was completely over.

“The decision to abandon our Kurdish allies and withdraw American troops from Northern Syria is a grave mistake that will have severe consequences beyond Syria,” he said in a statement.

“It risks encouraging the Iranian regime to question American resolve and to escalate its attacks against our partners in the Middle East, which in turn could trigger a broader and more dangerous regional war.”

Rubio’s views on Ukraine have also changed over time.

In an X post from February 2022, he described Vladimir Putin as a “killer” and backed Ukraine’s effort.

But now, he seems to echo Trump as he calls for the conflict to end.

Rubio’s Senate seat will become vacant should he join the Trump cabinet, and potential replacements have already been touted.

Florida law will allow Governor Ron DeSantis to nominate a temporary replacement until a special election can be held in 2026 for a senator to complete the last two years of Rubio’s current term.

One name that has been mentioned is Lara Trump – Donald’s daughter-in-law.

Lara, a former TV producer, has been the co-chair of the Republican National Committee since March 2024.

TULSI GABBARD

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Gabbard and Trump in August 2024Credit: AFP
Throughout Biden’s presidency, former Democratic lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard was a staunch critic when it came to foreign policy.

She blamed Joe Biden for seemingly bringing the US close to a global conflict.

And, she has not been shy to slam elites within the Democratic Party establishment.

Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 before endorsing Trump in the summer of 2024.

She urged voters to “save the country” by voting Trump into the Oval Office.

Gabbard has been nominated to be Trump’s director of national intelligence.

ELON MUSK

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Elon Musk sporting a Trump MAGA hatCredit: Reuters
Tesla mogul Musk and Trump appeared on the campaign trail as the 2024 race entered its final months.

The SpaceX founder joined Trump on the stump for the first time when the tycoon returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, for a rally – weeks after the attempted assassination.

Musk was also one of the headline acts at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.

He was pictured rubbing shoulders with Trump’s family at the politician’s Mar-a-Lago resort.

In a clip shared by Trump’s granddaughter Kai, Musk was even invited to join a family photo.

Musk is spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency – a unit responsible for cutting federal waste and saving money.

DOGE is not an official government department.

The name comes from an inside joke reference to Musk’s favorite meme cryptocurrency: Dogecoin.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY

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Ramaswamy will work alongside Musk in charge of DOGECredit: Reuters
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will also be leading the charge in DOGE.

Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race in January, championed government cuts while he was on the campaign trail.

Following January’s shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, Ramaswamy said he would eliminate the Department of Education and use its budget to fund the hiring of armed guards for schools.

The Education Department had a budget of $238.04 billion in 2024, accounting for just 1.8% of the total federal budget.

SUSIE WILES

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Susie Wiles has been hailed for being a formidable operatorCredit: Reuters
Susie Wiles has been nominated to serve as Trump’s chief of staff.

She will be the first woman to assume the role.

Wiles, who is admired in Republican circles for being a formidable political operator, has worked with Trump on his three presidential campaigns.

Advisers have hailed Wiles’ ability to bring people together and how she can hold officials to account.

Trump name-dropped Wiles as he addressed his supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, once it became apparent he would win the election.

“Susie likes to stay sort of in the back,” he said.

“Let me tell you, the ice baby. We call her the ice baby.

“Susie likes to stay in the background. She’s not in the background.”

TEAM TRUMP

The president-elect has also rewarded loyalists such as Elise Stefanik, who has been nominated to the role of United Nations ambassador.

Jay Clayton, who served as the Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange during Trump’s first term, was nominated for US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the president-elect announced.

“Jay is a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

“Jay is going to be a strong Fighter for the Truth as we, Make America Great Again.”

Clayton will oversee a district that’s currently prosecuting high-profile cases such as disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, rapper Diddy, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Meanwhile, Florida representative Mike Waltz was also nominated for the role of national security adviser.

Governor Ron DeSantis has said the work for special elections to be held in light of Waltz’s nomination will begin.

Lee Zeldin, a close ally of Trump, has been nominated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has been nominated to serve as Homeland Security Secretary, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has been picked out to serve as Ambassador to Israel.

Trump loyalist Stephen Miller has been nominated for the deputy chief of staff position, while Tom Homan is set to become Trump’s “border czar.”

BIG OMISSIONS

Trump has not yet named his White House press secretary.

That position will not be filled by Alina Habba, who served as Trump’s attorney during his legal battles, after she ruled herself out of the mix.

“Although I love screaming from a podium, I will be better served in other capacities,” she posted on X.