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Trump Announces More Cabinet Nominations and White House Appointments

November 19, 2024

Over the past several weeks, conservatives have been treated to a bevy of announcements from President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team, nominating Cabinet secretaries and appointing key players in his second administration. Many of these announcements have been welcome, such as Trump campaign co-chair Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff or Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) nomination as Secretary of State.

Some, such as the appointment of former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan as “border czar” or decorated military veteran Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, have caused panic on America’s political Left. Others, namely the nominations of former Congressman Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General and health guru Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) have been controversial even among Republicans.

But no amount of controversy is stopping Trump from assembling and announcing the team he wants by his side. Below are Trump’s latest picks for Cabinet and White House positions.

Sean Duffy

Trump has nominated former Congressman Sean Duffy to serve as Secretary of Transportation. In a published statement, Trump called Duffy a “tremendous and well-liked public servant,” adding, “He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.” The president-elect noted that, as a husband and a father of “nine incredible children,” Duffy “knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind.”

“Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our mission of ushering in the Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation,” Trump declared. He concluded, “Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!”

Duffy began his political career in 2002 as a district attorney for Ashland County in Wisconsin, a position he held until 2008. He then ran for the U.S. House of Representatives and was elected in 2010, despite being considered an underdog. During his tenure in Congress, Duffy worked on conservative causes, including the defunding of Planned Parenthood and later distinguished himself as a supporter of Trump during his first presidential term. He resigned his seat in 2019 to devote his time to his newborn daughter, who was born with heart complications. She was later diagnosed with Down syndrome.

In 2022, Duffy began hosting a Fox Business program called “The Bottom Line.” His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, is also a Fox News personality, having guest-hosted the show “Outnumbered” and working as a permanent co-host on “Fox and Friends.”

Chris Wright

One of Trump’s lesser-known Cabinet nominees is Chris Wright, an entrepreneur and energy executive who has been asked to serve as the Secretary of Energy. “Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas,” Trump said in announcing Wright’s nomination. He continued, “As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new ‘Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace.”

The president-elect noted that Wright will work with presumptive Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to “drive U.S. Energy Dominance, which will drive down Inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American Diplomatic Power to end Wars all across the World.” Wright will also sit on Trump’s newly created Council of National Energy, which will be chaired by Burgum.

Since the early 1990s, Wright and the companies he has founded have been involved in shale gas production and fracking. Trump cited the energy entrepreneur’s involvement in the “American Shale Revolution” as one of the reasons he was selected for the role. In 2011, Wright founded Liberty Energy, where he has served as CEO ever since. He is a major proponent of the use of fossil fuels and a critic of the climate change agenda promoted by the Left. In an August article in RealClearPolitics, Wright referred to climate change-driven “net zero” policies as “economic suicide.” He explained, “Not only is it unachievable, but ramping up unreliable and costly energy sources like wind and solar while eliminating reliable and affordable options like natural gas and nuclear power is disastrous.”

Wright continued, “It inevitably means a dramatic and ongoing drop in our standard of living — a drop that’s already begun. Thanks to net zero, Americans are already paying more on utility bills and everyday goods, even as more homes and businesses suffer rolling blackouts that are getting worse.” Instead, he specifically encouraged Trump to “unleash” America’s “vast natural resources,” resulting in what Wright called a “zero energy poverty” policy.

Wright said over social media that he was “honored and grateful” to serve as Energy Secretary in Trump’s Cabinet. He added, “My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible. Energy matters. I am looking forward to getting to work.” Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, said that the U.S. Department of Energy “desperately needs a Secretary who prioritizes American energy for our economy and national security. Mr. Wright will ensure that America’s energy policy puts Americans first.”

Brendan Carr

Following nearly a decade of being harshly criticized by mainstream media outlets, Trump appointed longtime ally Brendan Carr to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). “Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy,” Trump announced in naming Carr permanent chairman of the FCC. He continued, “He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.”

Carr has served as a legal advisor to the FCC since 2012 and as general counsel since 2017. He was subsequently appointed an FCC commissioner by Trump and has since served as the ranking Republican on the commission. Carr has been a harsh critic of the weaponization of the federal government, especially the use of censorship techniques online. He has accused elected Democrats and social media platforms of bias against Trump and other conservatives and has pledged to focus on “reining in Big Tech” under a second Trump administration. Like most of those who have been appointed to Trump’s administration, Carr readily accepted the position and promised to “get to work.”

Will Scharf

Another Trump ally named to the president-elect’s administration is Will Scharf, who has been appointed White House Staff Secretary and an Assistant to the President. Trump shared, “Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team. He has played a key role in defeating the Election Interference and Lawfare waged against me, including by winning the Historic Immunity Decision in the Supreme Court.” He added, “Will is going to make us proud as we Make America Great Again.”

A graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Scharf began his political career in Missouri, aiding campaigns and serving as a policy advisor to Republican Governor Eric Greitens. He worked on the successful confirmations of Trump-appointed U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, and later represented Trump before the Supreme Court in the now-discontinued case “Trump v. United States.” He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in St. Louis. Scharf responded to Trump’s appointment by saying, “I’m honored by the opportunity I’ve been given to serve the country as part of President Trump’s White House team, and I’m excited to get down to it!”

White House Communications

Trump also named a host of appointments to his White House communications team. Steven Cheung will serve as Director of Communications for the White House, after having served in the same role for Trump’s 2024 campaign. He previously served as the Director of Strategic Response in Trump’s first administration. Prior to that, Cheung served as a communications officer and speechwriter for a host of Republican candidates and elected officials, including then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and presidential candidate John McCain. He also worked as communications director for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization. Cheung’s colleague Sergio Gor, who managed the Trump political action committee (PAC) Right for America will serve as Director of the Presidential Personnel Office.

“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first presidential campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024,” Trump said in a statement. He added, “I am thrilled to have them join my White House as we Make America Great Again!”

Karoline Leavitt, who served as National Press Secretary for Trump’s 2024 campaign, will also be joining the White House in the role of Press Secretary. At the age of 27, Leavitt will be the youngest White House Press Secretary in American history. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign,” Trump said in a statement. He continued, “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again.” Leavitt thanked Trump for “believing in” her and said that she is “humbled and honored.”

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.



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