Trump’s early second-term choices fuel fears of extremist agenda

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Donald Trump, the former US president set to return to the White House in January for a second term, has begun making selections for his administration, opting for those who have displayed loyalty over those with deep experience. Trump has tasked Howard Lutnick, a longtime friend, with recruiting officials who will deliver, rather than dilute, his agenda. During his first term, several of Trump’s key appointees tried to convince Trump out of his more extreme plans.

Trump’s picks include Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary, Steven Cheung as Communications Director, Tulsi Gabbard as National Intelligence Director, Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Tom Homan as Border Czar, Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel, Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services, William McGinley as White House Counsel, Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as heads of department of government efficiency, Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, John Ratcliffe as CIA director, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador, Mike Waltz as national security adviser, Susie Wiles as chief of staff, Steven Witkoff as Middle East envoy, and Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator.

There are some who are expected to be given an offer. They include Scott Bessent, Ben Carson, Richard Grenell, Robert Lighthizer, Howard Lutnick, Brooke Rollins, and Tom Cotton.
(With inputs from agencies)