Trump chooses close allies, TV defenders for key administration roles

President-elect Donald Trump has filled his incoming administration with trusted allies and familiar faces.

Trump’s new appointees to roles including the Justice Department, the Pentagon, and Homeland Security lack traditional qualifications but share strong personal and public ties with him.

Among his choices, Fox News personality Pete Hegseth is tapped to lead the Pentagon despite lacking prior administrative experience. Representative Matt Gaetz, known for his conservative stance, is slated for attorney general without a law enforcement background. Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, is named for the top Homeland Security post.

Trump has also enlisted billionaire Elon Musk and former candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to streamline federal operations, even though neither has held a government role.

Experts note Trump’s preference for appointees with a public-facing edge, valuing loyalty and media presence over bureaucratic experience. Trump has chosen figures he believes will uphold his agenda and defend him publicly. This contrasts with his first term, when he appointed high-profile outsiders who often clashed with him.

Trump’s loyalists include former co-campaign manager Susie Wiles as chief of staff, ex-Immigration and Customs head Tom Homan as “border czar,” and John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence, now returning as CIA director. Additionally, Senator Marco Rubio, who aligns with Trump’s foreign policy, will serve as Secretary of State, while former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Fox News regular, will head national intelligence.

Trump’s selection process appears more orderly and efficient this time, as he aims to avoid the disarray of his 2016 transition. His choices reflect a commitment to enacting his policies and showcasing loyalty over experience in his second term.