"Circles of Influence" for a Potential Trump 2.0 Administration
Last Updated: September 3, 2024
Overview
Washington loves a good parlor game and we’re no different. As we enter the home stretch of election season with the White House in play, we have been identifying key advisors to former President Donald Trump who might be influencing the campaign’s policy positions. We are also compiling predictions on who might serve in senior positions during a possible second Trump term.
Below is our analysis of individuals who may be advising President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), or otherwise have their ear on policy matters. This is a living draft of our “circles of influence” analysis, and we will continue updating this document with insights from key sources around Washington as November approaches.
In a potential “Trump 2.0 Administration,” we would likely see President Trump appointing former advisors to top agency roles and senior White House staff positions. The former president often emphasizes loyalty and likes to hint at who may serve in his administration should he win in November. However, beyond his selection of a running mate, there have been no formal public announcements. Those who are likely to remain in President Trump’s favor are aligning with him on key campaign issues, such as using the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prosecute political adversaries, bolstering immigration and deportation efforts, reevaluating NATO and other international trade agreements, and enforcing even stricter trade policies with China.
President Trump’s inner circle includes campaign managers and policy advisors, some of whom could be contenders for senior positions in a second Trump Administration. With several tossup races, it remains to be seen which party will control the Senate, potentially impacting the prospects of nominees being confirmed for top positions.
Our analysis also identifies leadership within two conservative organizations, Project 2025 and the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), which are thought to be coordinating with President Trump’s campaign and planning for a transition to a new Trump Administration, although President Trump has recently tried to distance himself from Project 2025. Housed within the
Heritage Foundation, Project 2025 is a presidential transition project for the next conservative administration, including a policy roadmap, a resume bank for future personnel, training recommendations, and a 180-day playbook. AFPI, founded in 2021 to promote President Trump’s agenda, includes leaders and advisors with ties to the former president who may compete for senior roles in the administration should President Trump win reelection.
For now, the following individuals are believed to be influential within President Trump’s orbit regarding the positions and the policy issues below:
Vice President:
Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) — While he opposed President Trump’s 2016 candidacy, on July 15, President Trump announced Sen. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, as his running mate. The Senator also serves as an honorary co-chair of the 2025 transition team. Before his election to the Senate in 2022, he worked as a venture capitalist in the tech industry, practiced law, and clerked for Judge David Bunning of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Sen. Vance is best known as the author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy.
Justice:
Pam Bondi — Bondi served as Florida attorney general (AG) from 2011 to 2019. She was also an Office of White House Counsel special advisor to President Trump. She remains a loyal supporter, frequently praising the former president in the media. A former prosecutor, Bondi chairs AFPI’s Center of Litigation.
Jeffrey Clark — Clark, who served as assistant AG for DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division from 2018 to 2021, is facing charges in several cases in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the 2020 elections. He remains an ally of the former president.
Mike Davis — Formerly chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Davis has been vocal in his support for President Trump, often appearing in the media. He has expressed a tough stance on immigration. Sources indicate he is under consideration for the AG role in a potential second Trump term.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) – Before his election to the Senate, Sen. Schmitt held several positions in the Show-Me State government, including AG and treasurer. He has served as an advisor to the Trump campaign and is reportedly being considered for the AG role in a Trump 2.0 Administration.
Hans von Spakovsky – A senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, von Spakovsky authored the Project 2025 chapter on the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). He previously served as a member of the FEC and as assistant AG for civil rights under President George W. Bush.
Matt Whitaker — Whitaker served as acting AG from late 2018 to early 2019, succeeding Jeff Sessions. Recently mentioned by Donald Trump Jr. as a potential 2026 challenger to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), multiple sources indicate Whitaker remains loyal to President Trump. He co-chairs AFPI’s Center for Law & Justice.
Immigration/Homeland Security:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) — Gov. Abbott has been governor of Texas since 2015. He enjoys a solid relationship with President Trump, with whom he shares similar border policy views.
Ken Cuccinelli – The former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under President Trump, Cuccinelli wrote the DHS portion of Project 2025. He was also Virginia attorney general and served in the Virginia Senate.
Joe Edlow – Edlow was acting director of USCIS and its chief counsel during the Trump Administration. He also held positions at the White House, DOJ, House Judiciary Committee, and the Office of Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID).
Gene Hamilton — During his time at the DOJ and DHS under President Trump, Hamilton played a role in abolishing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Hamilton also worked to create the administration's “zero tolerance” policy for migrant families. Hamilton remains an ally of President Trump, often defending him in the media.
Tom Homan — The acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from 2017 to 2018, Homan met with President Trump soon after the former president announced his 2024 candidacy. and the former president has repeatedly mentioned him at rallies. Homan has said he would return to a second Trump Administration to aid in organizing mass deportations.
Brandon Judd — A border patrol agent and president of the National Border Patrol Council, Judd has privately advised the former president on border issues in an unofficial capacity.
Stephen Miller — A senior advisor for policy and White House director of speechwriting during the Trump Administration, Miller has been a key figure in influencing President Trump’s immigration policies. He remains in the former president’s inner circle, working closely with other policy advisors and speechwriting staff, and could potentially be nominated as AG if not for a role exclusively focused on homeland security.
Mark Morgan – Morgan had a long career at the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) before being appointed chief of U.S. Border Patrol by President Barack Obama. He then served as acting director of USCIS and acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under President Trump.
Kathy Nuebel Kovrik – Nuebel Kovrik, a contributor to Project 2025, was chief of staff of both USCIS and ICE during the Trump Administration, roles she used to advocate for ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) country designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. She previously worked for Sen. Grassley.
Vivek Ramaswamy — A former Republican presidential candidate, Ramaswamy is reportedly being considered by President Trump as a nominee for homeland security secretary. He is also viewed as a key influencer on cryptocurrency policy.
Chad Wolf — Named acting secretary of homeland security in November 2019, Wolf’s service was deemed unlawful due to invalid order of succession. He served as under secretary of homeland security for strategy, policy, and plans from 2019 to 2021. A few days after January 6, Wolf resigned and stated that President Trump was partially responsible for the Capitol storming. However, it now seems President Trump may overlook these comments, given that immigration remains a major campaign issue. Wolf’s involvement with AFPI, where he serves as executive director and chief strategy officer, also indicates he may have changed his perspective on January 6.
Foreign Affairs/National Security:
Elbridge Colby — Colby served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development during the Trump Administration. He is a national security expert who now runs the Marathon Institute, a research organization focused on global competition. Colby continues to advocate for a more robust strategy in competing with China and is on the short list for a national security role in a potential second Trump Administration.
David Cornstein – During the Trump Administration, Cornstein served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary. Prior to this role, he ran companies in the jewelry, telecommunications, and sports betting industries. He continues to advise President Trump and joined a meeting between the former president and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in March.
Randy Evans – Evans served as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg during the Trump Administration and was a longtime advisor to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Along with Ed Martin and Russ Vought, he was tapped by the Trump campaign to guide work on the GOP platform.
Mike Gonzalez – Before joining the Heritage Foundation, where he focuses on identity politics and foreign policy, Gonzalez was a journalist abroad for 15 years. He previously served at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and State Department under President George W. Bush. He authored the Corporation for Public Broadcasting portion of Project 2025.
Ric Grennell — Grennell served as acting director of national intelligence (DNI) during the Trump Administration. He also served under the former president as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Many sources indicate that Grennell remains a close advisor to President Trump on foreign affairs and could potentially be secretary of state or national security advisor in a second Trump Administration.
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) — Having served on the 2016 transition team and as U.S. ambassador to Japan, Sen. Hagerty has been an ally of the former president. Sen. Hagerty’s foreign policy stances have caught the attention of President Trump’s advisors, putting the Senator on the shortlist for a national security role.
Ed McMullen — McMullen, who served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland from 2017 to 2021, remains close to the former president and is actively raising money for his campaign.
Mora Namdar – Namdar, who served as acting assistant secretary of state for consular affairs and vice president of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), is now at the American Foreign Policy Council. She authored the USAGM portion of Project 2025.
Robert O’Brien — O’Brien served as President Trump’s national security advisor from 2019 to 2021. According to sources, O’Brien’s name is being floated for secretary of state in a second Trump term.
Michael Pack – A documentary filmmaker who led USAGM during the Trump Administration, Pack is a contributor to Project 2025 and has a background with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Mike Pompeo — Pompeo served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and secretary of state in the Trump Administration. Sources suggest that Pompeo continues to advise President Trump on national security issues and may be angling to be nominated as secretary of defense in a future Trump Administration. However, our Republican contacts note there is still tension between the Trump and Pompeo teams dating back to the first Trump Administration.
Matt Pottinger — Pottinger, who was deputy national security advisor during the Trump Administration, played a significant role in shaping President Trump’s China policy. Sources indicate that Pottinger could be in line for a national security role as President Trump aims to continue decoupling from China. Pottinger recently expanded his foreign policy focus to include Russia in a speech at the Heritage Foundation.
Max Primorac – Currently a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation focusing on global development, Primorac authored the Project 2025 section on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He served as USAID acting chief operating officer and as Vice President Mike Pence’s envoy to Iraq during the Trump Administration. He worked at the State Department under President George W. Bush.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) — An ally of President Trump, Sen. Rubio endorsed the former president over his own governor shortly before Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) ended his presidential bid. Sen. Rubio’s foreign policy views align closely with President Trump’s. For example, Sen. Rubio has defended the former president’s controversial comments on NATO. After being passed over for vice president, some sources suggest Sen. Rubio may be considered for a national security role, perhaps at the Department of State or at the Department of Defense (DoD). However, he may prefer to remain in the Senate where he could chair the Senate Intelligence Committee if Republicans flip control of the chamber.
Kiron Skinner – Skinner served on the transition team and then as the State Department’s director of policy planning during the Trump Administration. She is now a professor of international relations at Pepperdine University and authored the State Department chapter of Project 2025.
Mari Stull – Stull was a senior advisor in the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs during President Trump’s first term. She came under fire for allegedly blacklisting State Department staff for disloyalty to President Trump. She is now a lobbyist and contributor to Project 2025.
Frank Wuco – A former naval intelligence officer and talk radio host, Wuco served as an advisor in both the Trump White House and State Department. He is a contributor to Project 2025.
Lee Zeldin – A former congressman representing Long Island, and foreign U.S. Army Reserve officer, Zeldin most recently ran for governor of New York, receiving the highest vote percentage of a Republican gubernatorial nominee since 2002. He has been active on foreign affairs issues.
Defense/Intelligence:
Dustin Carmack – Carmack served as chief of staff for DNI John Ratcliffe during the Trump Administration. He later worked for the Heritage Foundation, on the Ron DeSantis for President campaign, and now at Meta. Earlier, he worked for then-Rep. DeSantis and then-Rep. Ratcliffe on Capitol Hill. Carmack authored the intelligence community portion of Project 2025.
Ezra Cohen – A Project 2025 contributor, Cohen joined the Trump Administration as a senior director for intelligence programs on the National Security Council (NSC) staff and eventually rose to become acting under secretary of defense for intelligence and security.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) — Sen. Cotton enjoys a longstanding relationship with President Trump. His name was floated for vice president, CIA director, and defense secretary during President Trump’s first term. It is unclear if Sen. Cotton would be interested in serving in a second Trump Administration, as he has already declared his 2026 candidacy for reelection to the Senate. However, our Republican contacts note that of the Republicans currently in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Cotton is most likely to join a potential second Trump Administration.
Michael Ellis – An NSC and National Security Agency (NSA) alum, Ellis now serves as general counsel to the video platform Rumble. He also worked on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Gen. Keith Kellogg — Gen. Kellogg served as national security advisor to Vice President Pence and as executive secretary and chief of staff of the NSC under President Trump. Though he served on Vice President Pence’s team, Gen. Kellogg has referred to the former vice president as unfit for the presidency, instead endorsing President Trump. Sources reveal that he remains close to President Trump, advising him on defense and national security issues. It was reported that he, along with Fred Fleitz, drafted a policy plan for President Trump on Ukraine/Russia. Additionally, Gen. Kellogg advises AFPI, serving as co-chair of the Center for American Security.
Douglas MacGregor — Nominated by President Trump to serve as U.S. ambassador to Germany in 2020, MacGregor’s nomination was blocked in the Senate. He was a senior advisor to the acting secretary of defense in the final three months of President Trump’s first term. Sources indicate that MacGregor has counseled the former president on defense issues, though it remains unclear if he would be considered for a role in a future administration.
Chris Miller — Miller served as acting secretary of defense during the last two months of the Trump Administration. President Trump mentioned Miller as a potential second term defense pick during a December 2023 radio show.
Kash Patel — At the end of the Trump Administration, Patel was chief of staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller. Patel remains close to President Trump, and sources claim Patel would likely return for a senior national security position in a potential second term.
John Ratcliffe — Ratcliffe served as DNI during the last year of President Trump’s term. Sources suggest that Ratcliffe remains a member of the former president’s inner circle, especially on national intelligence matters. Ratcliffe also co-chairs the Center for American Security at AFPI.
Tony Tata – A former brigadier general, President Trump Tata nominated to be under secretary of defense for policy. His nomination was withdrawn after Democrats expressed concern about his past inflammatory remarks. He went on to be the official performing the duties of the deputy under secretary for policy, a position not requiring Senate confirmation. Tata previously served as North Carolina secretary of transportation, a school district administrator, and a political commentator.
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) — Rep. Waltz, a retired U.S. Army officer, has served in the House of Representatives since 2018. His military experience has led to speculation that he could be considered for a defense role, such as secretary of defense or secretary of the Army, at a Trump-led Pentagon.
Veterans Affairs:
Isaac Perlmutter — During the Trump Administration, Perlmutter served as an advisor on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budgets, mental health policies, and record- keeping. In 2021, House Democrats criticized the former Marvel chairman and two allies collectively known as the “Mar-a-Lago Trio” in shaping VA policies for their benefit. Perlmutter has kept a low profile but continues to contribute to the Trump campaign.
Brooks Tucker – Tucker served in various roles at the VA during the Trump Administration, including as chief of staff and assistant secretary for Congressional and legislative affairs. He also worked on the Trump transition team. Tucker previously served as an advisor to former Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He authored the VA portion of Project 2025.
Space/NASA:
Jim Bridenstine — Bridenstine represented Oklahoma in Congress before joining the Trump Administration in 2018 as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) administrator. Sources suggest he could return to a similar role if Trump is reelected.
Mike Gold — Currently the chief growth officer for Redwire Space, Gold previously served as associate administrator for space policy and partnerships at NASA from 2019 to 2021. He is considered a potential candidate for a NASA leadership role in a second Trump Administration.
James Morhard — After a long career as a Senate staffer, Morhard was appointed deputy NASA administrator under President Trump. Despite initial concerns about his lack of space technology experience, he was eventually confirmed by a bipartisan voice vote. Sources indicate he is advising the campaign on space issues.
Budget, Economy, Treasury, and Finance:
Scott Bessent — Bessent is an investor and founder of Key Square Group, a global macro investment firm. Bessent has reportedly contributed to President Trump’s super PAC and co-chaired fundraisers for the former president’s 2024 campaign. Bessent has caught the attention of President Trump by praising him in television interviews. Sources suggest he is a potential pick for treasury secretary.
Robert Bowes – Bowes authored the Project 2025 section on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). During the first Trump Administration, he held roles at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). He was nominated at the end of the Trump Administration to serve as a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioner but was never confirmed.
David Burton – A senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, Burton authored the Project 2025 chapters on the SEC and related agencies and the Treasury Department. He previously worked at the National Small Business Association, the Alliance for Retirement Prosperity, New England Machinery, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Jay Clayton — A former SEC chairman during the Trump Administration, Clayton appeared on a CNBC segment with the former president to discuss the economy in March 2024. While some sources indicate he could return to a Treasury role, others think this may be a longshot.
Veronique de Rugy – Chair of the Mercatus Center’s political economy practice, de Rugy authored a Project 2025 section proposing the abolition of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank. She has also worked at the American Enterprise Institute and the Cato Institute.
Jamie Dimon — Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Dimon has had a turbulent relationship with the former president, supporting Nikki Haley for president in 2023 but later praising President Trump’s tax and economic policies in early 2024. Sources believe Dimon could be a candidate for a Treasury Department position.
Kevin Hassett — Former senior advisor and chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors during the Trump Administration, Hassett continues to advise the former president on economic policy and is on the shortlist to chair the Federal Reserve.
Jennifer Hazelton – Authoring a section in Project 2025 on Ex-Im Bank, Hazelton served in the Trump Administration as USAID deputy assistant administrator for public affairs and Ex-Im Bank senior vice president of communications and marketing. She was also the 2016 Trump campaign’s communications director in Georgia.
Karen Kerrigan – President and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and chair of the Small Business Roundtable, Kerrigan authored the Small Business Administration (SBA) section of Project 2025.
Larry Kudlow — Kudlow formerly served as director of the National Economic Council (NEC) from 2018 to 2021. Sources report that Kudlow remains in President Trump’s inner circle, particularly on economic issues related to the economy. He currently hosts a show on Fox Business, where he frequently praises President Trump and his economic policies, and is vice chair of AFPI’s board.
Arthur Laffer — Known for the economic theory “the Laffer Curve,” Laffer was an economic advisor to President Trump's 2016 campaign. He previously served on the President’s Economic Policy Advisory Board during the Reagan Administration. Sources indicate that Laffer has returned to President Trump’s campaign team, continuing to advise the former president, and is on the shortlist to chair the Federal Reserve.
Kent Lassman – Lassman, the president and CEO of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, specializes in federal budget, environmental, and telecommunications policy. He wrote the Project 2025 section promoting free trade and previously worked at FreedomWorks and as a task force advisor for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Robert Lighthizer —The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) during the Trump Administration, Lighthizer leads AFPI’s Center for American Trade. Sources report that Lighthizer continues to advise President Trump on commerce and trade. He has outlined potential tariff and trade policies in his book, No Trade is Free, and in multiple interviews. If he does not return to the USTR position, Lighthizer could be considered as a nominee for treasury secretary.
Stephen Moore — A senior economic advisor to the Trump 2016 campaign, Moore is viewed as a key voice on economic and budgetary issues. Sources report that Moore remains close to the former president and is involved in shaping economic policy for a potential second term. Moore has met with President Trump and other economic advisors to discuss plans for universal tariffs.
Steve Mnuchin – Mnuchin, who served as treasury secretary in the first Trump Administration, has joined salon-style events with President Trump hosted by Elon Musk.
Rupert Murdoch – Another guest of salon-style events hosted by Musk, Murdoch is chairman emeritus of News Corp., which owns the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Fox News.
Elon Musk – The CEO of Telsa, Musk has met with President Trump multiple times throughout the campaign to discuss the economy, border, and voter fraud prevention. While there had been rumors Musk could be considered for a role dealing with the economy or the border in a second Trump Administration, the former president has said he believes Musk would be too busy to serve in his cabinet, though he would be interested in consulting him on artificial intelligence (AI) matters. Musk has famously hosted salon-style meetings with the former president. He was briefly part of the White House Business Advisory Group in 2017.
Nelson Peltz – An investor who previously supported Gov. DeSantis’ presidential bid, Peltz now backs President Trump as the Republican presidential nominee. He has hosted salon-style events with the former president, including several with Musk.
John Paulson — Paulson, a hedge fund manager, leads his New York investment firm Paulson & Co. He has hosted multiple fundraisers for President Trump’s 2024 campaign, and sources indicate that Paulson’s name has been floated for treasury secretary in informal conversations within President Trump’s inner circle.
David Sacks – Sacks, a venture capitalist and general partner of Craft Ventures, hosted a salon-style event with President Trump at his home in Los Angeles. Sacks has also hosted fundraisers for both Gov. DeSantis and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this election cycle.
Steve Schwarzman — Founder, chairman, and CEO of the Blackstone Group, Schwarzman chaired the Strategic and Policy Forum, which was disbanded shortly after its creation during the Trump Administration. Although he claimed in 2022 that he would not support the former president in 2024, sources indicate he may now back President Trump and could serve in the Treasury Department.
Judy Shelton – Shelton was nominated by President Trump to serve on the Federal Reserve, but her confirmation process stalled. She has since contributed to Project 2025.
Peter Thiel – Thiel, the venture capitalist best known for his roles in co-founding PayPal and Palantir Technologies, has joined Musk’s salon-style events with the former president.
Russ Vought — Currently president of Center for Renewing America, a conservative, pro-Trump think tank, Vought was director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the last year of the Trump Administration. Sources report he continues to advise President Trump on policy issues, especially considering he was tasked with guiding work on the 2024 GOP platform. Vought could be tapped as White House chief of staff in a second term.
William Walton – Founder of the private equity firm Rappahannock Ventures, Walton co-authored the Project 2025 chapter on the Treasury Department and was a member of President Trump’s 2016 transition team.
Kevin Warsh — Warsh served as a member of the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2011. Multiple sources have reported that Warsh is on President Trump’s shortlist to chair the Federal Reserve, if he wins in November.
Paul Winfree – Author of the Project 2025 section on the Federal Reserve, Winfree served in the Trump White House in several roles, including deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and director of budget policy. He led the OMB team during the 2016 transition and is a Senate Budget Committee alumnus.
Jeff Yass — Co-founder of Susquehanna International Group, a Philadelphia-based trading group, Yass has donated to several GOP candidates, mostly President Trump’s rivals, but is now believed to be planning donations to the Trump campaign. His trading group recently purchased a large share in Truth Social, and sources speculate that President Trump could potentially be trying to recruit Yass for a position at the Treasury Department.
Commerce/Trade:
Adam Candeub – A professor of law and intellectual property at Michigan State University College of Law, Candeub authored the Project 2025 section on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). During the first Trump Administration, he served as acting National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) administrator and later as deputy associate AG.
Thomas Gilman — Gilman served as the chief financial officer and assistant secretary for administration of the Department of Commerce during the Trump Administration. Sources reveal that Gilman has contributed multiple chapters to Project 2025, indicating he could return to the Department of Commerce in a leadership role.
Ray Washburne – During the Trump Administration, Washburne was president and chief executive officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), now the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). His name has been floated for commerce secretary should President Trump win a second term. Washburne is a co- founder of the M Crowd Restaurant Group and is the chair of the Sunoco board of directors.
Technology/AI:
Brendan Carr – The senior Republican commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Carr authored the FCC section of Project 2025. Before his appointment, Carr practiced law and was a legal advisor to former FCC Chair Ajit Pai.
Ryan Hagemann – Hagemann is the global AI policy issue lead at IBM. He previously served as a fellow at the International Center for Law & Economics and the Niskanen Center, focusing on technology issues such as health IT, autonomous vehicles, and the internet of things (IoT).
Jacob Helberg — Helberg is a senior advisor at Stanford University's Center on Geopolitics and Technology and a part-time fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He is a senior policy advisor to the CEO of Palantir Technologies, a company specializing in big data analytics. Sources reveal that Helberg has made significant donations to President Trump’s campaign.
Michael Kratsios – Kratsios served in several positions during the first Trump Administration, including U.S. chief technology officer (CTO) and acting undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. He led efforts on AI and research and development (R&D). Currently, Kratsios is the head of strategy for ScaleAI.
Sam Mims – Mims is the director of digital production and data at AFPI. She previously worked on the Trump 2020 campaign and the DeSantis 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Chamath Palihapitiya – A venture capitalist, Palihapitiya, along with David Sacks, hosted a Silicon Valley fundraiser for the former president aiming to garner tech industry support. Sen. Vance attended the event, which was held prior to his selection as President Trump’s running mate.
Lynne Parker – Parker served as deputy U.S. CTO and as the founding director of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Office in the Trump-era Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She most recently worked at the University of Tennessee as associate vice chancellor, where she directed the AI Tennessee Initiative.
Labor:
Jonathan Berry – A managing partner of Boyden Gray PLLC, Berry held several positions in the Trump Administration, including principal deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Labor (DOL) and counsel in the DOJ Office of Legal Policy. He previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Berry wrote the DOL and related agencies section of Project 2025.
Patrick Pizzella –Pizzella served as deputy secretary for labor during the Trump Administration and held roles in the George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Reagan Administrations. Currently, he is the mayor of Pinehurst, North Carolina, and contributed to the Heritage Foundation’s “Mandate for Leadership.”
Healthcare:
Brian Blase – Currently president of Paragon Health Institute, Blase previously served as special assistant to President Trump for economic policy. He also worked for the Senate Republican Policy Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Michael Caputo — Caputo served as assistant secretary of public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Trump Administration. Sources report that he remains a close ally of President Trump’s and has strong ties to Roger Stone. Caputo is thought to be advising the Trump campaign and is potentially in line for a healthcare role in a second Trump Administration.
Joe Grogan – Grogan led the DPC and worked on healthcare issues at OMB under President Trump, focusing heavily drug pricing and COVID-19 response measures.
Bobby Jindal — Former governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016 and current chair of AFPI’s Center for a Health America, Jindal was previously a candidate for HHS secretary when Trump first took office in 2016. His background has fueled speculation that he might be considered for a senior position at HHS again.
Valerie Huber – Huber was special representative for global women’s health at HHS under President Trump. She has since contributed to Project 2025.
Charlie Katebi – Katebi led the HHS Office of Civil Rights during the Trump Administration. An alumnus of Americans for Prosperity, he is now the deputy director of AFPI’s Center for a Healthy America.
Ed Martin – Martin, along with Evans and Vought, was tapped by the Trump campaign to guide work on the 2024 GOP platform. Martin has been active in drafting the campaign’s positions on reproductive health. He previously chaired the Missouri Republican Party and co-authored the book The Conservative Case for Trump with Phyllis Schlafly.
Theo Merkel – Merkel served as special assistant to the president for economic policy in the Trump White House and worked on the June 2019 executive order on healthcare price transparency. He was previously legislative director for Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA).
Roger Severino – Currently vice president for domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation, Severino authored the healthcare section of Project 2025. He previously led the HHS Office of Civil Rights during the Trump Administration and was a trial attorney in DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
Education:
Lindsey Burke – Burke leads the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy and authored the Project 2025 chapter on the Department of Education. She was part of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s transition and landing teams, and she is a member of the George Mason University Board of Visitors through June 2026.
Bob Eitel — Eitel served as senior counselor to the Secretary of Education from 2017 to 2020. Republican sources suggest the attorney could return to the Department of Education during a second Trump term.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (R) — Reynolds has been the governor of Iowa since 2017. Initially endorsing Gov. DeSantis for president, she shifted her support to President Trump after the governor dropped out. Sources reveal that Reynolds is interested in potentially serving as secretary of education in a second Trump term.
Reed Rubinstein — Rubenstein joined the Trump Administration in January 2017 as general counsel at the Department of Education. He also held roles at DOJ and the Treasury Department. Some sources have identified him as a Trump ally who could play a role in education policy if President Trump is reelected, while others suggest Rubinstein could be offered a DOJ role.
Christopher Rufo — Rufo is a conservative activist and journalist who is credited with elevating the issue of “critical race theory.” He played a key role in Gov. DeSantis’s education reforms in Florida and was invited to the Trump White House to help draft the Contractor “Critical Race Theory” Executive Order, which prohibited contractors from providing training related to gender or race. As President Trump’s inner circle plans for another administration, Rufo’s name has been floated for secretary of education.
Ryan Walters — Walters has served as Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction since 2023. He was previously appointed Oklahoma secretary of education. Walters has expressed his support for President Trump, stating that he would join the former president’s reelection team. Republican Hill sources indicate he could be a pick for secretary of education.
Mick Zais — Zais served as deputy secretary of education and later as acting secretary of education following Betsy DeVos’ resignation. Republican contacts suggest Zais could return to the Department of Education during a second Trump presidency.
Agriculture:
Daren Bakst – Bakst leads the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He is a Heritage Foundation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and John Locke Foundation alumnus. An expert on food and agricultural policy, he wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) – In an interview in May, Sen. Ernst told Iowa press that while she is seeking reelection n 2026, she would be open to joining a potential Trump 2.0 cabinet. She touted her rural and defense experience, as she sits on both the Senate Agriculture and Armed Services Committees. She was vetted by President Trump’s team as a vice presidential candidate in 2016.
Sid Miller — Serving as Texas Agriculture Commissioner since 2015, Miller has faced several scandals, including felony charges for theft and commercial bribery related to licenses issued to Miller’s close friend and political consultant, as well as misusing political funds for personal travel. Despite this, he was endorsed by President Trump and reelected in 2022. In 2016, Miller was on the Trump campaign’s agriculture advisory committee and was potentially considered for a leadership position at USDA. Sources indicate he could now be a candidate for a USDA secretary, although some Trump advisors worry that Miller’s controversial history could complicate his Senate confirmation.
Kip Tom — Tom, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the Trump Administration, played a significant role in shaping Trump-era agricultural policy. Sources reveal that he has been floated as a top pick for USDA leadership, given his policy experience and loyalty to President Trump.
Sherry Vinton — Vinton has served as Nebraska director of agriculture since January 2023. She is the first woman to lead Nebraska’s Agriculture Department. While Vinton is not well known among Republicans nationally, her policy expertise has attracted the attention of Trump advisors looking to grow the campaign’s agricultural policy expertise and generate a shortlist of potential USDA political appointees.
Energy/Environment:
Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) — Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2020, Rep. Bentz has endorsed President Trump. As chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, he is seen as knowledgeable on environmental issues, particularly water resources and energy.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) — Gov. Burgum has served as North Dakota governor since 2016. After an unsuccessful bid in the 2024 Republican primary, he endorsed President Trump. According to our Republican contacts, Gov. Burgum’s wife, Kathryn, has been spending time in Florida and becoming good friends with Melania Trump. President Trump has hinted that Gov. Burgum could be appointed to his cabinet if reelected, potentially as secretary of energy, agriculture, commerce, interior, or state. One contact even suggested he may be considered for the role of White House chief of staff.
Tim Dunn – One of the former president’s top donors, Dunn is the CEO of CrownRock, an oil production company. He serves on the board of AFPI.
Mandy Gunasekara — Gunasekara, former chief of staff for the Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wrote a chapter for the Trump 2024 campaign’s climate plan, which advocated for the elimination of several EPA offices to downsize operations.
Harold Hamm – An oil executive and strong supporter of the former president, Hamm was floated for energy secretary in the first Trump Administration. However, that relationship cooled after he supported Haley and Gov. DeSantis in the 2024 Republican primary. Although he is back on better terms with President Trump after contributing to his campaign in October 2023, it is unclear if he would receive a political appointment in a second Trump Administration.
David Legates – Legates held several climate and environment related positions in the Trump Administration, including assistant deputy secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and executive director of the U.S. Global Change Research Program in OSTP. He is a contributor to Project 2025.
Bernard McNamee — McNamee served as a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) during the Trump Administration. Sources indicate he is one of the key authors of President Trump’s climate plan for a second term, which includes proposals for consolidating multiple offices at the Department of Energy (DOE) and cutting funding for certain programs.
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) — As chair Republican Policy Committee (RPC), Rep. Palmer has been actively advising Trump on energy issues, with a particular focus on mining of critical minerals.
Andrew Wheeler – A former EPA administrator, Wheeler has publicly expressed interest in returning to the role. He currently serves as a senior advisor to Gov. Youngkin.
Kyle Yunaska – Yunaska, the brother of President Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, served as chief of staff in DOE’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis and as deputy chief of staff at NASA during the Trump Administration. He reportedly remains close with DOE career staff.
Interior:
David Bernhardt — Interior secretary during the Trump Administration, Bernhardt now chairs AFPI’s Center of American Freedom. His ongoing support for President Trump has sparked rumors that he could return as interior secretary or be a candidate for a senior role at EPA in a second Trump Administration.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)— Rep. Biggs has been loyal to President Trump, going as far to say he would “declare war” after the former president was indicted. Our Republican Hill sources indicate Rep. Biggs could be a top pick for President Trump for the Department of the Interior.
Brenda Burman – Burman, who served as Bureau of Reclamation commissioner during the Trump Administration, is considered a strong candidate to return to the Interior Department, potentially as deputy secretary, if President Trump wins in November.
Cory Gardner — Gardner served in the Senate representing Colorado from 2015 to 2021. He spent two years as chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Republican sources indicate the former Senator could be a top pick to lead the Department of the Interior, if President Trump wins reelection.
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) — A strong Trump ally and member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Gosar has represented Arizona in Congress since 2011. Republican Hill sources indicate Rep. Gosar could be selected for a role at the Interior Department in a second Trump term.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) — A freshman congresswoman and loyal Trump supporter, Rep. Hageman could be asked to serve in a senior role at the Interior Department given her consistent defense of the former president and her role on the House Natural Resources Committee.
Amanda Kaster — Currently director of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Kaster held multiple managements roles in the Trump Interior Department, including acting deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management and acting chief of staff for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). According to sources, she is being floated for a potential leadership role at Interior.
Katharine MacGregor — MacGregor served as principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management and then as deputy secretary of the interior during the Trump Administration. She is now vice president for environmental services at NextEra Energy. Multiple Trump-era Interior alumni have mentioned MacGregor as a candidate for interior secretary or deputy secretary.
William Perry Pendley — Pendley previously served as the acting director of BLM from 2019 to 2021. Project 2025 includes a section written by Pendley that is intended to serve as a blueprint for Trump-era policies for BLM, indicating that Pendley could play a role at the Interior Department if President Trump is reelected. Pendley stated in an interview that many Trump-era officials are looking to return to government to continue their work at the Interior Department.
Jason Phillips – CEO of Friant Water Authority and former mid-Atlantic deputy regional director at the Bureau of Reclamation, Phillips could return to the Interior Department in a second Trump Administration. His name has been floated to serve as Bureau of Reclamation commissioner.
Andrea Travnicek — The former deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, Travnicek currently leads North Dakota’s Department of Water Resources. Trump-era Interior alumni view Travnicek as a candidate for interior secretary, or more likely assistant secretary for water and science, in a second Trump Administration.
Kiel Weaver – Now the director of environmental policy at NextEra Energy, Weaver previously served under President Trump as principal deputy assistant secretary for water and science. He could return to the Interior Department in the assistant secretary for water and science role.
Todd Willens – In the first Trump Administration, Willens served as associate deputy secretary of the interior and then chief of staff to then-Interior Secretary Bernhardt. He previously worked on Capitol Hill and in the George W. Bush Department of the Interior. His name has been circulated for the secretary role in a potential second Trump term.
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) — Rep. Zinke has represented Montana in Congress since 2023. He served as the Interior Secretary during the Trump Administration but resigned in 2019 following a series of probes regarding the use of his office for personal gain. Rep. Zinke remains in the circle of environmental policy experts but said in an interview that he has not been asked about a second appointment.
Transportation:
Steven Bradbury – Now at the Heritage Foundation where he worked on the “Mandate for Leadership,” Bradbury served as general counsel, acting deputy secretary, and acting secretary for the Department of Transportation (DOT) during the Trump Administration. He also served in the George W. Bush DOJ and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Diana Furchtgott-Roth – Furchtgott-Roth specializes in energy, climate, and environment at the Heritage Foundation. She served in the Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Trump Administrations in a variety of roles including deputy assistant secretary of transportation for research and technology, Council of Economic Advisors chi
Housing and Urban Development:
Ben Carson — Carson, who served as HUD secretary during the Trump Administration, has remained a loyal supporter of President Trump, often defending him in interviews and offering his endorsement.
Other Potential Appointees:
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) — Sen. Blackburn is the senior Senator from Tennessee. Although she told Fox News in an interview that she is focused on her own reelection this year, she remains in President Trump’s good graces.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) — Sen. Britt, the youngest Republican woman to be elected to the Senate, enjoys an amicable relationship with President Trump. After her response to President Biden’s State of the Union address, President Trump immediately praised the junior Alabama senator on social media.
Rick Dearborn – Dearborn served as executive director of the Trump 2016 transition team and as White House deputy chief of staff for two years. He has since worked as a private sector consultant and contributed to Project 2025. Previously, he was chief of staff to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and was assistant secretary of energy for Congressional affairs under President George W. Bush.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) — Rep. Donalds has served in Congress since 2021. He is known for challenging Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) leadership bid in January 2023.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — Known as “MTG”, Rep. Greene has been in the House of Representatives since 2021. She is undeniably one of President Trump’s biggest defenders in Congress and has a warm relationship with him, which he has publicly acknowledged.
Sebastian Gorka – A deputy assistant to the president during President Trump’s tenure in the White House, Gorka made waves for his far-right positions. He advised the former president on national security matters.
Kari Lake — Following her failed 2022 gubernatorial bid, Lake is now a candidate for the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Arizona. Considered a “MAGA star,” Lake has been loyal to President Trump, including being vocal in her support for overturning the 2020 election results.
Derek Lyons — Lyons served as White House staff secretary and counselor to the president during the Trump Administration. Republican insiders suggest he could return in a second Trump term.
Kevin McCarthy — McCarthy resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of 2023 after being ousted as Speaker in October. Sources indicate that President Trump may be considering McCarthy for White House chief of staff in a second term. He has also been active in AI policy.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) — Gov. Noem has frequent contact with President Trump but faces criticism for excerpts in her recently published memoir No Going Back. While she could be considered for a role in a second Trump Administration, she reportedly has interest in a position at the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) — Gov. Sanders previously served as White House press secretary during the Trump Administration. Although some sources suggest President Trump may want to offer her a position during a second term, Gov. Sanders confirmed her plans to complete her term in Arkansas and run for reelection in 2026.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) — After dropping out of the GOP presidential race, Sen. Scott endorsed President Trump. Sources suggest the two have been in touch. If Republicans gain a majority in the Senate, Sen. Scott is in line to chair the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Earlier in his political career, Sen. Scott committed to serving only two terms in the Senate. His second term is set to expire in 2028.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) — A long-time Trump ally, Rep. Stefanik has publicly criticized former Vice President Pence’s actions on January 6, further amplifying President Trump’s "stolen election” message. While the congresswoman could take a role in a potential second Trump Administration, she may instead seek a leadership role in the House of Representatives.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) — Gov. Youngkin has expressed satisfaction with his current role, but term limits will make him ineligible to run for reelection in 2025, potentially opening the door for a position in a second Trump Administration.
Campaign Managers:
Chris LaCivita — LaCivita is a senior advisor to the Trump campaign. Alongside Susie Wiles, he has been referred to as a “de-facto campaign manager.” LaCivita has used his previous Republican National Committee (RNC) roles, as well as his leadership of pro- Trump super PACs, to support President Trump’s ambitions of winning a second term. Sources indicate that President Trump is pushing for LaCivita to become chief operating officer at the RNC.
Susie Wiles — Wiles currently serves as a senior advisor on President Trump’s campaign. Like LaCivita, she has been referred to as a “de-facto campaign manager.” During the 2016 presidential cycle, Wiles ran the Trump campaign’s operations in Florida. During the 2018 election cycle, she was reportedly deputized by President Trump to help run the DeSantis gubernatorial campaign in Florida. She is reportedly interested in the White House chief of staff role.
Other Campaign Strategists/Advisors:
Danielle Alvarez – A senior advisor on the campaign, Alvarez previously worked at the RNC as communications director.
James Blair – Blair is the Trump campaign’s political director and oversees field operations. He previously worked for Gov. DeSantis as deputy chief of staff for his 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Alex Bruesewitz – As part of a late summer hiring blitz, political consultant Bruesewitz joined the campaign to advise on social media outreach. He previously mulled a bid for Congress to replace retired Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI).
Taylor Budowich – Budowich is an advisor to the 2024 campaign, having most recently been the CEO of the super PAC MAGA Inc. He previously served as a spokesperson for the former president.
Justin Caporale – Now deputy campaign manager for operations, Caporale previously held several positions in the Trump White House focused on advance operations and advising First Lady Melania Trump. He also worked for Gov. DeSantis.
Steven Cheung — A senior advisor for the Trump 2024 campaign, Cheung has worked on both the 2016 and 2020 campaigns and often serves as a campaign spokesperson.
Boris Ephteyn – Despite a recent indictment in Arizona in the fake elector case, Ephteyn has been a longtime political advisor to the former president and supported him during the New York hush money court case. He is currently an advisor to the 2024 campaign. He previously worked at Sinclair Broadcasting Group and on the McCain-Palin campaign.
Tony Fabrizio – A pollster, Fabrizio worked on President Trump’s 2016 campaign in leadership roles for the Rebuilding America Now super PAC and the MAGA Inc. super PAC. He is now leading polling for the 2024 Trump campaign.
Newt Gingrich — The former Speaker of the House, Gingrich is an advisor to President Trump and remains influential in campaign operations, according to multiple sources.
Alina Habba – Habba has served as one of the former president’s legal advisors. She is also advising the super PAC MAGA Inc. She has worked at several firms in private practice and now runs her own firm, Habba, Madaio, and Associates LLP.
Vince Haley — A deputy assistant to the president and advisor for policy, strategy, and speechwriting during the Trump Administration, Haley remains a member of President Trump’s inner circle, serving as a senior policy advisor and speechwriter.
Natalie Harp – Harp serves as a personal aide to President Trump and has been dubbed his “human printer” for providing him with reports and uplifting stories on his campaign. She previously worked on the former president’s 2020 campaign and at One America News.
Brian Hughes – Working closely with Wiles, Hughes is a Florida political operative responsible for reporter interactions and messaging. He previously worked for Gov. DeSantis.
Brian Jack — Currently a candidate to succeed retiring Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jack has worked on the Trump campaign’s effort to rebuild the relationship between President Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA). He previously served in the Trump Administration as White House director of political affairs. In the 2020 election cycle, Jack worked as a senior campaign aide gathering state-by-state endorsements for President Trump.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) — Gov. Justice has served as governor of West Virginia since 2017. He is running for the open Senate seat in 2024, with President Trump’s endorsement.
Alex Latcham – As senior deputy political director, Latcham serves as the Trump campaign’s main liaison with Congress. During the primary, he led early states efforts. He previously worked in the Trump White House.
Karoline Leavitt — Leavitt, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2022, served as a presidential writer and as assistant press secretary during the Trump Administration. She joined the Trump campaign as national press secretary in January and frequently represents the former president on news outlets, including Fox News.
Corey Lewandowski – President Trump’s first campaign manager in 2016, Lewandowski joined the 2024 campaign staff in August after serving as an informal advisor to the former president.
Nick Luna – Luna, vice president of operations for the Trump 2024 campaign, previously served as a personal aide and body man to the former president during his time in the White House.
Austin McCubbin – McCubbin is a campaign advisor and led the President Trump’s state strategy in South Carolina ahead of the primary earlier this year primary. He wrote a memo in May on the possibility of Vice President Harris or another candidate becoming the Democratic nomination instead of President Biden.
John McLaughlin – McLaughlin handles polling for the Trump campaign. His past clients include former Govs. Jeb Bush (R-FL) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA).
Jason Miller — Miller, the chief spokesman for President Trump’s 2016 campaign and a senior advisor to the 2020 campaign, returned as a senior advisor and spokesman early last year. After the convention, Miller was assigned to support Sen. Vance.
Tim Murtaugh – Murtaugh joined the Trump campaign in late summer. He will serve as an advisor on communications. He was previously communications director for President Trump’s 2020 campaign.
Alex Pfeiffer – Having most recently worked at the super PAC MAGA Inc., Pfeiffer is now on the campaign’s payroll as an advisor.
Dan Scavino — Scavino, former deputy chief of staff for communications and director of social media in the Trump White House, is a longtime advisor to President Trump. He continues to manage social media operations for the Trump campaign and President Trump’s personal accounts.
Lisa Spies – A longtime Republican fundraiser, Spies has been hired by the Trump campaign to oversee interest group fundraising and build relationships with K Street. Her former clients include Jeb Bush for President, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), and then-Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN).
Travis Tunis – Working under Fabrizio, Tunis is a pollster advising the campaign. He had also worked on polling for President Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
Ross Worthington – Like Haley, Worthington serves as both a speechwriter and policy advisor to President Trump. He previously worked in the Trump White House under Stephen Miller and was communications director for former House Speaker and 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.
Trump Family
Jared Kushner — President Trump’s son-in-law who served as a senior advisor in the Trump White House, Kushner is now focused on his business ventures. Despite some support among some Republicans for Kushner’s nomination to serve as secretary of state during a second Trump term, Kushner has publicly said he will not return to the White House.
Donald Trump Jr. – The eldest child of the former president and an honorary co-chair of the 2025 transition team, “Don Jr.” is close with his father. It is thought he had significant influence over President Trump’s selection of Sen. Vance as his running mate. Don Jr. served as an advisor to the 2016 campaign and has been involved in the Trump Organization’s business operations.
Eric Trump – Eric Trump is the third child of President Trump and has been named a 2025 transition team co-chair. Like his older brother, he was involved in Trump Organization’s business operations while his father was in the White House.
Lara Trump — Married to Eric Trump, Lara Trump is President Trump’s daughter-in-law. She became RNC co-chair in March with the former president’s backing. She was an advisor to the 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Sources suggest she is likely to remain at the RNC after the 2024 election.
Other Trump Confidants:
Steve Bannon — Bannon previously served as the White House's chief strategist during the Trump presidency. Sources suggest that Bannon remains one of President Trump’s closest allies. There is speculation he could be named chief of staff in a second Trump term. Bannon has used his podcast, “War Room,” to hint at potential policies for a Trump 2.0 Administration.
Tucker Carlson — The former Fox News anchor is one of the most influential voices in conservative politics. Many sources indicate that Carlson remains an influential member of President Trump’s campaign.
Kellyanne Conway — Senior counselor to the president from 2017 to 2020, Conway remains loyal to President Trump, publicly defending him during the trials in Georgia and New York. It was reported that Conway was made an official offer to join Trump 2024 campaign, and Melania Trump is reportedly making the push for the campaign to hire her. While her Fox News contributor contract prevents her from officially joining the campaign, she is likely to continue informally advising President Trump. Conway also chairs AFPI’s Center for the American Child, focusing on the opioid crisis and supporting vulnerable children.
Sean Hannity – Hannity has a close relationship with President Trump and hosts radio and television commentary shows for Fox News, where he frequently supports the former president’s viewpoints.
Leonard Leo – Chairman of the Federalist Society’s board of directors, Leo was reportedly heavily involved with the selection of President Trump’s Supreme Court nominees.
Kelly Loeffler – Loeffler was appointed by Gov. Kemp in 2020 to serve the remaining year of former Sen. Johnny Isakson’s (R-GA) term in office. She has been credited with helping to rebuild the relationship between President Trump and Gov. Kemp.
Sonny Perdue – President Trump’s former secretary of agriculture, Perdue has supported the campaign in trying to rebuild the relationship between the former president and Gov. Kemp. The former governor of the state of Georgia himself, Perdue is now chancellor of the University System of Georgia.
Michael Whatley — Head of the North Carolina Republican Party, Whatley has co- chaired the RNC since March. Sources indicate that Whatley is loyal to President Trump, as evidenced by Whatley’s defense of the former president’s actions on January 6.
Bill White – White, the CEO of the Atlanta-based consulting firm Constellations Group, is a donor and friend of the former president. He was previously president of the Intrepid Museum in New York City and was considered by President Obama for the secretary of the navy position. White supported President Obama and Hillary Clinton before supporting President Trump in 2016.
America First Policy Institute Leadership:
Fred Fleitz – The vice chair of AFPI’s Center for American Security, Fleitz was chief of staff to the NSC during President Trump’s first term. He has experience at the CIA and on the staff for the House Intelligence Committee. He recently staffed a meeting between President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán. Fleitz and Gen. Kellogg have also provided President Trump with a policy proposal for Ukraine/Russia.
Doug Hoelscher — Hoelscher previously served in the Trump White House as director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Hoelscher currently serves as chair of the AFPI America First Transition Project.
Rob Law – Currently leading AFPI’s homeland security and immigration efforts, Law is focused on leveraging executive authority for immigration priorities in a potential second Trump Administration. He previously served as a senior policy advisor at USCIS in the first Trump Administration.
Howard Lutnick – Chairman and CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has been announced as co-chair of the former president’s transition team.
Linda McMahon — Currently chair of the board at AFPI, McMahon served as SBA administrator under President Trump and stepped down in 2019 to support the Trump 2020 reelection campaign. She has recently been named co-chair of President Trump’s transition team.
Cliff Sims – Since departing the Trump White House where he served as deputy director of national intelligence, Sims joined AFPI’s Center for American Security and published two novels. He also led messaging efforts at the 2020 Republican National Convention.
Brooke Rollins — Rollins served as acting director of the DPC during the Trump Administration. As president and CEO of AFPI, Rollins has frequently released statements on behalf of the organization defending President Trump.
Project 2025 Leadership:
Spencer Chretien — Chretien serves as associate director of Project 2025. During the Trump Administration, he served as a special assistant to the president and as associate director of presidential personnel. He has also held positions at several conservative think tanks, including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Citizens Against Government Waste, and FreedomWorks.
Paul Dans — Dans led Project 2025 as director from 2022 until July 2024 after weeks of attacks by Democrats and President Trump’s attempts to publicly distance himself from the effort. In the Trump White House, Dans was chief of staff for OPM.
Steven Groves – Currently an editor of Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation, Groves held several positions in the Trump Administration, including chief of staff to then-U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Haley, special assistant to the president, deputy press secretary, and assistant special counsel representing the Trump White House during Robert Mueller’s investigation. He also worked in the Senate and in private practice.
Troup Hemenway — Hemenway is an associate director of Project 2025. Hemenway served as an associate director of the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) and as senior advisor to the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering during the Trump Administration. He also worked on the 2016 campaign and transition team.
Dennis Kirk – Kirk is the associate director of personnel policy for Project 2025. He was nominated by President Trump to chair the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board and later worked at OPM.
Johnny McEntee — McEntee was director of PPO during the Trump Administration. He is currently a senior advisor to Project 2025.
Kevin D. Roberts – Roberts has led the Heritage Foundation since 2021 and Heritage Action since 2023. In these roles, he spearheads conservative policy efforts focused on the border, education, election security, and healthcare. He was previously CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
Transition Team
Tulsi Gabbard — President Trump has tapped Gabbard to co-chair the 2025 transition team. She has frequently praised President Trump in the media and is believed to be advising him on foreign policy, military operations, and the Pentagon. A former congresswoman from Hawaii, and a former Democrat who ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, Gabbard became an independent in 2022 after years of clashing with other Democrats.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Following his departure from the presidential race and endorsement of President Trump, Kennedy was named 2025 transition team co-chair. He has expressed interest in serving in a second Trump Administration, though Sen. Vance has downplayed the likelihood of Kennedy filling a position. Kennedy, the son of former AG Robert F. Kennedy, worked on environmental policy before leaving the Democratic party to become an independent.