The Free Press
In under three months, Donald Trump will be in the White House again. We’ve compiled a list of people who helped him pull off his extraordinary comeback—and will help him govern once he is in the Oval Office again. Think of it as a Who’s Who of Trump World in 2024. Some may join him as official White House staffers, cabinet members, or diplomats. Others may simply have the president’s ear, either as members of the media or trusted confidants. Either way, these are the people who will shape the country for the next four years. Bookmark this page; you’re going to need it later.
Here’s a brief guide to the Masters of MAGA.
The Inner Circle
Elon Musk: The billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX bet big on Trump, staking his own reputation on endorsing him and donating around $132 million toward Trump’s reelection efforts. Musk also revamped the campaign’s voter outreach operation, compensating for the implosion of the Michigan and Arizona Republican parties, two crucial swing states that Trump won. Trump has promised to make Musk his government efficiency czar. One Trump transition team source says Musk does not want the hassle of the background checks or ethics requirements that come with being a full-time government employee. “He will be in charge of a blue ribbon commission, but it will be a part-time job,” this source says. Given Tesla’s presence in China, where it builds cars for the European and Asian markets, as well as its reliance on Chinese-made lithium batteries, he might also have Trump’s ear when it comes to the administration’s policy toward that country. The early signs certainly point to Musk having serious influence. He joined a call between the president-elect and Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky last week and is set to join Trump when he meets Argentina’s Javier Milei next week.
Don Jr.: The president’s most political and public-facing son, Don Jr., proved himself to be a powerful fundraiser and effective surrogate in the 2024 campaign. He has also served as a key adviser for his father, and was reportedly instrumental in convincing him to pick J.D. Vance as his running mate. Don Jr. may not be given an official role in the next Trump White House; Trump is reportedly reluctant to hire his children this time around, saying last year that it was “too painful for the family.” His daughter Ivanka, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, were given roles in his first administration, a move frequently criticized as improper by his critics. But whatever his job title, Don Jr. will undoubtedly be influential.
Tucker Carlson: After being fired from his popular Fox News program, the commentator relaunched his show on X and has been one of Trump’s most high-profile allies in media. A populist tastemaker, he has helped shatter Republican orthodoxies on issues like free trade and foreign intervention. He speaks directly to Trump’s base—and also speaks directly to Trump, even though text messages revealed through a lawsuit against Fox News showed Carlson had lost patience with Trump during the president-elect’s doomed campaign to reverse the results of the 2020 election. “He’s a demonic force, a destroyer,” Carlson wrote in one text message four years ago. Today he is in the catbird seat when it comes to staffing the new administration, according to three sources. “It’s the Tucker administration. He is exercising a veto, he’s making the decisions. Don Jr.’s lips may be moving, but those are Tucker’s words coming out,” according to one Republican insider clued up on the transition plans for the incoming administration.
Susie Wiles: A longtime Republican operative who began her career as an assistant to NFL player-turned-congressman Jack Kemp, Wiles was the co-chair of Trump’s victorious 2024 campaign. She has been tapped as Trump’s White House chief of staff and will be the first woman to hold the position. Wiles gets high marks from all tribes in the Republican Party. As one GOP insider put it: “A republic, if Susie can keep it.”
Jared Kushner: The president’s son-in-law was one of the more accomplished members of Trump’s team in his first administration. Kushner was one of the architects of the Abraham Accords, which normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab states. He didn’t play a big role in the campaign, but he is now back to help advise on the transition. Kushner has indicated he doesn’t want a new job in the next administration, but his presence in the Mar-a-Lago inner circle shows he still has his father-in-law’s ear.
MAGA Elite
Vivek Ramaswamy: The 39-year-old businessman ran against Trump in the primary, although you’d have never guessed it. At times it felt like Ramaswamy was a Trump surrogate. He never had a foul word to say about the president-elect and spent the vast majority of his campaign attacking Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Since then, he’s become one of Trump’s biggest allies and a ubiquitous media cheerleader. He says he’s spoken to Trump about a “substantial” role in his administration. One Trump World insider said, “Vivek is our Pete Buttigieg. Maybe he gets something like Department of Transportation, but he will not be secretary of state.” Ramaswamy could also replace fellow Ohioan J.D. Vance in the Senate.
Rep. Mike Waltz: The Florida congressman navigated foreign policy in the Donald Trump era better than just about anyone. He remains a hawk in good standing with the Washington establishment, rising to become one of the most respected China policy experts in Congress. At the same time, Waltz has broken ranks with the traditional GOP when it comes to the war in Ukraine. He became an early skeptic of the unlimited arms and funding for Kyiv, and has called on Europe to pitch in more for the defense of the beleaguered neighbor of Russia. His work has apparently paid off. On Monday evening, The Wall Street Journal reported that Waltz would be Trump’s pick as national security adviser. He was also a leading contender for secretary of defense.
Marco Rubio: Once derided as “Little Marco” during Trump’s 2016 hostile takeover of the Republican Party, Rubio has survived. He patched things up with Trump long ago and was on the short list for vice president. Now The New York Times is reporting that Trump is expected to name him as secretary of state. That’s bad news for the Communist regime in Havana. Rubio is a proud Cuban American who dreams of the island’s liberation. It’s also bad news for Iran and China, where the Florida senator has carved out a hawkish position. It’s unclear what this will mean for Ukraine. Rubio has urged Kyiv to negotiate a settlement.
David Sacks: A founding member of Silicon Valley’s PayPal mafia, a group of billionaires that includes Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, Sacks put his stamp on the 2024 election cycle with his All-In podcast. He co-hosts the show with fellow elite investors Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and David Friedberg. Sacks was an early public backer of Trump in the 2024 election and helped remove the stigma for polite tech society to embrace the 45th president, particularly after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Sacks represents an important bridge between America’s West Coast tech barons and the MAGA movement.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: After the controversial environmental lawyer ended his independent presidential campaign (which began in the Democratic primary), he threw his support behind Donald Trump, launching the MAHA movement—Make America Healthy Again. The scion of the Kennedy clan was disavowed by his family members for breaking with the party of his birthright, but will likely be rewarded by Trump for his endorsement with some role in his administration. It isn’t clear what the official title would be—Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick says Secretary of Health and Human Services is out of the question—but president-elect Trump has promised to let RFK Jr. “go wild” on healthcare, without offering details. Currently, Kennedy is working to crowdsource names for more than 4,000 appointees to the Trump administration, launching a website for the public to submit names on candidates that would be qualified for positions in environmental, energy, agriculture, labor policies, and more.
Tulsi Gabbard: The former Hawaii congresswoman, who came into the national spotlight in 2016 when she resigned as co-chair of the DNC to support Bernie Sanders, has since left the Democratic Party to become a vocal Trump supporter and surrogate. A former member of the National Guard who was deployed to Iraq, she has voiced her opposition to “regime change wars” and been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine. She is currently serving on Trump’s transition team and could be considered for a job in his administration. According to one report, she is under consideration for a role in the “foreign policy or national security space.” She apparently wants one of the big jobs like secretary of defense or director of the CIA. But she is more likely to get the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was a Democrat only a few years ago, and many senators remember that.
Linda McMahon: The wife of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) founder Vince McMahon—a longtime friend of Trump—McMahon served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. She is currently co-leading the president-elect’s transition team and expected to be the next Commerce Secretary.
Brooke Rollins: After serving in the first Trump administration as acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council, Rollins was tapped as CEO of the America First Policy Institute—a Trump-aligned think tank. Last month, The New York Times reported that Trump was considering her for chief of staff. That job ultimately went to Susie Wiles, but Rollins may well find another important position in the administration.
John Ratcliffe: The former Texas congressman served as Trump’s director of national intelligence from 2020–2021, where he was criticized for sidelining career officials in the agency. In MAGA land, though, that kind of record earns you a promotion. Trump was reportedly considering him to be his national security adviser; he is still up for a consequential role in the administration.
Elise Stefanik: The New York representative and House Republican conference chair is a rising star in the party and a vocal Trump supporter. Trump just named her as ambassador to the UN. “I hope she does to the United Nations what she just did to the Ivy League universities,” one MAGA insider said, referring to Stefanik’s brutal questioning of university presidents during House hearings into campus antisemitism last year.
Bill Hagerty: During Trump’s first administration, the then-Tennessee congressman was floated as the president’s pick for U.S. Trade Representative based on his experience with international trade and foreign investment as co-founder of a private equity firm. He was appointed ambassador to Japan instead, and in 2020 became a senator. Now, he is being floated for another foreign policy role. His foreign policy views are largely aligned with Trump World: Recently, on CBS, he criticized the Biden administration for sending too much aid money to Ukraine, and for loosening sanctions on Iran. He also said he supported efforts to bolster the militaries of Japan and South Korea, saying it was appropriate for Trump to ask them to “step up.”
Ric Grenell: A fierce Trump loyalist, the former diplomat and acting director of national intelligence is fighting to become secretary of state. He would become the first openly gay person to hold the position. Grenell has been telling people for the last year he wants to be the next secretary of state. That may be a hard confirmation battle. Why? Grenell has a colorful social media history as an outspoken troll. In his stint in 2012 as a foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney’s campaign, he had deleted dozens of tweets that were deemed rude and offensive. Much of his history on X has been erased. But he still retains his trollish instincts. On November 7, he reposted a photo of two men lounging in a pool with the caption: “Hey everyone! We made it to the Trump gay concentration camp safely.” But the Republicans have 53 senators, so who knows?
Dana White: The CEO and president of the UFC is a longtime friend of Trump’s who helped him connect with the young male vote that delivered his win on Tuesday. A personal friend of Trump’s, he was at Mar-a-Lago on election night and might serve as an ad hoc adviser. He will be a significant booster for Trump, particularly the young male demographic the GOP will sorely need for the 2026 midterms. You can read more about that here.
Eric Trump: Left in charge of the family business, Eric is often outshone by his other siblings. However, he has worked as a surrogate for his father during this election. Perhaps more importantly, his wife Lara is now co-chair of the Republican National Committee.
Lara Trump: In 2024, Trump’s daughter-in-law became co-chair of the RNC, solidifying the family’s control over the national party. In that capacity she will continue to serve as a frequent surrogate for both Trump and his party, and will also be instrumental in fundraising for the 2026 midterm elections, which Republicans need to win in order for Trump to enact his full agenda. That is, assuming her music career doesn’t take off first. Several months after Lara accused Apple Music of shadow banning her cover of Tom Petty’s 1989 hit “I Won’t Back Down,” she recently released a music video for her song “Hero,” which features a lot of B-roll of ethnically balanced cops and firefighters.
Barron Trump: Standing at six feet, nine inches tall, Trump’s most elusive, stoic, and youngest son Barron is something of an enigma, which has allowed some people online to imagine him as his father’s eventual successor and avenger—a future American Caesar “cross[ing] the Potomac with 10,000 men to dissolve the Senate” (as we wrote earlier this year). He hasn’t done that yet, but the NYU freshman probably brought 10,000 men to the polls. Barron was reportedly instrumental in connecting his father to the very online right, which helped him reach the young male demographic that brought him victory Tuesday night. It was Barron who advised his father to go on Adin Ross’s popular Twitch stream, and Barron who reached out to podcaster Patrick Bet-David to have dinner at Mar-a-Lago a few months before the elder Trump was booked on his podcast. When a campaign consultation came up with a podcast plan in July, Trump asked, “Have you talked this over with Barron? Call Barron and see what he thinks.” “De facto Gen Z adviser” today, gangly god-king tomorrow.
Kash Patel: The 44-year-old served as a National Security Council official in Trump’s first administration and played a key role in defending Trump against claims that his campaign colluded with the Russian government. He is reportedly being considered for CIA director. Expect Patel to be a powerful voice inside the administration, but he will not be put up for a Senate-confirmable position. “He is unconfirmable,” one GOP insider said. He has made too many enemies in the national security state, according to this source, meaning that the few moderate Republicans left will not likely vote for him.
Charlie Kirk: Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit founded by Kirk 12 years ago, was tasked with much of the Trump campaign’s voter turnout efforts, which are usually left to the official campaign and the RNC. And they delivered. Normally, TPUSA functions as a youth organization, primarily working in high schools and universities. As a conduit between the White House and young conservatives, Kirk has a lot of power to shape upcoming talent in the Republican Party. He has expressed an interest in shaping policy at the Department of Education, and has a lot of admirers in Trump’s inner circle.
Calley and Casey Means: Calley Means, co-founder of TrueMed, a wellness company, is poised to shape the next Trump administration’s healthcare policy, Axios reports. He and his sister Casey, a doctor who leads a wellness company called Levels Health, are part of Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), an RFK Jr.–led effort to fight the roots of chronic disease—a fight that began after the two lost their mother to cancer. Casey wrote about that experience here at The Free Press earlier this year.
Nigel Farage: The British MP and leading Brexiteer, who leads the Reform UK party, has openly supported Trump in the election and was at Mar-a-Lago on election night. He has offered to be a “bridge” between the president-elect and the UK government—but the ruling Labour Party has rejected this idea. Still, Farage could serve as a conduit between the Trump administration and the British right-wing. When asked about Farage, one Trump World insider texted: “Make England Great Again.”
Boris Epshteyn: The Republican strategist is a close and loyal adviser to Donald Trump. So much so that the Trump super PAC is paying his legal bills as he fights election interference charges in Arizona. He could have considerable influence in the upcoming administration—and possibly a plum job in the White House—assuming he stays out of prison.
Stephen Miller: The immigration hawk and left-wing boogeyman wrote Trump’s grim 2017 inaugural address—often referred to as the “American Carnage” speech. He later served as Trump’s senior adviser and speechwriter during the president’s first administration, where he was widely regarded as the person most responsible for crafting Trump’s hard-line immigration policy. He has been tapped to be Trump’s deputy chief of staff, and with Trump promising drastic action on the border on day one, expect Miller to be in the limelight early. Miller has a reputation in Republican circles for being strictly business. He’s not the warm and cuddly type.
Tom Homan: Sunday night, Trump announced that Homan, his former acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), would serve as “border czar” in the upcoming administration. The former police officer and border control agent was executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE during the Obama administration, which carried out a record number of deportations.
Steve Bannon: Released from prison two weeks ago, the former Trump campaign executive and White House chief strategist could have a future in the upcoming Trump administration. But he might come with too much legal baggage—even for Trump. Bannon was convicted in 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 riots—a great demonstration of loyalty for a man who was unceremoniously fired by the president in 2017. Nonetheless, it will be difficult to give Bannon a job in the next administration. He is scheduled to appear before a New York court in a new trial for his role in bilking donors to a charity that promised to build a border wall. “He is in deep shit. I don’t know if Trump can save him,” one Republican insider said.
Donors
Timothy Mellon: The good thing about money is that it never gets too old to spend. With donations totaling $125 million, Trump’s number one donor this election cycle is the octogenarian grandson of famed robber baron and treasury secretary Andrew Mellon. The scion of the wealthy banking family is a bit of an enigma. One GOP insider says, “He’s a recluse. Nobody knows anything about him.” He lives in Wyoming and is known for donating to conservative causes—including forking over millions in an attempt to privately build Trump’s border wall. Seems to be in it for the love of the game—and maybe a tax cut or two.
Scott Bessent: This billionaire hedge fund manager and former George Soros executive made his fortune betting against the Japanese yen and was a major fundraiser for Trump this election cycle. He’s a former Democrat who has defended Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods. Currently, he’s angling to become treasury secretary. But one GOP fundraiser says he could run into problems. “Scott is a conservative, but he made his fortune working with George Soros. If he gets a top job, it will be a wet dream for the conspiracy theorists.” Soros is one of the Democratic Party’s top donors, and a boogeyman for the right.
Howard Lutnick: The longtime CEO of financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick personally gave more than $10 million to the Trump campaign this election cycle and helped raise more than $75 million through his Wall Street connections. In his capacity as Trump’s transition co-chair, he has come under fire from others in Trump’s orbit for what they perceive as his attempts to sideline advisers who worked in the first Trump administration in favor of those who would benefit his personal business interests. His company has ties to Tether, a controversial cryptocurrency pegged to the U.S. dollar that is reportedly under federal investigation. One source says he is angling to be treasury secretary himself.
Bill Ackman: The billionaire hedge fund manager came to prominence as a vocal critic of antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas attacks, going to war with Harvard’s administration after a disastrous congressional hearing in which his alma mater’s president declined to condemn calls for genocide against Jews on campus. A former “Bill Clinton Democrat,” he is very critical of the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) ideology that holds much sway in government bureaucracies, in the corporate world, and on college campuses. One MAGA World insider says he expects Ackman to serve on Musk’s commission on government efficiency.
Miriam Adelson: The widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson donated more than $100 million to the Trump campaign this year. A major Israel supporter, she and her late husband have long backed Trump, and were reportedly instrumental in his decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Trump’s first term. It’s likely she will once again have Trump’s ear when it comes to his Israel policy. But, as one GOP insider says, “She is not Sheldon, is she? Sheldon had no problem calling up Trump and giving him the business. And he had a real view of things. I am not sure Miriam does.”
John Paulson: In a not-so-subtle pitch for a job in the administration, Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, has said he would like to work with Musk to cut government waste and extend Trump’s 2017 tax cut. He has also suggested Trump would use tariffs as a negotiating tactic. He wants to be treasury secretary, but may have some problems getting confirmed because he is going through an epic and messy divorce.
Ike Perlmutter: A superhero to Trump’s campaign coffers, giving over $10 million this cycle, this billionaire sold Marvel to Disney in 2009 and said he once advised Disney executives not to get involved in politics. Clearly, he hasn’t taken his own advice. Sometimes described as “Trump’s Mar-a-Lago buddy,” he helped found a pro-Trump super PAC this year and previously worked as a shadow adviser for Veterans Affairs during the first Trump administration.
Steve Wynn: Earlier this year, the casino mogul and Trump megadonor was accused of illegally lobbying Trump on behalf of China. A federal court ruled that Wynn had no obligation to register as a foreign agent because his alleged lobbying ended in 2017. Wynn, 82, isn’t seen as someone likely to serve in the administration. Not that he won’t offer Trump some unsolicited advice from time to time.
Steve Schwarzman: The CEO of Blackstone, a private equity giant, publicly supported Trump this election season. The firm has come under fire for buying up single-family homes. Schwarzman has enemies inside MAGA World and the Republican Party. He also didn’t put big money into the campaign this cycle, according to one GOP source. To add to this, Schwarzman is a major dove on China. “He’s such a panda hugger,” a Trump World insider said. “I don’t expect him to play a role in the new administration.”
Steve Witkoff: A golf buddy of Trump’s and a fellow New York real estate investor, Witkoff was with Trump on the golf course when a second would-be assassin waited for them in the bushes. In 2011, his 22-year-old son Andrew passed away from an opioid overdose, and in 2018 Trump name-checked Witkoff in a speech rolling out his administration’s approach to the opioid epidemic. One source says he initially wanted to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, but withdrew his name when he realized he’d actually have to move there.
Tom Barrack: A Lebanese American billionaire who served as Trump’s Inaugural Committee Chair during his first administration, Barrack was found not guilty of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates in 2022. Given his strong ties to the Middle East, some suspect he might be considered for a special envoy position in that region.
Campaign Stalwarts
Chris LaCivita: The longtime political consultant, who first came to national prominence as the man who orchestrated the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” controversy against Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004, worked as co-chair of Trump’s campaign along with Susie Wiles. He is currently at war with Corey Lewandowski, who headed Trump’s 2016 campaign. After Lewandowski was brought on to the Trump campaign earlier this summer, he reportedly planted a number of negative stories about LaCivita in the press. As election results came in Tuesday night, LaCivita was overheard telling Lewandowski: “Fuck you. You have fucked with the wrong person. I’m going to fucking destroy you.” It’s almost like Aaron Sorkin is writing the script. Stay tuned to find out who destroys whom.
Steven Cheung: The former communications head for the UFC has been a close adviser for Trump since 2016. A frequent spokesman for Trump, he managed communications for the Trump campaign, vociferously defending his boss in the media. He is the front-runner to be the next White House communications director.
Jason Miller: A senior adviser to Trump, Miller was chief spokesman for Trump during his 2016 campaign and transition. During Trump’s first administration, he was initially announced as incoming White House communications director, but withdrew shortly after being accused of having an extramarital affair with a staffer. In 2021, he became the CEO of Gettr, a conservative Twitter clone, but quit to join Trump’s 2024 campaign, where he served as a senior adviser, frequently defending Trump in the media.
Sergio Gor: The former Rand Paul staffer took a top fundraising job with the Trump campaign in 2020. This campaign cycle, he served as CEO of a new Trump super PAC called “Right for America.” He has formed a close relationship with Donald Trump Jr., his partner at Winning Team. The two founded the MAGA-centric publishing company together in 2021 after Trump failed to secure a book deal from the Big Five. That may or may not be enough for him to get his foot in the White House door. Other Republicans have criticized him for allegedly monetizing his relationships with the family. “Any time I see Sergio’s involved in a project, I assume there’s a good chance it’s a scam,” one Republican campaign operative told the Daily Mail earlier this year.
Andrew Surabian: A former Bannon acolyte, Surabian serves as a strategist and adviser to Trump. A populist once described by Bannon as a “one-man war room,” he helped architect vice president-elect J.D. Vance’s successful Senate campaign in Ohio. “Head of comms for J.D. Vance,” predicts one GOP insider.
Alina Habba: As Trump’s legal spokeswoman and a senior adviser for his Super PAC MAGA, Inc., Habba will likely play an integral role in the upcoming administration, staving off lawsuits and fundraising for Trump.
Wild Cards. . .
Dan Scavino: He writes Trump’s tweets (and “Truths”), which probably makes him one of the most secretly powerful people on Earth.
Walt Nauta: Trump’s personal valet and body man who is currently facing obstruction charges after he allegedly impeded a Justice Department investigation into the president’s handling of classified documents. (You might recognize Nauta from damning security cam footage of him carrying boxes of documents out of Mar-a-Lago.)
Alex Bruesewitz: The CEO of X Strategies, a consulting firm that helps promote MAGA-aligned candidates, was blamed for booking insult comic Tony Hinchcliffe at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, where he made a series of racist jokes the campaign was forced to denounce. But clearly, Hinchcliffe’s off-color jokes didn’t cost Trump the election (in fact, his support actually grew in some heavily Puerto Rican areas), so he may still play some role in getting Trump allies elected during the midterms.
Laura Loomer: What a gal. Ms. Loomer, who once chained herself to the door of Twitter HQ after being banned from the site, is a longtime Trump supporter, conspiracy theorist, and Mar-a-Lago member. Despite official condemnations from elected Republicans like Senator Thom Tillis over racist comments Loomer made about Kamala Harris’s Indian heritage, and a feud with right-wing congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, she has apparently grown close to Trump in recent months, and has been spotted traveling with Trump and his entourage. But after Loomer generated some bad publicity for Trump, the once and future president distanced himself from her. Part of the reason, according to The Atlantic, was because “Trump, who is generally appalled by plastic surgery, was disgusted to learn about the apparent extent of Loomer’s facial alterations.”
River Page is a staff writer for The Free Press. Read his recent piece, “Trump’s Podcast Offensive Worked.”
Eli Lake is a Free Press columnist. Read his recent piece, “How Trump Won.”
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