Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025

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Trump Administration
(second term)
Donald Trump • J.D. Vance

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Administration: Donald Trump's CabinetConfirmation process for Cabinet nominees
Transition: TransitionCertification of electoral votes2024 presidential election
2024 election: Presidential electionPresidential candidates
2028 election: Presidential electionPresidential candidates

Before taking office on January 20, 2025, former President Donald Trump (R) and his team will prepare for the transition between the Biden administration and the second Trump administration.

These activities include launching agency review teams, selecting senior White House staff, identifying nominees for the Cabinet and other key Senate-confirmed positions, training the advisors who will guide nominees through the confirmation process, and developing policy agenda and implementation plans.[1]

This page provides an overview of Trump's presidential transition team and news related to the transition of power between the Biden administration and the second Trump administration. Click here to read about Biden's presidential transition. Click here to read about Trump's transition team in his first presidential term, and click here to read about the confirmation process for Trump's Cabinet appointees in his first term.

Timeline

The section below provides the most recent news and announcements related to Trump's second term transition. Click here to read previous entries.

  • December 8, 2024: Trump announced he would appoint Alina Habba to serve as a counselor to the president.[2]
  • December 5, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) as U.S. ambassador to China and Rodney Scott as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump also announced he would appoint David Sacks as White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar.[3][4][5]
  • December 4, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) as administrator of the Small Business Administration.[6]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Peter Navarro as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs, David A. Warrington as leader of the Office of the White House Counsel, and Billy Long as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Trump also announced he would nominate Daniel Driscoll for secretary of the Army, Jared Isaacman for National Aeronautics and Space Administration administrator, and Paul Atkins for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Cabinet and Cabinet-level presidential appointments

See also: Confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, 2025, Donald Trump's Cabinet (2025), Confirmation process overview for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees (2016-2017), and Donald Trump presidential Cabinet (2017-2021)

The following table shows the names of individuals announced as appointees for Cabinet and Cabinet-rank positions, along with the status of their nomination, where applicable. This list of positions is based on the Cabinet-level positions at the start of Trump's first term in 2017.

Donald Trump's Cabinet (2025)
Photo Officeholder Status
Vice President (pending)
J.D. Vance
  • November 5, 2024: Vance is the projected winner of the 2024 vice presidential election.
White House Chief of Staff (announced)
Susie Wiles
  • November 7, 2024: Trump announced the appointment of Wiles as White House chief of staff. This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Ambassador to the United Nations (announced)
Elise Stefanik
  • November 11, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Stefanik as his nominee for U.N. Ambassador.
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (announced)
Lee Zeldin
  • November 11, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Zeldin as his nominee for EPA administrator.
Secretary of Defense (announced)
Pete Hegseth
  • November 12, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Hegseth as his nominee for secretary of Defense.
Secretary of Homeland Security (announced)
Kristi Noem
  • November 12, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Noem as his nominee for secretary of Homeland Security.
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (announced)
John Ratcliffe
  • November 12, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Ratcliffe as his nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Secretary of State (announced)
Marco Rubio
  • November 13, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Rubio as his nominee for secretary of State.
Director of National Intelligence (announced)
Tulsi Gabbard
  • November 13, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Gabbard as his nominee for director of national intelligence.
Secretary of Health and Human Services (announced)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • November 14, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Kennedy as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (announced)
Doug Collins
  • November 14, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Collins as his nominee for secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Secretary of the Interior (announced)
Doug Burgum
  • November 14, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Burgum as his nominee for secretary of the Department of the Interior.
Chris Wright by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Secretary of Energy (announced)
Chris Wright
  • November 16, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Wright as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Energy.
Secretary of Transportation (announced)
Sean Duffy
  • November 18, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Sean Duffy as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Secretary of Commerce (announced)
Howard Lutnick
  • November 19, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Lutnick as his nominee for secretary of Commerce.
Secretary of Education (announced)
Linda McMahon
  • November 19, 2024: Trump announced the selection of McMahon as his nominee for secretary of Education.
Attorney General (announced)
Pam Bondi
  • November 21, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Bondi as his nominee for Attorney General.
Secretary of the Treasury (announced)
Scott Bessent
  • November 22, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Bessent as his nominee for secretary of the Treasury.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (announced)
Scott Turner
  • November 22, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Turner as his nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Secretary of Labor (announced)
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
  • November 22, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Chavez-DeRemer as his nominee for secretary of Labor.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget (announced)
Russell Vought
  • November 22, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Vought as his nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Secretary of Agriculture (announced)
Brooke Rollins
  • November 23, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Rollins as his nominee for secretary of Agriculture.
U.S. Trade Representative (announced)
Jamieson Greer
  • November 26, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Greer as his nominee for U.S. Trade Representative.
Administrator of the Small Business Administration (announced)
Kelly Loeffler
  • December 4, 2024: Trump announced the selection of Loeffler as his nominee for administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Withdrawn nominees

The table below displays nominees who withdrew from consideration.

Donald Trump's withdrawn Cabinet nominees (2024-2025)
Photo Officeholder Status
Attorney General
Matt Gaetz
  • November 21, 2024: After his nomination was announced on November 13, Gaetz withdrew from consideration to serve as attorney general.


Transition team

See also: Donald Trump presidential transition team (2016-2017)

Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Trump announced that Linda McMahon, the leader of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, and Howard Lutnick, the chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, would serve as co-chairs of Trump's transition. Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, J.D. Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were also announced as honorary co-chairs.[13]

Transition tracker

This section provides an archive of news stories related to Trump's second term presidential transition.


  • December 8, 2024: Trump announced he would appoint Alina Habba to serve as a counselor to the president.[14]
  • December 5, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) as U.S. ambassador to China and Rodney Scott as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Trump also announced he would appoint David Sacks as White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar.[15][16][17]
  • December 4, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) as administrator of the Small Business Administration.[18]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Peter Navarro as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs, David A. Warrington as leader of the Office of the White House Counsel, and Billy Long as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Trump also announced he would nominate Daniel Driscoll for secretary of the Army, Jared Isaacman for National Aeronautics and Space Administration administrator, and Paul Atkins for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.[19][20][21][22][23][24]
  • December 3, 2024:
    • The Trump transition team announced it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice.[25]
    • Chad Chronister withdrew from consideration as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency.[26]
  • December 1, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate Warren Stephens as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and appoint Massad Boulous as senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs.[27]

  • November 30, 2024: Trump announced he would appoint Kash Patel as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and nominate Chad Chronister as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency.[28][29]
  • November 27, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate Keith Kellogg as special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.[30]
  • November 26, 2024:
    • Trump's transition team announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Joe Biden White House. In a statement, Trump's upcoming chief of staff Susie Wiles said, "This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power."[31]
    • Trump announced he would nominate Jamieson Greer as U.S. trade representative.[32]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Vince Haley as the director of the Domestic Policy Council, Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council and John Phelan as Secretary of the Navy.[33][34][35][36]
  • November 25, 2024: Trump announced he would appoint James Braid as director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, Matt Brasseaux as director of the Office of Political Affairs, and Alex Latcham as director of the Office of Public Liason.[37]
  • November 23, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture.[38]
  • November 22, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate Scott Bessent for secretary of the Treasury, Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of Labor.[39][40][41]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Alex Wong as principal deputy national security advisor, Sebastian Gorka as senior director for counterterrorism, and Janette Nesheiwat as surgeon general. He announced he would nominate Dave Weldon for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Marty Makary for Food and Drug Administration Commissioner.[42][43][44][45]
  • November 21, 2024
    • Matt Gaetz, Trump's first announced nominee for attorney general, withdrew from consideration for the position.[46]
    • Trump announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) as his nominee for U.S. attorney general.[47]
  • November 20, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker for U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra as U.S. ambassador to Canada.[48][49]
  • November 19, 2024:
  • November 18, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) as secretary of Transportation.[53]
  • November 17, 2024: Trump announced that he would select Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.[54]
  • November 16, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate Chris Wright as secretary of Energy.[55]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Owen Scharf as White House Staff Secretary.[56]
  • November 15, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) for secretary of the Interior, .[57]
    • Trump announced Steven Cheung would be appointed as director of communications, Sergio Gor would be appointed as director of the Presidential Personnel Office, Karoline Leavitt would be appointed as press secretary.[58][59]
  • November 14, 2024:
    • Trump announced he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services and former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) as secretary of Veterans Affairs.[60][61]
    • Trump announced he would nominate Jay Clayton to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Todd Blanche to serve as deputy attorney general, and Dean Sauer as solicitor general.[62][63][64]
  • November 13, 2024:
    • Trump met with President Joe Biden (D) at the White House, and spoke to the House Republican Conference at a meeting in Washington, D.C..[65]
    • Trump announced he would nominate U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as secretary of State, former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general.[66][67][68]
    • Trump announced he would appoint Dan Scavino as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller as assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff for policy, and homeland security advisor, James Blair as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs, and Taylor Budowich as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel.[69]
  • November 12, 2024:
  • November 11, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations.[78][79]
  • November 7, 2024: Trump announced he would appoint his 2024 co-campaign manager Susie Wiles to serve as White House chief of staff.[80]

See also

Footnotes

  1. Center for Presidential Transition, "2024 Transition Timeline," accessed November 7, 2024
  2. Truth Social, "Trump on December 8, 2024," accessed December 9, 2024
  3. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces the Following New Nominees and Appointments to Expand our Homeland Security team," December 5, 2024
  4. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces David O. Sacks as 'White House A.I. & Crypto Czar,'" December 5, 2024
  5. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former U.S. Senator, David Perdue, as the Next United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China," December 5, 2024
  6. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, of Georgia, to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)," December 4, 2024
  7. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Peter Navarro as Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing," December 4, 2024
  8. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Daniel P. Driscoll, of North Carolina, to serve as the Secretary of the Army." December 4, 2024
  9. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jared Isaacman as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)," December 4, 2024
  10. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Adam Boehler will be my Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, with the personal rank of Ambassador," December 4, 2024
  11. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces David A. Warrington as Assistant to the President and Counsel to the President," December 4, 2024
  12. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Paul Atkins to be the next Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission," December 4, 2024
  13. Associated Press, "Donald Trump’s transition starts now. Here’s how it will work," November 6, 2024
  14. Truth Social, "Trump on December 8, 2024," accessed December 9, 2024
  15. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces the Following New Nominees and Appointments to Expand our Homeland Security team," December 5, 2024
  16. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces David O. Sacks as 'White House A.I. & Crypto Czar,'" December 5, 2024
  17. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former U.S. Senator, David Perdue, as the Next United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China," December 5, 2024
  18. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, of Georgia, to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)," December 4, 2024
  19. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Peter Navarro as Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing," December 4, 2024
  20. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Daniel P. Driscoll, of North Carolina, to serve as the Secretary of the Army." December 4, 2024
  21. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jared Isaacman as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)," December 4, 2024
  22. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Adam Boehler will be my Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, with the personal rank of Ambassador," December 4, 2024
  23. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces David A. Warrington as Assistant to the President and Counsel to the President," December 4, 2024
  24. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Paul Atkins to be the next Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission," December 4, 2024
  25. 4President, "Statement on Trump-Vance Transition Team Entering Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of Justice," December 3, 2024
  26. Fox News, "Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdraws as Trump's nominee to lead DEA," December 3, 2024
  27. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Warren A. Stephens as United States Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s, as our Representative to the United Kingdom," December 1, 2024
  28. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Sheriff Chad Chronister for Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)," November 30, 2024
  29. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Kashyap “Kash” Patel as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," November 30, 2024
  30. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates General Keith Kellogg as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia," November 27, 2024
  31. 4President, "Statement on the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Trump-Vance Transition Team and Biden White House," November 26, 2024
  32. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jamieson Greer as United States Trade Representative (USTR)," November 26, 2024
  33. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Vince Haley as Director of the Domestic Policy Council," November 26, 2024
  34. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Dr. Kevin A. Hassett as Director of the White House National Economic Council," November 26, 2024
  35. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces John Phelan as the next United States Secretary of the Navy," November 26, 2024
  36. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jim O'Neill to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services to work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.," November 26, 2024
  37. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Key White House Office Directors," November 25, 2024
  38. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Brooke L. Rollins, of Texas, as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture," November 23, 2024
  39. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Scott Bessent as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States," November 22, 2024
  40. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Russell Thurlow Vought as the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB)," November 22, 2024
  41. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as United States Secretary of Labor," November 22, 2024
  42. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Alex Wong will be appointed Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, and Dr. Sebastian Gorka as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism," November 22, 2024
  43. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as the United States Surgeon General," November 22, 2024
  44. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former Congressman, Dr. Dave Weldon, as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," November 22, 2024
  45. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Marty Makary MD, MPH, FACS, for FDA Commissioner," November 22, 2024
  46. X, "Matt Gaetz on November 21, 2024," accessed November 21, 2024
  47. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, as Attorney General of the United States," November 21, 2024
  48. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Matthew G. Whitaker, from Iowa, as the United States Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)," November 20, 2024
  49. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former Congressman, Pete Hoekstra, as United States Ambassador to Canada," November 20, 2024
  50. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Howard Lutnick as the United States Secretary of Commerce," November 19, 2024
  51. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Linda McMahon will be the United States Secretary of Education," November 19, 2024
  52. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump to Nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to Serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator," November 19, 2024
  53. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Sean Duffy, from Wisconsin, is Nominated to Serve as the Secretary of Transportation," November 18, 2024
  54. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Commissioner Brendan Carr as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)," November 17, 2024
  55. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Chris Wright as United States Secretary of Energy," November 16, 2024
  56. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces William Owen Scharf will as Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary," November 16, 2024
  57. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, as Secretary of the Interior," November 15, 2024
  58. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Additional White House Senior Staff," November 15, 2024
  59. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary," November 15, 2024
  60. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," November 14, 2024
  61. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominate Former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as The United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA)," November 14, 2024
  62. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jay Clayton, of New York, as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York," November 14, 2024
  63. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General," November 14, 2024
  64. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Dean John Sauer as Solicitor General of the United States," November 14, 2024
  65. Politico, "Inside Congress Live: Transition of Power," November 13, 2024
  66. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, as The United States Secretary of State," November 13, 2024
  67. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence (DNI)," November 13, 2024
  68. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, as The Attorney General of the United State," November 13, 2024
  69. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Senior Staff," November 13, 2024
  70. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces John Ratcliffe as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)," November 12, 2024
  71. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Pete Hegseth to serve in Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," November 12, 2024
  72. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," November 12, 2024
  73. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency ('DOGE')," November 12, 2024
  74. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL) to Serve as National Security Advisor," November 12, 2024
  75. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, to be the United States Ambassador to Israel," November 12, 2024
  76. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Appoints Steven C. Witkoff to be Special Envoy to the Middle East," November 12, 2024
  77. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel," November 12, 2024
  78. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA)," November 11, 2024
  79. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to Serve in Cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations," November 11, 2024
  80. 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Susan Summerall Wiles as White House Chief of Staff," November 7, 2024