What Donald Trump's Second Cabinet Could Look Like

With Donald Trump looking increasingly likely to clinch the 2024 GOP nomination, discussions have already begun to take place on the type of Cabinet the former president could build if he wins the general election.

Speculation has been ongoing for months as to whom Trump may choose as his next running mate, with there also being several names suggested as to who might be given some of the most powerful jobs in government in a second Trump White House administration.

Among the names included are those who have been with Trump since before his first time in office, to more recent MAGA figures who will be backing the Republican throughout his latest campaign.

During his first time in the White House, Trump made no secret that he wanted people in powerful positions based on "central casting"—a showbusiness term that essentially means that he hired people based on their appearance, behavior, or nature, rather than expertise.

"That proved to be a disaster in many instances," Carl Cavalli a professor of political science at the University of North Georgia, told Newsweek. "This time it will be 'All Loyalty, All The Time.'

While it is very early days, with the winner of November's presumptive election between Trump and Joe Biden not confirming their Cabinet until January 2025, it is still possible to rule out who will be in Trump's next possible administration for failing to pass his loyalty test.

It has already been long known that former Vice President Mike Pence will not be Trump's running mate for the third time, with the pair's relationship falling apart in the wake of the January 6 attack.

It is also unlikely that Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, will return to a position in Trump's next possible administration amid suggestions the pair no longer speak and reports Meadows may have testified against the former president in the federal case into Trump's alleged criminal attempts to overturn the 2020 Election.

Below, Newsweek has compiled a list of names who could be in the running for Trump's new Cabinet, based on the views of a number of political experts and commentators.

Stephen Miller

Miller, a former White House senior adviser, has been a close ally of the former president for years and can easily be considered one of the first names on any shortlist about returning to work for Trump in a new administration.

Miller is said to have advised Trump on many of the hardline immigration stances that helped define the former president's term in office, including spearheading the controversial travel ban which targeted predominantly Muslim countries.

"Stephen Miller has continued to be an ardent supporter of former President Trump's policies outside of office. He's also led the effort to overturn Affirmative Action by the Supreme Court," Denny Salas, a political strategist and senior vice president at Gotham Government Relations, told Newsweek.

"He's likely well-positioned to become the next Chief of Staff if Donald Trump wins another term."

Cavalli also suggested that Trump will "want not only loyalty, but a fierce fighter," suggesting that Miller could be among the names in the running for Trump's next chief of staff or attorney general.

Elise Stefanik

The New York congresswoman has frequently been linked as among the frontrunners for Trump's next running mate as a reward for her unbridled loyalty to the former president.

Cavalli said that Stefanik, along with Arizona Senate hopeful Kari Lake, are his "best bets" for Trump's pick of running mate, but failing that, Stefanik could also be offered the position of attorney general.

Tim Scott

Scott is another name that has been touted as potential for Trump's next running mate who may instead be offered a position in the Cabinet.

Cavalli suggested that the South Carolina Senator could be in the running for a number of positions in Trump's Cabinet such as secretary of housing and urban development, secretary of health and human services, or secretary of state.

Ben Carson, whom Trump nominated as secretary of housing and urban development in 2017, could also be in line to return to his former position if Trump wins the next election.

"Relatively low-key people for low-key positions," Cavalli told Newsweek. "Again, both are loyalists. Even though Scott ran against Trump for the nomination in recent months, he never seriously attacked Trump and has recently endorsed him."

Vivek Ramaswamy

The entrepreneur who dropped out of the 2024 GOP primary after the Iowa caucus following a very pro-Trump campaign has long faced accusations that he was never trying to mount a serious White House bid and instead was more vying to be part of Trump's Cabinet or running mate.

While Trump's campaign team has poured cold water on suggestions Ramaswamy could be the next potential vice president, Jay Oliver, a conservative political commentator and host at LI News Radio, suggested the businessman is the "shoe-in of shoe-ins" to be included in Trump's next potential Cabinet.

Cavalli predicted that Ramaswamy could be in line for secretary of commerce or secretary of labor, along with Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE] who served as head of the small business administration when Trump was in office.

J.D. Vance

The Hillbilly Elegy author went from political novice to Ohio Senator in no small part to an endorsement from Trump in 2022.

Vance has remained a staunch supporter of the former president, with several experts expecting that he will be rewarded with a position in Trump's next administration.

Cavalli suggested that Vance or Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton are in the running for secretary of agriculture.

"Vance is a loyalist—now, though he was not always," Cavalli said. "He seems a likely choice. Cotton also represents a largely agricultural state."

Kristi Noem

Along with Stefanik, the South Dakota Governor is seen as someone who is among the favorites to either be offered the role of Trump's running mate in 2024 or be a part of his next Cabinet.

Cavalli predicted that Noem could take the role of secretary of interior because "given her position as a great plains governor" as well as her "unwavering" support for Trump.

Other names who have been suggested as potential names for Trump's next Cabinet include former White House strategist Steve Bannon, and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who previously served as Trump's White House press secretary.

Former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson has also been touted as a possible surprise name in Trump's Cabinet.

However, Carlson has distanced himself from suggestions he could move into politics, including claims he could be Trump's next running mate.

Despite the suggestions that Trump will demand loyalty above all else, Samuel Ronan, a longshot candidate for the Republican presidential candidacy, suggested that others who challenged Trump in the GOP primary could still be in the running for a Cabinet position in some capacity, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

"Ideally we would see Nikki Haley reprise her role as chief ambassador," Ronan told Newsweek.

"As for Vivek and DeSantis, it seems that they are more interested in the VP spot than a Cabinet position and therefore may turn down a Cabinet offer.

"That being said, the previous Trump administration was filled to the brim with industry leaders in the Cabinet positions they were holding. My guess is that similar names will be asked to either reprise their roles or fill those roles accordingly," Ronan added.

Oliver also said, "Let's not rule out Governor Ron DeSantis" being in Trump's Cabinet, especially now the Florida Republican and one-time close ally of Trump has endorsed the former president after dropping out of the GOP primary race.

Oliver also suggested that Haley, Trump's only serious challenger left in the GOP primary, is still in with a "long shot" chance of being offered vice president by Trump.