Nine controversial figures from the Trump galaxy

The Senate must confirm the candidates chosen by Donald Trump in key positions in his administration. A formality, in many cases, when a simple majority is required and the Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats. But some figures still do not go unnoticed.

Secretary of State: Marco Rubio

Who is he? Marco Rubio entered the United States Congress in 2011 as senator from Florida. The 53-year-old himself tried to become the presidential candidate of the Republican Party in 2016. He then crossed swords with Donald Trump, notably calling him a “crook” – before supporting him a few months later . He is considered a hawk, advocating more firmness towards China, in particular.

Role : it is the highest office in foreign affairs. The Secretary of State advises the President and leads negotiations in this area.

Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth

Who is he? Allegations of sexual misconduct, alcoholism and mismanagement of two nonprofits: Pete Hegseth’s candidacy is particularly controversial. The former soldier and Fox News host also opposed the admission of women in combat roles. He defends “meritocracy” and “warrior culture,” and has spoken out against affirmative action for women and minorities. Aged 44, the father of seven also places his Christian faith at the forefront.

Role : responsible for the Department of Defense, for which 3 million people work and whose annual budget amounts to 849 billion US dollars.

Attorney General: Pam Bondi

Who is she? The former attorney general of Florida is less divisive than Matt Gaetz, the first name mentioned for this position. But the loyalty of Donald Trump’s former advisor still raises concerns: will she use the Justice Department against the president’s opponents? The 59-year-old woman tried to reassure senators on Wednesday, while retaining the possibility of investigating Trump’s adversaries. Pam Bondi was also a lobbyist.

Role : represents the United States in legal matters and oversees the Department of Justice.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Who is he? John F. Kennedy’s nephew belongs to a political dynasty — even if he has switched sides, moving away from the Democratic Party of his father, a former attorney general, and his uncle. The 71-year-old lawyer himself launched the presidential race, as an independent. A critic of the health industry, he has been accused of peddling false theories dear to anti-vaccines. His candidacy is far from unanimous, even in Republican ranks.

Role : it is the public health authority, which oversees 13 divisions and agencies.

Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon

Who is she? Linda McMahon led the wrestling federation World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Aged 76, the businesswoman and major Republican Party donor was chosen by the first Trump administration as head of small business. A lawsuit has been launched against her and her company for turning a blind eye to sexual assault in WWE, which she denies.

Role : ensure compliance with federal directives, particularly on civil rights, and the allocation of federal funds. Conservatives are calling for the abolition of the Department of Education and putting responsibility for schools entirely in the hands of each state.

Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem

Who is she? The South Dakota governor attracted public attention – and much ridicule – when she revealed in a book last year that she had put down her 14-month-old dog. She was tipped to become Trump’s running mate. The 53-year-old woman was a member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. She also achieved some notoriety by speaking out against mandatory measures during the pandemic.

Role : the department has more than 260,000 employees spread across various security agencies. Although immigration is theoretically part of it, Trump has appointed a border “czar” for this component.

Director of the CIA: John Ratcliffe

Who is he? The former director of national intelligence in Donald Trump’s first cabinet advocates a stronger, more aggressive CIA, with particular attention to the Chinese threat. Before the senators gathered for his nomination, he promised not to use the intelligence agency as a political tool. The 59-year-old from Texas served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020, before leaving office to join Trump’s team.

Role : head the CIA

Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard

Who is she? Tulsi Gabbard was, until 2024, a Democrat. It was with this party that she was elected to Congress, as a member of the House of Representatives for Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She also tried to become the Democratic candidate for president in 2019. The woman of 43 years old, an army reservist, is particularly controversial for his meeting, in 2017, with former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and for his comments echoing propaganda pro-Kremlin.

Role : protect the nation’s secrets, oversee various intelligence agencies, advise the president.

Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget: Russell Vought

Who is he? The 48-year-old has already held the position for which he is being considered again, during the second half of the first term of the Trump administration. He is a co-author of Project 2025, a conservative roadmap for Trump’s next term. Loyal to the president-elect, he is also a Christian nationalist. He is behind some controversial moves, such as delaying military aid to Ukraine in 2019 to force its president to open an investigation into Joe Biden.

Role : plan the budget and review federal agency regulations; leading role in announced budget cuts and reduction of federal personnel.