[2024 US Presidential Election]② Who Will Be Appointed to the Trump and Harris Cabinets?

Trump Seats Son on Transition Team for 'Loyalty Test'
Harris Pledges to Appoint Republican Figures if Elected

With the U.S. presidential election just a month away, attention is also focused on the identities of the key aides who will form the cabinet alongside the candidates from both parties. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has included his running mate and children in the transition team, hinting that cabinet appointments will be based on 'loyalty.' Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, is expected to retain some officials from the Joe Biden administration while focusing on appointments that ensure gender and racial diversity. Notably, both candidates are also making moves to include members from the opposing party, showing efforts toward a more unified approach.

Trump's 'Loyalty Cabinet'... America First Regardless of Who Is Appointed

The U.S. political media outlet The Hill reported last month that "despite the Trump camp's silence, speculation about who will occupy key positions in the Trump cabinet continues unabated." Although the Trump camp recently refrained from commenting on the timing of the cabinet announcement, rumors are rife that the second-term cabinet will be filled with 'loyalists,' especially since several figures from Trump's first administration have turned their backs on the former president.

The groundwork for forming a 'loyalty cabinet' is already underway. Earlier, former President Trump appointed Linda McMahon, former CEO of WWE who donated large sums of political funds to him, and Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as co-chairs of the presidential transition committee. His eldest son Donald Trump Jr. and second son Eric Trump were given honorary chair positions on the transition committee. This effectively entrusts those close to him with vetting the ideological alignment of potential cabinet candidates.

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Marco Rubio, a U.S. Senator, has emerged as a leading candidate for the top cabinet position of Secretary of State. Rubio, who was considered alongside JD Vance as a potential Republican vice-presidential candidate, has experience on the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees, which could facilitate smooth Senate confirmation. Robert O'Brien, former National Security Advisor and a key foreign policy and security strategist during Trump's first term, is also a strong contender. If O'Brien becomes Secretary of State, it is expected that Trump's pressure on allied countries will intensify. In a July interview with Bloomberg News, O'Brien urged Taiwan to spend at least as much on defense as China does relative to GDP, stating that Taiwan "faces a monster across the sea."

Elbridge Colby, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, is also considered a candidate for the next National Security Advisor. He supports Trump's America First foreign policy stance. At a July event hosted by the Heritage Foundation think tank, Colby stated, "South Korea prioritizes its own interests, as do India and Poland," questioning, "Why should we (the U.S.) be different?" Regarding the defense capabilities of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, he praised South Korea and India as models, noting that South Korea spends 2.7 to 2.8% of its GDP on defense and possesses a remarkable defense industry.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has shown fervent support for former President Trump, is also a subject of unprecedented interest. Trump previously announced plans to create a committee to audit the entire federal government's finances and performance and to propose bold reforms, with Musk expected to lead this government efficiency committee. This move is seen as an effort to expose the Biden administration's lax financial management while gaining support from the IT industry by recruiting Musk. Musk responded via X (formerly Twitter), saying, "If given the opportunity, I want to serve America," adding, "I do not need salary, position, or recognition."

For Treasury Secretary, names of Wall Street heavyweights and Washington D.C. bureaucrats are circulating. Among them, hedge fund manager John Paulson, known for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis and earning $20 billion in a short period, is a leading candidate. Earlier this year, during a campaign rally in New Hampshire, Trump referred to Paulson as a "money machine" and said, "Maybe I can put him in the Treasury Department." Scott Bessent, former Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Soros Fund Management, founded by Wall Street billionaire George Soros, is also considered a possible pick.

Additionally, Robert Lighthizer, former U.S. Trade Representative who shaped Trump's trade policies, and Jamie Dimon, chairman of JP Morgan and known as the "Emperor of Wall Street," have been mentioned as potential candidates. However, Lighthizer is criticized for lacking economic policy experience necessary for managing the Treasury, and Dimon is rumored to have declined the Treasury Secretary position. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump considered Dimon for Treasury Secretary in 2016, but Dimon showed little interest. Although Dimon and Musk were once bitter rivals to the point of litigation, they have recently reconciled, attending each other's events as speakers.

Harris's 'Diversity Cabinet'... Attention on the First Female Secretary of Defense

Vice President Harris, who is of Indian and Black descent and is challenging the title of the first female U.S. president, is expected to form a cabinet balanced in terms of gender, race, and political orientation. There is a high possibility of the first female Secretary of Defense being appointed. Michelle Flournoy, who served as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy for three years during the Obama administration, is the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. Department of Defense. She was a leading candidate for Secretary of Defense in the Biden administration but yielded the position to Lloyd Austin, the first Black Secretary of Defense.

Regarding the Treasury Secretary, current Secretary Janet Yellen is expected to be retained. Gina Raimondo, current Secretary of Commerce, and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, are also being considered. Jamie Dimon has also made the list, demonstrating bipartisan interest. The Secretary of State position is likely to see a change as current Secretary Tony Blinken is expected to decline retention. William Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who has handled some of the Biden administration's most sensitive diplomatic missions, is the top candidate. Burns visited Moscow before Russia's invasion of Ukraine to warn President Vladimir Putin and recently led ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, showcasing his influence.

It is also a point of interest whether Vice President Harris will appoint her sister's husband as Attorney General. Tony West, former Deputy Attorney General during the Obama administration and Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Uber, is currently on leave from the company and serving as an election advisor to the Harris campaign. The New York Times described West as Harris's "secret weapon," noting that they spoke for hours discussing the future after Biden withdrew from the presidential race. However, West's position representing the interests of a major IT corporation like Uber could provoke resistance from labor rights voters.

Those close to Vice President Harris are pushing for Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina, to be Attorney General. Cooper, who was once considered a potential running mate and has a close relationship with Harris, gained prominence by being elected governor twice in North Carolina, a state won by Trump in both 2016 and 2020. As a former state attorney general like Harris, Cooper has actively pursued policies aligned with Democratic agendas, including Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ rights. He is also seen as a strong elected official who can appeal to moderate and independent voters disenchanted with Trump.

Both Harris and Trump... Embracing the Opposing Party

Both Vice President Harris and former President Trump have expressed openness to appointing members of the opposing party to their cabinets after election. This is seen as an opportunity to send a message of unity and highlight magnanimity as president-elects. Former President Barack Obama also retained Robert Gates, a Republican, as Secretary of Defense during his administration.

Earlier, in her first television interview as a presidential candidate in August, Vice President Harris declared her intention to include Republicans in her cabinet. Names mentioned include Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and a prominent anti-Trump Republican; former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention; and Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay and a candidate for Secretary of Commerce in the Biden administration, now serving as U.S. Ambassador to Kenya.

Former President Trump has already recruited Democrats such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to his presidential transition team. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly tasked with appointing heads of major U.S. health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fueling speculation that he may be nominated as Secretary of Health and Human Services. However, Kennedy Jr. has been controversial in the past for promoting vaccine conspiracy theories, which is expected to provoke strong opposition from the opposing party.