President-elect Donald Trump is continuing to appoint members of his Cabinet, with more nominations announced on Friday.

He has chosen his long-time aide Steven Cheung to take on the role of director of communications for his upcoming administration, while Karoline Leavitt will serve as press secretary. The press secretary acts as a spokesperson for the White House, whereas the communications director is in charge of strategic planning.

On Thursday, Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his former presidential rival, as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. The independent candidate withdrew from the race on August 23 and pledged his support to Trump, becoming an informal advisor on public health and coining the phrase “Make America Healthy Again,” a play on Trump’s popular slogan.

Additionally, he put forward lawyer Todd Blanche for the deputy attorney general position, tapped former SEC chair Jay Clayton for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and selected ex-Rep. Doug Collins to oversee the Department of Veterans Affairs.

During his speech at the America First Policy Institute Gala on Thursday, Trump disclosed plans to announce North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his Secretary of the Interior, originally intended for Friday’s lineup.

Trump selects advisors Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor

Steven Cheung, who served as the communications director during Trump’s successful 2024 presidential campaign, has been appointed as the director of communications for the incoming administration.

Cheung previously held the role of rapid response director in Trump’s 2016 campaign, gaining recognition as a fierce spokesperson who often referred to critics as “snowflakes” and “cucks.”

Trump also named Sergio Gor as the director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Gor previously managed Trump’s Super PAC, Right for America, and will work alongside Cheung as one of the president’s aides.

“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been reliable advisors since my 2016 presidential campaign and have continuously upheld America First values throughout my first term, leading to our historic victory in 2024,” Trump stated. “I’m excited to have them onboard as we work to Make America Great Again!”

Karoline Leavitt named as the youngest White House press secretary

Trump has appointed Karoline Leavitt as press secretary for his second term, making her the youngest individual ever to assume the position.

The 27-year-old from New Hampshire previously acted as the spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 campaign and will now become one of the key figures during his new term. She succeeds notable predecessors like Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Fox News co-host Kayleigh McEnany.

Leavitt began her career with Trump’s team as an intern at the White House and later progressed to become a presidential writer and assistant press secretary under McEnany.

“Karoline is intelligent, resilient, and has shown herself to be an exceptional communicator,” Trump said in a statement. “I have complete faith that she will thrive at the podium, effectively conveying our message to the American people in our pursuit to Make America Great Again.”

Overview of Trump’s Cabinet selections: What we know so far

• Chief of Staff: Trump has appointed senior campaign advisor Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold this position. Wiles, a political consultant from Florida, tends to stay out of the limelight but has been acknowledged for her role in Trump’s political resurgence.
• Attorney General: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been designated as the next Attorney General to lead the Justice Department, which he has frequently criticized.
• Secretary of State: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida has been nominated to serve as Secretary of State, bringing his extensive foreign policy experience to the role.
• Secretary of State: A Cuban-American, he will be the first Latino to hold this position. He has previously held significant roles in the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• Director of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard, former congresswoman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate-turned-Republican, has been nominated for this role. She represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District from 2013 until 2021.
• Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: Stephen Miller, a longtime advisor to Trump, has been chosen for this position. At 39, he previously served as Trump’s senior advisor and director of speechwriting and played a significant role in developing the administration’s immigration strategies.
• Ambassador to the United Nations: Trump has selected Elise Stefanik, a five-term Republican from northern New York, for this role. Currently, she is the House Republican Conference Chair and was once a candidate for Trump’s vice president.
• Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate for 2024, has been appointed to head this department. He is known for his controversial views on vaccines and has raised questions regarding the origins of COVID-19.
• Border Czar: Tom Homan has been appointed to oversee deportation policies and aviation security. With 34 years as a Border Patrol agent and previous experience as acting ICE director during Trump’s first term, he is known for strict immigration enforcement policies.
• Administrator of the EPA: Trump has named Lee Zeldin as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin is a former congressman from parts of Long Island, New York, and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022.
• National Security Adviser: Mike Waltz, a Florida representative, has been chosen for this key position. Waltz has held roles at the Pentagon and has served on the House Armed Services Committee, aligning with Trump’s isolationist foreign policy stance.
• U.S. Ambassador to Israel: Trump announced his intention to nominate former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for this role. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and past Fox News host, who has sought the Republican presidential nomination twice without success. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is the current Arkansas Governor and was Trump’s press secretary during his first term.
• Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: Trump has selected his former Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, for the CIA director position. Ratcliffe served as a House member from Texas prior to his role in intelligence.
• Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host with experience in the U.S. Army National Guard, has been nominated for this position. He has also led veterans’ advocacy initiatives.
• Secretary of Homeland Security: Trump has chosen Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, for this role, emphasizing her hardline stance on immigration.
• White House Counsel: William McGinley has been appointed as White House counsel. A partner at a Washington law firm, he previously served as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump’s initial term.
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Doug Collins, a former congressman and faithful Trump supporter, has been selected to lead this department. He currently serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command.
• Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota and a former Republican presidential candidate, has been nominated for this role. He has been vocal on issues related to fossil fuels and energy.
• U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York: Jay Clayton has been nominated for this position, having previously served as the chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Deputy Attorney General: Trump has appointed lawyer Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. He is known for his vigorous defense of the president-elect in legal cases related to New York and federal crimes.
• Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Again, Trump has chosen Doug Collins for this role. He previously represented Georgia’s 9th district in Congress from 2013 to 2021 and played a supportive role in the military during the Iraq War in 2008.

What are the Cabinet Positions?

The Cabinet assists the president by providing advice on matters within their respective offices.

The Cabinet positions within the 15 executive departments, which require Senate confirmation, are:

• • • Secretary of State
    • Secretary of Defense
    • Attorney General
    • Secretary of the Interior
    • Secretary of Agriculture
    • Secretary of Commerce
    • Secretary of Labor
    • Secretary of Health and Human Services
    • Secretary of Transportation
    • Secretary of Energy
    • Secretary of Education
    • Secretary of Veterans Affairs
    • Secretary of Homeland Security
    • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
    • Secretary of Treasury

The Cabinet and presidential advisors also include the vice president, the chief of staff, the ambassador to the United Nations, the director of National Intelligence, the U.S. trade representative, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the chief of the Office of Management and Budget, the chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, the leader of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the administrator of the Small Business Administration.