Speculation intensifies as Trump starts screening candidates for senior White House positions
As Congress may soon be fully controlled by Republicans, Trump's team feels empowered to advance elements of his America First agenda upon his return to office.
TroibNews 
**WEST PALM BEACH, Florida** — Donald Trump's campaign team quickly shifted into transition mode just hours after the polls closed, prompting an urgent scramble among exhausted staffers and the media on Wednesday.
In West Palm Beach, Trump’s advisers were busy by midday coordinating transition plans, especially addressing the influx of inquiries regarding the individuals and policies that will define a second Trump presidency.
Following a decisive election night victory, Trump's team has identified key priorities for his first day in office, including executive orders focused on border security and oil drilling, alongside initiatives aimed at promoting energy independence. With Congress likely under full Republican control, Trump’s team feels empowered to implement elements of his America First agenda immediately upon returning to office.
“There’s a chance to show there are some ideas, a lot of policy areas where we should be able to agree,” Trump senior adviser Jason Miller told PMG, noting that there could be “executive action on day one” related to securing the southern border and energy exploration to lower costs.
However, before any actions can be taken on Day One, Trump and his transition advisers are starting the vetting process for candidates to fill both Cabinet positions and other administrative roles. The competition for top positions, which had begun long before the election results were finalized, intensified on Wednesday.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was a contender to be Trump’s running mate, has not dismissed the possibility of serving in the next administration, although he noted he had yet to discuss it with Trump's team. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptics and former presidential candidate involved with Trump’s transition team, made a media appearance to assure that he would not “take vaccines away from anybody” — while also mentioning that Trump would pursue efforts to eliminate fluoride from public drinking water. Kennedy appears poised to take on a significant health care role in the upcoming administration.
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has begun advocating for his state’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, to be considered for the position of Health and Human Services Secretary. John Fleming, a former Trump administration official and deputy chief of staff in 2020, is also in discussions with Trump’s advisers regarding a senior role, expressing a desire for either the Commerce or Health and Human Services Department.
Transition co-chair Howard Lutnick has been reaching out to prominent figures from Wall Street, such as Steve Schwarzman, Chuck Schwab, and Ross Perot Jr., to help identify worthy candidates for leadership roles.
Most of Trump’s surrogates have remained tight-lipped about their own prospects in the new administration, skillfully dodging inquiries about whether they are seeking positions.
“You have to be asked,” former Trump White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley responded when asked if he was prepared to serve again.
Trump’s transition team is actively seeking policy memos from potential administration officials and has already compiled a list of actions and orders that can be executed on the first day of his administration. Linda McMahon, the former small business administrator and transition co-chair, has taken charge of the policy development, with a group of former Trump administration officials and allies working on crafting policies across various issues including intelligence, immigration, and energy.
The transition efforts are also being supported by conservative think tanks, particularly the America First Policy Institute, whose leaders are playing significant roles in shaping the transition.
Anticipation is mounting regarding potential candidates for prominent positions. During a recent luncheon with conservative congressional members, Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security adviser, reportedly discussed names for key Cabinet posts, according to a Republican Hill staffer present at the event. O'Brien mentioned possible candidates such as Sen. Rubio and Bill Hagerty and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Rick Grenell for Secretary of State, while suggesting Sen. Tom Cotton as a candidate for Secretary of Defense, as per the Hill aide.
Grenell generated significant attention when he appeared alongside Trump during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September.
Despite Trump's campaign advisers suggesting in recent days that there was a good chance the election results would be known by the end of election night, even Trump himself indicated on Tuesday that the process might extend for several days — highlighting the uncertainty around when his team would officially begin the transition if he secured a victory.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate. Wow,” Trump remarked early Wednesday, seemingly astonished by the margins of his win and the overall Republican performance. “That's great.”
While Trump’s advisers were diligently focused on structuring a transition for the next administration — a process similar to launching a startup business — the former president primarily occupied himself with congratulatory calls from global leaders and celebrating his two-year campaign. He did not deliver any public statements.
Among those present with Trump the day after the election at Mar-a-Lago, away from public scrutiny, were two campaign surrogates whose policy ideas could significantly influence the next administration: conservative media figure Tucker Carlson and billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Numerous questions remain regarding how Trump’s team will navigate his second term in the executive branch, including the timing of signing an agreement with the General Services Administration for federal resources to assist in transition efforts. On Wednesday, the GSA reiterated its readiness to collaborate with President-elect Trump’s transition team to finalize the required agreement to access administrative services and support.
A White House official confirmed that Trump’s transition team had not yet completed the agreement, although transition co-chair Howard Lutnick mentioned to CNN that it would “probably” occur.
Opting out of GSA support — an unprecedented move by a presidential transition — would allow Trump’s team the freedom to raise unlimited funds from unreported donors while avoiding federal ethics pledge requirements. However, this could complicate or impede access to essential resources like government email addresses or cybersecurity measures.
The Trump campaign has not responded to inquiries regarding the status of its discussions with the GSA or the White House.
Both Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden reached out to Trump on Wednesday, according to spokesman Steven Cheung. He indicated that Biden "extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition." Cheung relayed that Trump “looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”
Furthermore, Trump and his team must determine the timeline for fulfilling a series of promises made during the campaign, including the “largest deportation” in American history, imposing extensive new tariffs on imports, and dismantling significant federal government functions.
Some of these promises could prove challenging to accomplish, particularly those involving tax reductions on items like overtime, tips, and Social Security benefits.
Still, Trump and his team are encouraged by positive feedback from voters reflected in the election results. Exit polling indicates that he garnered unprecedented support from minority voters and even exceeded expectations among suburban women, a demographic he has historically struggled to connect with.
“We knew we were putting together something special,” a Trump adviser, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, expressed while departing the West Palm Beach Convention Center after Trump's early morning victory speech. “We didn’t know it would end quite this special.”
Hailey Fuchs and Jordan Wolman contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
In West Palm Beach, Trump’s advisers were busy by midday coordinating transition plans, especially addressing the influx of inquiries regarding the individuals and policies that will define a second Trump presidency.
Following a decisive election night victory, Trump's team has identified key priorities for his first day in office, including executive orders focused on border security and oil drilling, alongside initiatives aimed at promoting energy independence. With Congress likely under full Republican control, Trump’s team feels empowered to implement elements of his America First agenda immediately upon returning to office.
“There’s a chance to show there are some ideas, a lot of policy areas where we should be able to agree,” Trump senior adviser Jason Miller told PMG, noting that there could be “executive action on day one” related to securing the southern border and energy exploration to lower costs.
However, before any actions can be taken on Day One, Trump and his transition advisers are starting the vetting process for candidates to fill both Cabinet positions and other administrative roles. The competition for top positions, which had begun long before the election results were finalized, intensified on Wednesday.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who was a contender to be Trump’s running mate, has not dismissed the possibility of serving in the next administration, although he noted he had yet to discuss it with Trump's team. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the vaccine skeptics and former presidential candidate involved with Trump’s transition team, made a media appearance to assure that he would not “take vaccines away from anybody” — while also mentioning that Trump would pursue efforts to eliminate fluoride from public drinking water. Kennedy appears poised to take on a significant health care role in the upcoming administration.
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has begun advocating for his state’s surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, to be considered for the position of Health and Human Services Secretary. John Fleming, a former Trump administration official and deputy chief of staff in 2020, is also in discussions with Trump’s advisers regarding a senior role, expressing a desire for either the Commerce or Health and Human Services Department.
Transition co-chair Howard Lutnick has been reaching out to prominent figures from Wall Street, such as Steve Schwarzman, Chuck Schwab, and Ross Perot Jr., to help identify worthy candidates for leadership roles.
Most of Trump’s surrogates have remained tight-lipped about their own prospects in the new administration, skillfully dodging inquiries about whether they are seeking positions.
“You have to be asked,” former Trump White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley responded when asked if he was prepared to serve again.
Trump’s transition team is actively seeking policy memos from potential administration officials and has already compiled a list of actions and orders that can be executed on the first day of his administration. Linda McMahon, the former small business administrator and transition co-chair, has taken charge of the policy development, with a group of former Trump administration officials and allies working on crafting policies across various issues including intelligence, immigration, and energy.
The transition efforts are also being supported by conservative think tanks, particularly the America First Policy Institute, whose leaders are playing significant roles in shaping the transition.
Anticipation is mounting regarding potential candidates for prominent positions. During a recent luncheon with conservative congressional members, Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security adviser, reportedly discussed names for key Cabinet posts, according to a Republican Hill staffer present at the event. O'Brien mentioned possible candidates such as Sen. Rubio and Bill Hagerty and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Rick Grenell for Secretary of State, while suggesting Sen. Tom Cotton as a candidate for Secretary of Defense, as per the Hill aide.
Grenell generated significant attention when he appeared alongside Trump during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September.
Despite Trump's campaign advisers suggesting in recent days that there was a good chance the election results would be known by the end of election night, even Trump himself indicated on Tuesday that the process might extend for several days — highlighting the uncertainty around when his team would officially begin the transition if he secured a victory.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate. We have taken back control of the Senate. Wow,” Trump remarked early Wednesday, seemingly astonished by the margins of his win and the overall Republican performance. “That's great.”
While Trump’s advisers were diligently focused on structuring a transition for the next administration — a process similar to launching a startup business — the former president primarily occupied himself with congratulatory calls from global leaders and celebrating his two-year campaign. He did not deliver any public statements.
Among those present with Trump the day after the election at Mar-a-Lago, away from public scrutiny, were two campaign surrogates whose policy ideas could significantly influence the next administration: conservative media figure Tucker Carlson and billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Numerous questions remain regarding how Trump’s team will navigate his second term in the executive branch, including the timing of signing an agreement with the General Services Administration for federal resources to assist in transition efforts. On Wednesday, the GSA reiterated its readiness to collaborate with President-elect Trump’s transition team to finalize the required agreement to access administrative services and support.
A White House official confirmed that Trump’s transition team had not yet completed the agreement, although transition co-chair Howard Lutnick mentioned to CNN that it would “probably” occur.
Opting out of GSA support — an unprecedented move by a presidential transition — would allow Trump’s team the freedom to raise unlimited funds from unreported donors while avoiding federal ethics pledge requirements. However, this could complicate or impede access to essential resources like government email addresses or cybersecurity measures.
The Trump campaign has not responded to inquiries regarding the status of its discussions with the GSA or the White House.
Both Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden reached out to Trump on Wednesday, according to spokesman Steven Cheung. He indicated that Biden "extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition." Cheung relayed that Trump “looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”
Furthermore, Trump and his team must determine the timeline for fulfilling a series of promises made during the campaign, including the “largest deportation” in American history, imposing extensive new tariffs on imports, and dismantling significant federal government functions.
Some of these promises could prove challenging to accomplish, particularly those involving tax reductions on items like overtime, tips, and Social Security benefits.
Still, Trump and his team are encouraged by positive feedback from voters reflected in the election results. Exit polling indicates that he garnered unprecedented support from minority voters and even exceeded expectations among suburban women, a demographic he has historically struggled to connect with.
“We knew we were putting together something special,” a Trump adviser, who requested anonymity to speak candidly, expressed while departing the West Palm Beach Convention Center after Trump's early morning victory speech. “We didn’t know it would end quite this special.”
Hailey Fuchs and Jordan Wolman contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
