(NewsNation) — President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet and his proposals to fulfill campaign promises are taking shape.
The 45th, and now 47th president of the United States is preparing for his second term in the White House, following a campaign season marred by legal woes and two suspected assassination attempts.
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President Joe Biden has promised a peaceful and orderly transition of power. A meeting between the incoming and outgoing presidents is reportedly in the works.
Trump names first woman chief of staff
Trump named co-chair of his 2024 campaign Susie Wiles as his chief of staff.
The announcement makes Wiles the first woman to fill the role — a decision that received positive feedback from fellow Republicans.
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 3: Senior strategists for former President Donald Trump, Susie Wiles, left, and Chris LaCivita stand outside the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Court House on August 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. Former President Donald Trump, indicted on charges related to the 2020 election, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon.
(Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Some lawmakers told NewsNation the choice came as no surprise, describing Wiles as someone who can handle egos and strong opinions.
A long-time Florida-based Republican strategist, Wiles has been credited with running a successful campaign. She also has a reputation for remaining loyal to Trump as a trusted adviser who can help manage the president-elect and his impulses.
Some have joked that Wiles is the only person Trump listens to.
In his victory speech this week, Trump thanked Wiles and called her “The Ice Maiden.”
“Susie likes to stay sort of in the back,” Trump said. “Let me tell you. ‘The Ice Maiden,’ we call her.”
Who else could be in Trump’s cabinet?
Other considerations for top cabinet positions reportedly include Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state.
Meanwhile, former Republican Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen as a top contender for secretary of defense.
Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign press secretary, is in line to become the next White House press secretary.
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Trump may tap North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the nation’s energy department and Stephen Miller — a former senior adviser in the Trump White House — is expected to return in a similar capacity.
The Trump transition is led by longtime supporters Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, who are overseeing personnel and policies respectively.
Trump’s promise to end the war in Ukraine
Trump is exploring ideas to end the war in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reports.
One option includes forming a demilitarized zone and letting Russia claim the territory it currently occupies.
The U.S. has provided more than $60 billion in military assistance for Ukraine since the start of the war — a matter Trump has been critical of the Biden administration for.
As Trump prepares to reenter the White House, a push to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table could be on the horizon.
During his campaign, Trump frequently brought up the soaring price tag of the war and claimed he could bring an end to the conflict quickly if he were in charge.
Now, the WSJ reports that possible proposals all involve freezing the war in place.
One option would reportedly involve Ukraine promising not to join NATO for at least 20 years. In exchange, the country would continue to receive weapons to protect against more Russian attacks, according to the WSJ.
That plan would lock the front line in place. Both sides would need to agree on an 800-mile demilitarized zone.
Sources add that U.S. and United Nations forces would not be in charge of monitoring that zone.
“We can do training and other support but the barrel of the gun is going to be European,” A member of Trump’s team told the WSJ. “We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it.”
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke over the phone with President-elect Trump following his election win. Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Trump on his win this week.
Meanwhile, Biden’s team may rush as much as $9 billion in military aid before Trump takes office, Reuters reports.
That aid will help pay for supplies like munitions and anti-tank weapons.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has vowed to let Ukraine decide when an end to the war would come.
“We’re going to continue to surge aid to Ukraine and continue to make sure they have everything they need on the battlefield to push back on Russia’s aggression,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “We continue to be committed. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”
Some European leaders fear the U.S. will “quit” the war under Trump’s leadership and insist they can’t fund it alone.
