Trump announces key cabinet and staff choices as second term takes shape

President-elect Donald Trump this week announced a series of Cabinet and key staff appointments, underscoring his priorities for his second term.

Notable selections include Karoline Leavitt, his campaign’s chief press secretary, for White House press secretary, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, for secretary of Health and Human Services. Both appointments signal a shift toward Trump’s “America First” agenda, with Leavitt emphasizing message discipline and Kennedy promising to overhaul public health policy.

Other controversial choices include Matt Gaetz as attorney general, who faces significant opposition from the Republican Senate, and Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, who is fueling debate over his past controversies.

As Trump’s team grows stronger, the Senate is preparing for potentially contentious confirmation battles.

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