International affairs correspondent Sofia Chirico discusses the latest news about Trump’s cabinet appointees and foreign leaders’ reactions to the election result.

By Sofia Chirico | Nov 20 2024

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has allegedly selected the majority of his cabinet members. Here is what we know so far: 

According to CNN, Kristi Norm has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser, Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Burgum as Energy Secretary, and Tom Homan as border czar - tasked with overseeing specific policies regarding immigration and border control. Elon Musk will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. 

Some of these appointees previously held cabinet roles during Trump’s first presidency. They are all considered loyalists, known for their strict approaches towards matters such as immigration, reproductive health and rights, and they generally align with Trump’s political strategy. 

Fox News host Pete Hegseth had been picked for defence secretary, and Robert F Kennedy Jr is expected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.  

Many foreign leaders have recently congratulated the president-elect. Ukraine and Israel Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Isaac Herzog have extended their congratulations, expressing their hopes that the U.S. will support them in ending ongoing conflicts and fostering peace. European leaders such as Giorgia Meloni, Emmanuel Macron, and Keir Starmer have also conveyed their support for Trump, emphasising their desire to strengthen the relationship between Europe and the United States. Taoiseach Simon Harris also spoke to Donald Trump on a phone call, where he congratulated him on his victory and reflected on the relationship between Ireland and the US.