Fox News

hosts and

contributors

11 people

Held events

at Mar-a-Lago

12 people

Ties to Project 2025

or the America First

Policy Institute

17 people

Ties to Project 2025 or the

America First Policy Institute

17 people

Fox News hosts

and contributors

11 people

Held events

at Mar-a-Lago

12 people

Project 2025, Mar-a-Lago and Fox News: What Connects Trump’s New Staff Picks

By Karen Yourish, Lazaro Gamio and Ashley Wu

Dec. 3, 2024

A number of patterns have emerged among the people President-elect Donald J. Trump has indicated he wants to fill his cabinet and other senior-level positions in his administration.

Some points of commonality are historically typical among senior White House and cabinet officials — Harvard, Yale and Princeton are well represented among his selections’ alma maters, for instance. Other uniting factors are unprecedented: Many on the list have denied or questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election, often a prerequisite for gaining Mr. Trump’s favor. And some lack the traditional qualifications shared by their predecessors.

Indeed, it appears that the most important qualifier in Mr. Trump’s mind has been fealty to him, which many of his picks have demonstrated in various ways over the past few years.

See some of the links between more than 60 potential members (in some cases pending confirmation) of the incoming administration, below.

At least 5 are billionaires.

Scott Bessent

Howard Lutnick

Elon Musk

Vivek Ramaswamy

Steven Witkoff

Mr. Trump has picked two billionaires to lead key economic departments, raising questions about whether his administration will follow through on promises to boost the working class.

Scott Bessent, his choice for treasury secretary, is a hedge fund manager who invested money for George Soros, a liberal philanthropist, for more than a decade. Howard Lutnick, his pick for commerce secretary, is a Wall Street executive. Both Mr. Bessent and Mr. Lutnick have been vocal in their support for Mr. Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports, although they may prefer a more targeted approach.

Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead what Mr. Trump is calling the Department of Government Efficiency. Mr. Trump has said the new initiative would operate outside of the government and offer input to federal officials.

At least 8 have been major Trump donors.

Scott Bessent

Charles Kushner

Howard Lutnick

Linda McMahon

Elon Musk

John Phelan

Steven Witkoff

Chris Wright

The president-elect has also selected major campaign donors for key positions, including four to lead cabinet agencies: Mr. Lutnick and Mr. Bessent, as well as Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department and Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department. (Ms. McMahon and Mr. Lutnick are also co-chairs of the Trump transition.) As of the last federal filing, their contributions to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle ranged from $350,000 to $20 million.

John Phelan, Mr. Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, and his wife, Amy, donated more than $1 million to Mr. Trump’s joint fund-raising campaign committee.

Steven Witkoff, a billionaire real estate mogul who has given nearly $2 million to Mr. Trump’s political causes over the past decade, was named special envoy to the Middle East. He was on the golf course with Mr. Trump in September during a second assassination attempt.

Mr. Musk poured at least $75 million into a new pro-Trump super PAC and promised on Oct. 19 to award one voter $1 million every day through Election Day. The Justice Department warned Mr. Musk that the giveaway might be illegal, but a judge in Philadelphia refused to halt the sweepstakes.

Charles Kushner, Mr. Trump’s pick for ambassador to France, is a real estate executive who gave at least $2 million to support Mr. Trump.

At least 12 hosted or co-hosted events at Mar-a-Lago.

Doug Collins

Sebastian Gorka

Thomas Homan

Linda McMahon

Kristi Noem

Vivek Ramaswamy

Brooke Rollins

Marco Rubio

Elise Stefanik

Michael Waltz

Matthew Whitaker

Lee Zeldin

After Mr. Trump left the White House, Mar-a-Lago became the headquarters of the MAGA movement. Events hosted by right-wing organizations and politicians there largely replaced traditional Palm Beach society galas on the resort’s calendar, as a visit became an essential rite for many Republican candidates.

Many of Mr. Trump’s recent picks were regular fixtures at Mar-a-Lago during this time. Some did more than visit, choosing to host expensive receptions on the property. As Mar-a-Lago’s owner, Mr. Trump is the beneficiary of its profits.

Several of the proposed officials have held campaign fund-raisers or served on the host committee to support another candidate’s event. Others hosted or co-hosted larger events for organizations they lead or champion.

At least 13 made appearances at Trump’s criminal trial in New York.

Todd Blanche

Pam Bondi

Doug Burgum

Steven Cheung

Sebastian Gorka

Karoline Leavitt

Kash Patel

Vivek Ramaswamy

Dan Scavino

JD Vance

Michael Waltz

Matthew Whitaker

Susie Wiles

Mr. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan was a staging ground for allies to prove their loyalty. Several of his recent picks traveled to New York in the spring to show support. Some were there in a professional context. Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s choice for deputy attorney general, was one of his trial lawyers, and Susie Wiles, Mr. Trump’s incoming chief of staff, was co-chair of his 2024 presidential campaign.

Others, like Vice President-elect JD Vance and Doug Burgum, Mr. Trump’s pick for interior secretary, attended the trial as spectators and attacked members of the presiding judge’s family on behalf of Mr. Trump, who was under a rule of silence. Both were considered potential running mates at the time.

At least 17 are associated with the America First Policy Institute or Project 2025.

Pam Bondi A.F.P.I.

James Braid Project 2025

Brendan Carr Project 2025

Doug Collins A.F.P.I.

Kevin Hassett A.F.P.I.

Pete Hoekstra Project 2025

Thomas Homan Project 2025

Keith Kellogg A.F.P.I.

Karoline Leavitt Project 2025

Linda McMahon A.F.P.I.

Kash Patel A.F.P.I.

John Ratcliffe Both

Brooke Rollins A.F.P.I.

Scott Turner A.F.P.I.

Russell T. Vought Project 2025

Matthew Whitaker A.F.P.I.

Lee Zeldin A.F.P.I.

Mr. Trump spent much of the campaign distancing himself from Project 2025, a sprawling initiative spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation that included a “blueprint” document for a new conservative administration that was authored in part by former Trump staffers. But since winning the election, Mr. Trump has picked at least seven people with ties to the controversial conservative policy initiative to serve in his administration.

Project 2025 also includes a database of Heritage-vetted personnel intended to help a Republican president build rank-and-file staff. It remains to be seen to what extent those candidates will be hired in the new administration.

The America First Policy Institute, which like the Heritage Foundation is a pro-Trump think tank, is also heavily represented in his picks so far. At least 11 of the people among his picks have ties to the upstart policy group. Much like Project 2025, the think tank has prepared staffing plans and a policy agenda, and it reportedly has drafted nearly 300 executive orders ready for Mr. Trump’s signature.

At least 11 are or have been Fox hosts or contributors.

Sean Duffy

Tulsi Gabbard

Sebastian Gorka

Pete Hegseth

Thomas Homan

Mike Huckabee

Keith Kellogg

Martin A. Makary

Janette Nesheiwat

Vivek Ramaswamy

Michael Waltz

Some of Mr. Trump’s appointees are closely linked to Fox as either hosts, former hosts or contributors. Pete Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends” until he became Mr. Trump’s pick for defense secretary. Mr. Hegseth’s co-host was Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Sean Duffy, Mr. Trump’s cabinet pick for transportation secretary. Mr. Duffy also co-hosted a show on Fox Business.

Mr. Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, hosted a show on Fox for seven years. More recently, Mr. Ramaswamy was tapped to host a five-part series on Fox Nation.

Many more figures in Mr. Trump’s orbit are frequent guests on Fox News, and several not counted here have contributed digital columns to the Fox News website. Mr. Wright caught Mr. Trump’s attention in part through his appearances on Fox News.

At least 9 are or have been registered lobbyists.

Pam Bondi

James Braid

Doug Collins

Sean Duffy

Pete Hoekstra

Bill McGinley

Matthew Whitaker

Susie Wiles

Alex Wong

The revolving door between lobbying and government is a tradition in Washington — and one of the practices Mr. Trump pledged to eliminate when he said he would “drain the swamp.” But some of the people Mr. Trump has tapped for his administration have deep ties to that very swamp.

Ms. Wiles was registered as a lobbyist until early this year. Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, joined a lobbying firm run by a prominent Florida fund-raiser after she finished her second term as Florida attorney general. Mr. Duffy lobbied for a coalition of airlines in 2020.

Some of Mr. Trump’s selections not shown here have acted as lobbyists without officially registering — another longstanding custom in the nation’s capital. Russell T. Vought, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, noted in paperwork for his 2017 Senate confirmation hearing that he had “engaged in grassroots lobbying.”

At least 28 served in or advised the previous Trump administration.

Pam Bondi

James Braid

Brendan Carr

Steven Cheung

Sebastian Gorka

Jamieson Greer

Vince Haley

Kevin Hassett

Pete Hoekstra

Thomas Homan

Mike Huckabee

Keith Kellogg

Alex Latcham

Karoline Leavitt

Bill McGinley

Linda McMahon

Stephen Miller

Elon Musk

Mehmet Oz

Kash Patel

John Ratcliffe

Brooke Rollins

Dan Scavino

Scott Turner

Russell T. Vought

Matthew Whitaker

Steven Witkoff

Alex Wong

More than two dozen of Mr. Trump’s cabinet and other senior-level picks also served in some capacity in his first administration.

Some have been chosen for roles related to their previous jobs. Thomas Homan was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Mr. Trump’s first term and has been named the border czar, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, for the coming term.

Others have been tapped for roles less related to their previous positions. Ms. McMahon was the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, and she is now Mr. Trump’s choice for education secretary.

Several on this list did not have official, full-time jobs during Mr. Trump’s last term, but they were chosen by him to sit on advisory boards. Those people include Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Musk.

Explore the members of Mr. Trump’s proposed senior staff below.

Jump to selected...Scott BessentJay BhattacharyaJames BlairTodd BlanchePam BondiMassad BoulosJames BraidMatt BrasseauxTaylor BudowichDoug BurgumBrendan CarrLori Chavez-DeRemerSteven CheungDoug CollinsSean DuffyTulsi GabbardSergio GorSebastian GorkaJamieson GreerVince HaleyKevin HassettPete HegsethPete HoekstraThomas HomanMike HuckabeeKeith KelloggRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Charles KushnerAlex LatchamKaroline LeavittHoward LutnickMartin A. MakaryBill McGinleyLinda McMahonStephen MillerElon MuskJanette NesheiwatKristi NoemJim O’NeillMehmet OzKash PatelJohn PhelanVivek RamaswamyJohn RatcliffeBrooke RollinsMarco RubioD. John SauerDan ScavinoWill ScharfElise StefanikScott TurnerJD VanceRussell T. VoughtMichael WaltzDave WeldonMatthew WhitakerSusie WilesSteven WitkoffAlex WongChris WrightLee Zeldin

Person andpotential role Role infirst term Billionaire Major donor Hosted M.A.L. event(s) N.Y. Trial Proj. 2025 / A.F.P.I. Ties to Fox Lobbyist

Scott Bessent

Potential role

Treasury secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

Yes

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Jay Bhattacharya

Potential role

National Institutes of Health director

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

James Blair

Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Todd Blanche

Potential role

Deputy attorney general

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Pam Bondi

Potential role

Attorney general

Role in first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Massad Boulos

Potential role

Senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

James Braid

Potential role

White House legislative affairs director

Role in first term

Deputy to the associate director for legislative affairs

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Matt Brasseaux

Potential role

White House political affairs director

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Taylor Budowich

Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Doug Burgum

Potential role

Interior secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Brendan Carr

Potential role

F.C.C. chairman

Role in first term

F.C.C. commissioner

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Potential role

Labor secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Steven Cheung

Potential role

White House communications director

Role in first term

White House director of strategic response

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Doug Collins

Potential role

Veterans affairs secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Sean Duffy

Potential role

Transportation secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

Yes

Tulsi Gabbard

Potential role

Director of national intelligence

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Sergio Gor

Potential role

White House director of personnel

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Sebastian Gorka

Potential role

Deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism

Role in first term

Deputy assistant to the president and strategist

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Jamieson Greer

Potential role

U.S. trade representative

Role in first term

Chief of staff to trade representative

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Vince Haley

Potential role

Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Role in first term

Deputy assistant to the president

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Kevin Hassett

Potential role

Director of White House National Economic Council

Role in first term

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Pete Hegseth

Potential role

Defense secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Pete Hoekstra

Potential role

Ambassador to Canada

Role in first term

Ambassador to the Netherlands

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Thomas Homan

Potential role

Border czar

Role in first term

Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Mike Huckabee

Potential role

Ambassador to Israel

Role in first term

Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Keith Kellogg

Potential role

Special envoy to Ukraine and Russia

Role in first term

National security adviser to the vice president

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Potential role

Health and human services secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Charles Kushner

Potential role

Ambassador to France

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Alex Latcham

Potential role

White House public liaison director

Role in first term

Special assistant to the president

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Karoline Leavitt

Potential role

White House press secretary

Role in first term

Assistant White House press secretary

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Howard Lutnick

Potential role

Commerce secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

Yes

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Martin A. Makary

Potential role

F.D.A. commissioner

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Bill McGinley

Potential role

White House counsel

Role in first term

White House cabinet secretary

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Linda McMahon

Potential role

Education secretary

Role in first term

Small business administrator

Billionare

—

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Stephen Miller

Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in first term

Senior adviser

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Elon Musk

Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare

Yes

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Janette Nesheiwat

Potential role

U.S. surgeon general

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Kristi Noem

Potential role

Homeland security secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Jim O’Neill

Potential role

Deputy secretary of health and human services

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Mehmet Oz

Potential role

Medicare and Medicaid administrator

Role in first term

Member of president's council on sports, fitness and nutrition

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Kash Patel

Potential role

F.B.I. director

Role in first term

Chief of staff to acting defense secretary

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

John Phelan

Potential role

Navy secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Vivek Ramaswamy

Potential role

Co-lead, government efficiency

Role in first term

—

Billionare

Yes

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

John Ratcliffe

Potential role

C.I.A. director

Role in first term

Director of national intelligence

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Brooke Rollins

Potential role

Agriculture secretary

Role in first term

Acting domestic policy adviser

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Marco Rubio

Potential role

Secretary of state

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

D. John Sauer

Potential role

U.S. solicitor general

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Dan Scavino

Potential role

White House deputy chief of staff

Role in first term

White House deputy chief of staff

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Will Scharf

Potential role

White House staff secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Elise Stefanik

Potential role

U.N. ambassador

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Scott Turner

Potential role

Housing and urban development secretary

Role in first term

Executive director of White House opportunity and revitalization council

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

JD Vance

Potential role

Vice president

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Russell T. Vought

Potential role

Office of Management and Budget director

Role in first term

Office of Management and Budget director

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Michael Waltz

Potential role

National security adviser

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

Yes

Lobbyist

—

Dave Weldon

Potential role

C.D.C. director

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Matthew Whitaker

Potential role

NATO ambassador

Role in first term

Acting attorney general

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Susie Wiles

Potential role

White House chief of staff

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

Yes

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Steven Witkoff

Potential role

Middle East envoy

Role in first term

Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group

Billionare

Yes

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Alex Wong

Potential role

Assistant to the president and principal deputy national security adviser

Role in first term

Deputy special representative for North Korea

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

Yes

Chris Wright

Potential role

Energy secretary

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

Yes

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

—

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

—

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Lee Zeldin

Potential role

E.P.A. administrator

Role in first term

—

Billionare

—

Major donor

—

Hosted M.A.L. event(s)

Yes

Attended N.Y. trial

—

Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI

Yes

Ties to Fox

—

Lobbyist

—

Methodology

This list reflects 61 cabinet and senior-level position picks that Mr. Trump had announced as of noon Eastern on Dec. 2.

To determine ties to Project 2025, The Times checked Mr. Trump’s proposed staff members against the authors, editors and contributors to the Project 2025 playbook, as well as the instructor lists in Project 2025’s training programs. Ties to the America First Policy Institute were determined by whether an individual had a listed role on the conservative group’s website or has served as a fellow for the group.

To determine ties to Fox News, The Times searched for each staff pick on Fox’s website, which lists individuals’ affiliations with Fox News. In instances where a biographical page was not available for a nominee, The Times attempted a further search on the Internet Archive and consulted news articles that described other relationships between the potential nominees and appointees and Fox News. In many cases, nominees had a presence on the Fox News website in the form of submitted opinion articles, but were not described as Fox contributors, so The Times did not classify them as being tied to Fox directly.

Accounts by Times reporters and photographers who covered Mr. Trump’s trial in New York were used to determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks attended the trial.

Those labeled billionaires have been referred to as such in other Times coverage.

Major donors include people who gave at least $250,000 to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle.

The Times used congressional lobbying disclosure databases to determine whether an individual is or has ever been a registered lobbyist.

To determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks hosted or co-hosted an event at Mar-a-Lago, The Times used permits from the town of Palm Beach; federal, state and county campaign finance records; tax records; social media posts; and promotional materials from organizations that held events.

The Times used the official White House archive from the first Trump administration to determine whether people selected for the second administration also served in the first. Some held multiple positions during the course of the administration. In most cases, the chart reflects the last position they held.

……