Trump's 2024 Administration: Meet the Powerful Women in Key Roles

President Donald Trump has appointed several women to high-ranking roles in his administration, marking a significant shift from his previous record with women. Despite a history marred by inflammatory comments, lawsuits, and contentious political actions, Trump has made notable gains with women voters. In the 2024 election, 45% of women voted for Trump, compared to 55% of men, narrowing the gender gap from previous years. ### Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump’s 2024 campaign manager, now serves as the first female White House chief of staff in U.S. history. A longtime member of Trump's inner circle, Wiles managed his Florida campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and has been described by Trump as "tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected." Her role involves keeping the administration's operations running smoothly, ensuring that subject matter experts, including the president and vice president, can focus on their tasks. ### Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary At 27, Karoline Leavitt is the youngest-ever White House press secretary. She interned at the White House during Trump’s first term and later worked with then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. After running for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, Leavitt joined Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as national press secretary. She has spoken candidly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her demanding job, returning to work just four days after giving birth. Leavitt emphasizes that Trump values hard work and performance over gender, making him a great boss. As press secretary, she has implemented changes such as introducing a "new media seat" in the briefing room and restricting access to outlets that do not comply with Trump's executive orders. ### Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, was nominated by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Bondi represented Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Trump praised her for her ability to refocus the DOJ on fighting crime and ensuring national safety. Bondi’s appointment is seen as a move to counter what Trump views as the weaponization of the DOJ against him and other Republicans. ### Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate, made a significant political shift to join the Republican Party and Trump’s administration. As director of national intelligence, she leads 17 organizations within the U.S. Intelligence Community. Trump highlighted her broad support across party lines and her fearless spirit. Gabbard has been involved in discussions about national security, including a Signal group chat with national security advisor Mike Waltz that inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffery Goldberg. ### Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, formerly a Republican congresswoman and governor of South Dakota, was considered as a potential running mate for Trump’s 2024 campaign. As secretary of homeland security, she oversees critical agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Secret Service. Immigration and border security were key issues in the 2024 election, and Trump has implemented a hardline approach with executive orders. Noem has been vocal about enforcing these policies, warning illegal immigrants to "leave now" and emphasizing the end of "the gravy train." ### Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the former CEO of WWE and head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term, was nominated as education secretary. Trump aims to send education back to the states, and McMahon is leading this effort. She also served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year. In March, Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education, a move that McMahon supports. She has stated that Trump is serious about this initiative and that she will comply with his directives. ### Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican representative from Oregon, is viewed as a more moderate member of the administration due to her support for pro-union legislation. Trump praised her for working with both business and labor to build America’s workforce and improve working conditions. The Department of Labor has faced significant budget cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. In March, the official DOGE account on X praised Chavez-DeRemer for canceling $577 million in "America Last" grants, saving $237 million. ### Alina Habba, Counselor to the President Alina Habba rose to prominence as Trump's personal attorney during high-profile lawsuits, including his civil fraud trial and defamation trial. In March, Trump appointed her as interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. Habba has pledged to continue fighting for truth and justice and to end the weaponization of the justice system. Her appointment underscores Trump's commitment to having strong legal representation within his administration. ### Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler, a millionaire businesswoman and former CEO of the bitcoin company Bakkt, previously served as a senator from Georgia. As the head of the Small Business Administration, she focuses on reducing red tape and promoting small business growth. Loeffler has visited Los Angeles to assess post-wildfire recovery efforts and announced plans to move SBA offices out of sanctuary cities to municipalities that support the administration’s border security policies. ### Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who served in various roles during Trump’s first administration, including director of the Domestic Policy Council and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, is now the secretary of agriculture. Trump highlighted her commitment to supporting American farmers and restoring agriculture-dependent small towns. Rollins has been particularly focused on lowering egg prices, which have risen sharply over the past few years. ### Janette Nesheiwat, Nominee for Surgeon General Janette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency physician, was nominated by Trump to be the surgeon general. She is the medical director of CityMD and a former Fox News contributor. Trump praised her as a fierce advocate for preventive medicine and public health. Nesheiwat’s nomination is pending Senate confirmation, but her medical expertise and communication skills are expected to be valuable in the role. These appointments reflect a diverse and influential group of women in Trump’s administration, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives to their roles. Despite the challenges and controversies, these women are shaping the narrative and policies of the Trump administration, contributing to its operational and strategic goals.