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A police chief in Mexico kills himself as troops try to arrest him in a corruption probe

The police chief in a small town in central Mexico took his own life Friday as troops closed in to arrest him as part of anticorruption raids that also detained several other top police commanders and a mayor in other towns.

The massive, near-simultaneous raids, which federal officials called “Operation Swarm,” took place in two rural towns in the State of Mexico, west of Mexico City, as well as in two populous suburbs right on the edge of the country’s capital.

The federal Public Safety Department said the seven officials arrested “were linked to criminal groups.” and were accused of “crimes like extortion, kidnaping and homicide.” It was not clear if formal charges had been filed against them yet.

State prosecutors said the police chief of the one of the rural towns, Texcaltitlan, killed himself with his own weapon as marines, National Guard and soldiers closed in to try to arrest him on unspecified charges.

And troops also arrested the mayor of the nearby town of Amanalco on “various charges,” and also detained the town’s police chief and another local official. They also arrested the police chief of the town of Tejupilco, farther south.

The area around those towns has long been dominated by the violent La Familia Michoacana gang, which deals in drugs, kidnapping and extortion.

While some of the raids targeted rural areas, authorities also detained the assistant police chief of Naucalpan, a sprawling suburb of 775,000 inhabitants on the northwest edge of Mexico City.

Later, they announced the arrest of a top police chief in the suburb of Ixtapaluca, to the east of Mexico City, which has about 370,000 inhabitants.

Gangs and drug cartels have long infiltrated, intimidated or bribed local officials into working for them, often going so far as to take a cut of the municipal budget or use local police forces to warn them or protect them from federal raids. Sometimes, police officers simply profit freelance from the drug trade.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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An Israeli citizen is missing in the UAE. Israel says ‘information’ suggests a terror incident

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office says that an Israeli citizen living in the United Arab Emirates has been missing for two days.

The PMO said in a statement Saturday that Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen, had been missing since Thursday afternoon.

Kogan is a representative of Chabad, a religious movement of Hasidic Jews with communities, synagogues and other institutions in many countries.

The PMO’s office said that “since he disappeared, and due to information suggesting that this is a terror incident, an extensive investigation was launched in the country (the UAE).”

“The Israeli intelligence and security services have been operating tirelessly, due to their concern to the wellbeing and safety of Zvi Kogan.”

It said that Israel’s National Security Agency had previously recommended Israeli citizens avoid unnecessary travel to the UAE.

This is a developing story. More to come.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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Missing Israeli citizen found dead in UAE in ‘antisemitic terrorist act,’ Israel says

An Israeli citizen missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found dead, Israeli authorities said on Sunday, in what they described as an “antisemitic terrorist act.”

Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen and representative of Chabad, a religious movement of Hasidic Jews with communities, synagogues and other institutions in many countries, had been missing since Thursday afternoon.

In a joint statement Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Kogan’s body had been located by UAE authorities.

“The murder of Tzvi Kogan, of blessed memory, is a heinous antisemitic terrorist act. The State of Israel will use all means at its disposal to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice,” the statement said.

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, condemned the killing as a “cowardly and despicable act of anti-semitic terror.”

Earlier, the PMO said that Israel’s National Security Agency had previously recommended Israeli citizens avoid unnecessary travel to the UAE.

The UAE interior ministry confirmed Saturday it “had received a report from the family of a Moldovan national named Zvi Kogan, stating that he has been missing and out of contact since last Thursday” and that an investigation was underway.

Kogan worked alongside other Chabad emissaries to establish and expand Judaism in the UAE. He founded the first Jewish education center in the region, as well as helped make kosher food widely available, according to the Chabad movement’s official website.

Kogan’s wife Rivky is a US national, whose uncle Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg was killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

This is a developing story. More to come.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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Venezuelan security forces have surrounded the Argentine embassy, opposition leaders say

Armed and hooded members of the Venezuelan security forces have surrounded Argentina’s embassy in Caracas, according to leaders of the country’s opposition.

Six members of the opposition are currently taking refuge in the embassy, having fled there to escape a crackdown by Venezuelan authorities in the run-up to July’s presidential elections.

Pedro Urruchurtu, who has been in the embassy since March and is the international coordinator for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, wrote on X Saturday that armed hooded members of the National Police had closed off streets around the embassy. Drones were hovering above the embassy and phone signals had been cut off, he said.

Omar Gonzalez, another opposition member living in the embassy, posted a video on X showing Venezuelan police outside the diplomatic building.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory in the July election, despite widespread skepticism in the country and overseas about the result.

Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez – who was last week recognized by the US as the winner of that election – said in a post on X Saturday that the embassy had been “besieged by hooded people.”

“I alert the world to what may happen to fellow refugees in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas,” Gonzalez said.

Similar scenes took place in September, when Venezuelan security forces surrounded the Argentine embassy.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This post appeared first on cnn.com

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Ric Grenell under consideration to be Trump’s point man on Ukraine: report

Richard ‘Ric’ Grenell, the former acting director of National Intelligence in President-elect Trump’s first administration, is reportedly under consideration to be special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Currently, there is no special envoy responsible for bringing an end to the war in Eastern Europe. Trump is strongly considering whether to create the role, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with the president’s deliberations.

If he does create the new position, Grenell is said to be a leading candidate, though Trump may select someone else, the sources told Reuters. There is also no guarantee that Grenell would accept the position if it were offered to him, the sources reportedly said. 

Fox News Digital was previously told Grenell was under consideration to be U.S. Secretary of State. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was instead named to lead the State Department.

Neither Grenell nor the Trump transition team responded to requests for comment. 

Trump repeatedly made campaign promises to quickly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, if elected, although he has never laid out a specific plan to end the war.

Grenell, an outspoken Trump loyalist, has made statements in the past that may be of concern to Ukrainian leadership.

During a Bloomberg round table in July, he advocated for the creation of ‘autonomous zones’ as a means of settling the conflict, which began after Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory. He also suggested he would not be in favor of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the immediate future, a position he shares with many Trump allies.

Grenell’s supporters note he has had a long diplomatic career and has a deep knowledge of European affairs. In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Grenell was also a special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.

Prior to working for the first Trump administration, Grenell was a U.S. State Department spokesman to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. He has advised various Republican candidates and was a foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign.

Grenell was previously a Fox News contributor. 

Reuters contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Who is Pam Bondi, Trump’s new pick for attorney general?

Just hours after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration to be attorney general, President-elect Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his AG nominee.

‘For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,’ Trump wrote in his announcement. ‘Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.

‘I have known Pam for many years – She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!’

Bondi chairs the Center of Litigation and co-chairs the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute. 

Here’s what to know about Trump’s new AG pick:

Bondi worked as a prosecutor before becoming Florida’s first female attorney general

Bondi, 59, is a Tampa native and earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida and her law degree from Stetson Law School. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991.

She worked as a prosecutor out of the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office for more than 18 years, trying a variety of cases from domestic violence to murder.

Bondi made history in 2010 as the state’s first female attorney general. Her campaign emphasized challenging the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and later focused on human trafficking issues once in office. She also notably shut down pill mills and tackled the state’s opioid crisis. 

She held the post until 2019. 

Bondi has worked closely with Trump, including on his defense team for his first impeachment trial 

Bondi worked as one of Trump’s defense lawyers in 2020 after he was first impeached on allegations that he had abused his power and obstructed Congress. 

‘They have not charged the president with any crime because the president did nothing wrong,’ Bondi said when articles of impeachment were sent by the House to the Senate. ‘There was no crime. The transcript of that phone call speaks for itself.’

Bondi also worked on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first administration. In her role on the commission, Bondi collaborated with national leaders on drug prevention and treatment. 

Bondi is a partner at a lobbying firm with ties to Trump and incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles

Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, a Florida-based lobbying firm founded by Brian Ballard. Bondi splits her time between Florida and Washington, D.C., chairing the firm’s corporate regulatory practice. 

The D.C. office notably earned more than $70 million in lobbying fees during Trump’s first term by representing various corporate clients, according to federal disclosures. 

Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, also works for the firm after becoming a partner there following Trump’s 2016 victory. 

Bondi has been a staunch supporter of Trump throughout his legal troubles

Bondi has been vocal in her criticism about Trump’s prosecutions, going so far as appearing alongside Trump in New York City during his hush money trial. 

‘They make it sound like it’s a first-degree murder case, and I’ve tried plenty of trial cases, Trace, and never seen anything like this,’ Bondi told Fox News host Trace Gallagher in April, shortly after Trump was issued a gag order in his New York case. 

‘They’re trying to gag him not only of his First Amendment rights but of defending himself,’ Bondi said at the time. 

Fox News Digital’s Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. 

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US scrambles as drones shape the landscape of war: ‘the future is here’

The U.S. Army this week took steps to advance American military capabilities by ordering close to 12,000 surveillance drones small enough to fit in a backpack as the reality of battle shifts in favor of electronic warfare. 

Conflicts around the globe, particularly the war in Ukraine, have drastically changed how major nations think about conducting war, explained drone expert and former U.S. Army intelligence and special operations soldier Brett Velicovich to Fox News Digital.

The nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine has often depicted scenes not witnessed since World War II, with children loaded onto trains, veins of trenches scarring the eastern front and renewed concern over how the geopolitics of this conflict could ensnare the entire Western world. 

But Ukraine’s scrappy response to its often outnumbered and at times outgunned reality has completely changed how major nations look at the modern-day battlefield. 

‘Think about how we fought wars in the past,’ Velicovich, a Fox News contributor, said, pointing to the Vietnam War. ‘When you were fighting the enemy over that trench line, you didn’t know who was over that hill. You saw a red hat and you fired at it.’ 

‘Now you have the ability to see what’s over that hill and maneuver your forces quickly based on that,’ he added. 

A report by The Wall Street Journal this week said the U.S. Army secured potentially its largest-ever purchase of small surveillance drones from Red Cat Holding’s Utah-based Teal Drones. 

This move is a significant step that the U.S. has been eyeing for more than a decade after terrorists first began employing small-drone tactics against the U.S. military in the Middle East.

According to Velicovich, who routinely visits Ukraine to advise on drone technology, the U.S. is trailing its top adversaries like Russia and China when it comes investment in drone capabilities.  

While the U.S. invested heavily in sophisticated systems like Predator and Reaper drones — which are multimillion-dollar systems designed for intelligence collection and lengthy navigation flight times and possess missile strike capabilities — it is the small, cheaply made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which are changing battlefield dynamics. 

‘These handheld, small UAS systems that you are able to take a drone with a bomb strapped to it [have become] basically an artillery shell now. It’s guided artillery shells,’ Velicovich said in reference to Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which include not only the UAV, but also the controller manned from the ground. ‘Frankly, it’s changing how countries are going to fight wars in the future, and the U.S. has been so slow to get ahead of this.’

It has reportedly taken the U.S. Army some 15 years to start beefing up its Short Range Reconnaissance program with these backpack-sized drones, in part because there was a mental hurdle the Department of Defense needed to push through.

‘It’s the mentality of senior leaders,’ Velicovich explained. ‘These guys are hardened battle infantry guys. They didn’t grow up with fancy technology.’

‘It really takes a lot of people understanding, changing their thought process. And that’s happening now because of the accelerating war in Ukraine, where they’ve seen how effective drones are,’ he said, noting that drones can no longer be dismissed as gimmicks or toys of the future. 

‘Now it’s real. Now it’s here, the future is here,’ Velicovich said. ‘We will never fight another war without drones.’

Teal Drones worked to develop a UAS system based on battlefield needs identified by the U.S. Army, and eventually created the drone that has been dubbed the Black Widow, explained Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson to Fox News Digital. 

This sophisticated system is capable of being operated by a single man, can resist Russian jammers, has strike capabilities, and can fly in GPS-denied zones — an important factor that has been highlighted by the war in Ukraine.

‘The Short Range Reconnaissance drone is really going to be able to help the warfighter be more lethal and be a safer soldier,’ Thompson said.

The U.S. Army greenlighted the purchase of nearly 12,000 drones. Each soldier kitted out with the Black Widow technology will be given what is called a ‘system,’ which includes two drones and one controller — all of which can fit in one’s rucksack. 

Each system, including the drones and controller, costs the U.S. government about $45,000.

But, as Johnson pointed out, Ukraine’s armed forces are going through about 10,000 drones a month — which suggests the U.S. will need to acquire far more than 12,000 drones. 

The war in Ukraine has shown that affordably made drones, particularly FPV drones, which stands for ‘first-person view,’ can be made for as low as $1,000 a drone and frequently strapped with explosives and utilized as kamikaze drones. 

But drone warfare is about significantly more than sheer quantity — it’s a ‘power game.’

‘This is a cat and mouse game,’ Velicovich said, explaining that drone and counter-drone technology, like jamming systems, are constantly evolving. ‘This is playing out at a level that most people don’t realize.’

‘It’s like we were almost peering into the future,’ he continued. ‘We are seeing what’s happening on the ground now, there in Ukraine, and eventually we’ll have to fight a war similar to it, and we just need to be ready.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Trump taps Texan Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary

President-elect Trump tapped Brooke Rollins as his agriculture secretary.

In a statement on Saturday, Trump lauded Rollins’ ‘commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.’

‘A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,’ the announcement said. ‘From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.’

‘As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,’ Trump said. ‘Congratulations Brook!’

Rollins, who grew up on a farm in Glen Rose, Texas, was a surprise pick for the position. Former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who met with the president-elect at Mar-a-Lago on Friday afternoon, was rumored to fill the position prior to the official Trump announcement on Saturday.

Rollins was previously rumored to be on the short-list for Trump’s pick of chief of staff – which ultimately was given to longtime ally Susie Wiles.

Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. 

Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins co-founded the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute think tank.

If confirmed by the Senate, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country. The role includes managing farm and nutrition, forestry, food safety, rural development, agricultural research and more. 

It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Trump taps Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary

President-elect Trump tapped Brooke Rollins as his agriculture secretary.

In a statement on Saturday, Trump lauded Rollins’ ‘commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.’

‘A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,’ the announcement said. ‘From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.’

Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. 

Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins has co-founded the America First Policy Institute think tank.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Trump administration takes shape: President-elect completes top 15 Cabinet picks

President-elect Trump has rounded out his picks for the top 15 positions within his Cabinet, handpicking an array of establishment and unconventional officials for top posts in just three weeks.

Trump has moved at a rapid pace to shape his upcoming administration, which stands in contrast to his first run at the presidency in 2016.

The president-elect’s picks have diverse ideologies united under Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

From Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s pro-choice stance to Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s pro-union stance and former George Soros adviser Scott Bessent, Trump’s Cabinet reflects a new era for Republican presidents.

1. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. – Secretary of Health and Human Services

Kennedy, a former Democrat, has been open about his pro-choice stance, much to the chagrin of conservative Republicans. 

The former presidential candidate shared a video on social media this summer, writing in a post, ‘I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point.’ 

He suggested that this limit should be ‘when the baby is viable outside the womb.’ Viability is understood to occur around 24 weeks gestation. 

Kennedy will likely be asked in his upcoming hearing the extent of his pro-choice stance. Several Republicans are wary of Trump’s pick for HHS, while others expressed confidence he would act in line with the administration.

‘I would fully expect any of Trump’s nominees to be pro-life, as is President Trump,’ Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital. ‘It does need to be addressed.’

‘I believe what he’s going to do is do the right thing,’ Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said of Kennedy.

Trump’s softening stance toward abortion was a notable point during his campaign. Trump has said he would leave abortion to the states after of Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Trump notably opposes a federal abortion ban but has remained opposed to late-term abortions. In July, the Republican Party abandoned its long-standing position of advocating for abortions. 

2. Lori Chavez-DeRemer – Labor Secretary 

Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination received strong support from unions, which once stood at odds with Republican ideology.

The president-elect lauded her for working ‘tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America.’ 

‘I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,’ Trump said in an Friday announcement.

During her short stint as a House Republican, Chavez-DeRemer championed labor rights. She co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which increased penalties for employers who break labor law and makes it easier to unionize. She also co-sponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would expand the powers of public sector unions.

Her candidacy for the post was backed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, whose president thanked Trump for the pro-labor pick.

‘North America’s strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nation’s middle class,’ Teamsters President Sean O’Brien wrote on X. ‘Let’s get to work!’ 

Similarly, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler praised Chavez-DeRemer for having ‘built a pro-labor record in Congress.’

‘But Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States — not Rep. Chavez-DeRemer — and it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,’ Shuler said.

3. Scott Bessent – Treasury Secretary

President-elect Trump nominated Bessent as his top economic official to implement ‘Trumponomics.’ 

Bessent made a name for himself at Soros Capital Management, where he worked as chief investment officer from 2011 to 2015. Following his work with Soros, he founded hedge fund Key Square Capital Management and was a key economic policy adviser and fundraiser for the Trump campaign.

He has been an advocate for economic policies like lower taxes, spending restraint and deregulation that have long made up the core of the Republican Party’s platform and has been supportive of Trump’s use of tariffs in trade negotiations.

In a statement, Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO Lindsey Johnson congratulated Bessent on the nomination.

‘As an experienced and accomplished businessman, we applaud Mr. Bessent’s recent comments in which he has called for a surge in small business optimism, a smart deregulatory banking agenda and support for Main Street,’ Johnson said.

‘If confirmed, we look forward to working with Mr. Bessent to advocate for sound financial regulatory policy that enable banks to better support consumers, small businesses and the economy at large.’

4. Marco Rubio – Secretary of State

As America’s top diplomat, Rubio was plucked from his Senate term in Florida to serve in Trump’s upcoming administration.

Rubio, a former critic of Trump, has supported strong relations with foreign alliances, including NATO, advocating for a robust U.S. presence in the world. He has also publicly supported Israel’s war against Hamas and spoken out against continued aid to Ukraine.

‘It is my Great Honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The United States Secretary of State. Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.’

In a statement, Rubio, 53, said he was ‘honored’ by the trust Trump ‘has placed in me.’

‘As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda,’ Rubio wrote on X. ‘Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.’

5. Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense

A combat veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth was picked as the senior executive in the Department of Defense, which oversees the U.S. military and Pentagon. 

Hegseth, who served as an Army infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the MinnesotaNational Guard, has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s national security approach.

Hegseth has been under increased scrutiny after former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s decision to drop out following sexual misconduct allegations. Hegseth is also facing sexual misconduct allegations from a 2017 encounter. Scrutiny increased late Wednesday night after police in Monterey, California, released a report about the allegations.

‘The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared,’ Hegseth told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday. Through his attorney, he has also acknowledged the sexual encounter but has said it was consensual.

6. Pam Bondi – Attorney General

Following Gaetz’s removal from consideration for the nation’s top cop, Trump chose Bondi as his attorney general pick.

Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, was named by Trump hours after Gaetz withdrew. Bondi is a longtime Trump supporter who served on his legal team during his impeachment trial.

‘For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,’ Trump wrote in his announcement. ‘Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.

‘I have known Pam for many years – She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!’

7. Doug Burgum – Secretary of the Interior

North Dakota Gov. Burgum, a staunch advocate of expanded fossil fuel production, was picked as Trump’s secretary of the interior. Trump also named him to the newly created ‘energy czar’ position.

Burgum has been an ally of Trump since he suspended his own presidential campaign. Burgum made energy and natural resources a key part of his campaign for the GOP nomination.

The president-elect said in a statement the newly formed National Energy Council ‘will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation.’

8. Brooke Rollins – Agriculture Secretary 

Rollins, who grew up on a farm in Glen Rose, Texas, was a surprise pick for the position. Others, including former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., were floated as top contenders.

Rollins served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the first Trump administration. Since her time in the Trump White House, Rollins co-founded the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute think tank.

‘A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,’ the announcement said. ‘From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.’

9. Howard Lutnick – Commerce Secretary 

Lutnick, 63, has served as the co-chair of Trump’s transition team and was a key fundraiser for Trump’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.’

The Commerce Department plays a key role in regulating international trade with the U.S. as well as promoting economic growth domestically.

There are several notable bureaus within the Commerce Department, including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Industry and Security, which work on issues related to national security and sensitive technologies by enforcing export controls and promoting the health of the U.S. defense industrial base.

10. Scott Turner – Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Turner, 52, Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a former NFL player. 

He served in Trump’s first administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

‘Scott is an NFL Veteran, who, during my First Term, served as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities,’ Trump said in a statement Friday.

11. Sean Duffy – Secretary of Transportation

Duffy is a former Wisconsin congressman and former Fox News contributor and FOX Business co-host.

‘Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant, starting his career as a District Attorney for Ashland, Wisconsin, and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District,’ Trump said in his announcement Monday. 

‘Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation. Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!’

Shortly after the announcement, a spokesperson for Fox News Media released the following statement: ‘Sean Duffy provided valuable insights and analysis in co-hosting the FOX Business Network program ‘The Bottom Line.’ As Duffy departs FOX News Media effective today, we wish him the best of luck in his return to Washington. Moving forward, ‘The Bottom Line’ will continue with Dagen McDowell joined by rotating co-hosts.’

12. Chris Wright – Secretary of Energy

Wright, the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, will lead the Department of Energy.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,’ Trump said in a statement. 

According to Liberty Energy’s website, Wright graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also completed graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley and MIT.

‘[Wright] is a self-described tech nerd turned entrepreneur and a dedicated humanitarian on a mission to better human lives by expanding access to abundant, affordable, and reliable energy,’ the company’s website says.

The key Cabinet position announcement comes after Trump made energy independence and bolstering oil and gas production a cornerstone of his campaign.

13. Linda McMahon – Secretary of Education

McMahon serves as co-chair of Trump’s transition team and is a major GOP donor and a retired World Wrestling Entertainment executive.

Clips of McMahon’s body slams have resurfaced across social media in the days since the announcement of her appointment. 

McMahon served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009. She told lawmakers at the time she had a lifelong interest in education and once planned to become a teacher. She attempted two runs at the Senate as a Connecticut Republican, losing the 2010 race to Richard Blumenthal and the 2012 race to Chris Murphy. 

McMahon then provided $6 million to help Trump’s candidacy after he secured the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. She served as administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2019.

14. Douglas Collins – Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Former Rep. Collins, R-Ga., is an Air Force Reserve chaplain.

Collins, 58, last ran for office in 2020 when he vied for a Georgia Senate seat and served two years as a Navy chaplain before joining the Air Force as a chaplain after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Trump praised Collins in the appointment announcement, saying he would be a ‘great advocate for active-duty service members, veterans and military families to ensure they have the support they need.’

‘We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform,’ Trump said. ‘Thank you, Doug, for your willingness to serve our country in this important role.’

15. Kristi Noem – Homeland Secretary 

Noem, who has served as South Dakota’s governor since 2019, has been a staunch Trump ally throughout his campaigns.

The Department of Homeland Security oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If selected, Noem would work with Tom Homan, who was announced as Trump’s ‘border czar,’ and Stephen Miller, who was announced as the White House deputy of staff for policy.

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