• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

These are the top names in contention for Defense secretary under Trump

by November 12, 2024
written by November 12, 2024

National security minds in Washington, D.C., are awaiting President-elect Donald Trump’s decision for Defense secretary.

Trump’s pick of Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., as his national security adviser and his expected pick of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for secretary of state, set a tone for his foreign policy that is expected to be hawkish on China and Iran. 

Whoever Trump picks for Defense secretary will oversee major changes within the Pentagon, both a reorienting of troop posture abroad and an across-the-board stripping of DEI provisions they believe caused the Pentagon to go ‘woke’ under President Biden. 

A litany of names has been tossed around for who could lead the government’s largest agency, with one running theme: while his pick needs to pass a Senate confirmation, Trump is expected to appoint a loyalist who will not undermine him.  

During his first term, five men held the job as Pentagon chief only to resign, be fired or serve briefly as a stopgap.

One possibility is Robert Wilkie, Trump’s former Veterans’ Affairs secretary. Prior to his VA confirmation in 2018, he served as undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness under Trump and served in both the Navy and Air Force Reserve. Wilkie has been leading the Trump transition team with Pentagon staffing. 

Wilkie is a fellow at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute and a military analyst for Newsmax. 

Another name is Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security adviser who has also been involved with the transition team. O’Brien told Fox News Digital that ‘of course’ he would return to a Trump administration. 

O’Brien has been outspoken about the need to pivot U.S. defenses to China. He said the way to force Russia to the negotiating table with Ukraine was through steeper sanctions – and bringing Ukraine into NATO ‘risks World War III.’ 

Richard Grenell, Trump’s former acting director of national intelligence and German ambassador, was also expected to land a national security role in this administration. With the state and national security adviser roles filled, he, too, could land at the Department of Defense. 

Throughout the campaign, Grenell advised Trump on foreign policy and political issues, and led outreach to Arab Americans in Michigan. He appeared with Trump in September when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Grenell was a pro-Trump antagonist to Europe during his time in Germany, with the former president joking about former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s happiness when Grenell was moved to the national security role. 

Sen. Joni Ernst, the defense-minded Iowa Republican and current GOP conference chair, has also been floated as a possibility, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital, but she remains ‘laser-focused’ on her GOP conference chair race. She also served in the Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard. 

If picked, she would be the first female Defense secretary. 

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., head of the House Armed Services Committee, was also under consideration and has been contacted by the transition team, a source familiar confirmed. 

However, two sources said that Trump is likely to pull from the private sector for this role. Picking from Congress would whittle away narrow GOP majorities in those chambers, at least until seats were filled. 

Rogers is also a staunch supporter of aiding Ukraine – a position that might put him at odds with Trump. 

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, who held high-level national security posts during Trump’s first term, has also been named as a possibility. 

‘The president is going to make the call on who is in his administration,’ Kellogg recently told Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson, while suggesting he would say yes if the president called. ‘It’s going to be a very loyal team.’ 

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., had been a lead contender for an administration role, likely Defense secretary or CIA head, but pulled his name from the running, a source confirmed. He is running for Republican Conference chair and is likely to take over Rubio’s position as head of the Intelligence Committee.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had been floated, but on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that Pompeo would not be joining this administration – and neither would former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. 

Fox News’ Liz Elkind contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Trump expected to visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Mike Johnson says
next post
Trump tapping 2 House Republicans for future admin fuels concerns about slim possible majority

related articles

Democrats project doom and gloom, not celebration, with...

July 5, 2025

Xi Jinping’s surprise no-show at BRICS Summit fuels...

July 5, 2025

Iran regime escalates repression toward ‘North Korea-style model...

July 4, 2025

This July 4th, a family waits: American hostage’s...

July 4, 2025

President Trump to honor Iran strike flight team...

July 4, 2025

North Korea lashes out after Trump DOJ exposes...

July 4, 2025

Saudi defense minister secretly meets with Trump to...

July 4, 2025

Trump administration swarms SCOTUS with emergency requests and...

July 4, 2025

Trump administration torpedoes SCOTUS with emergency requests and...

July 3, 2025

Mike Johnson touts ‘beauty of unified government’ after...

July 3, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Microsoft Q4 earnings preview: Revenue poised for 14% growth, driven by Azure and Office strength

    July 18, 2024
  • Tariffs would be ‘catastrophic’ for sales of tequila and mezcal, industry group says

    February 13, 2025
  • Trump China tariff truce ignites stock markets – will it also pump up president’s poll numbers?

    May 12, 2025
  • NTSB grills Boeing execs on safety culture and retaliation allegations

    August 8, 2024
  • Unearthed footage of Barron Trump speaking with mom’s accent spreads like wildfire after dad’s massive win

    November 24, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 3

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (5,251)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (832)

Latest Posts

  • Memeinator vs Bonk: should you bet on the new crypto contender MMTR?

    August 9, 2024
  • CDC seems to defy Trump executive order by participating in WHO vaccine conference

    February 26, 2025
  • Elon Musk’s net worth soars $184B after Donald Trump’s victory: is $500B within reach this week?

    December 17, 2024

Recent Posts

  • USDCHF and USDJPY: The USDJPY dropped to a new low

    July 19, 2024
  • Scorched-earth Shanahan: RFK Jr.’s former running mate threatens political war against confirmation opponents

    January 29, 2025
  • ‘We have never been this close to peace’ since Russia invaded Ukraine, Leavitt tells reporters

    March 14, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Elon Musk dubs himself the ”George Soros’ of the middle’

    November 14, 2024
  • RFK Jr. launches online forum to crowdsource names for 4,000 Trump administration nominees

    November 12, 2024
  • HHS employees offered $25K as ‘incentive to voluntarily separate’

    March 10, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock