• 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

Michelle Obama portraitist’s exhibit with trans Statue of...

July 25, 2025

House Freedom Caucus conservative to enter race for...

July 25, 2025

Pelosi confident about Dems’ chances to win House,...

July 25, 2025

Pentagon freezes out DC think tanks in new...

July 25, 2025

Trump says SCOTUS immunity ruling likely helps Obama...

July 25, 2025

‘Louder by the hour’: Senate GOP wants the...

July 25, 2025

Grieving parents of American terror victim plead with...

July 25, 2025

SCOOP: Key GOP group starts work on 2nd...

July 25, 2025

What James Carville doesn’t get about voter priorities

July 25, 2025

Homeless people can be removed from streets by...

July 24, 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

  • National Guard report refutes Tim Walz’s claim of actually toting war weapons ‘in war’

    August 8, 2024
  • Here’s what the NBA’s new media deal means for hoops fans

    July 26, 2024
  • Trump taps Texan Brooke Rollins as agriculture secretary

    November 24, 2024
  • Gold and Silver: Gold price retreats on Friday below $

    September 27, 2024
  • ‘Not fit to serve’: Speaker Johnson leads GOP demands for Biden to resign from presidency

    July 21, 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 (5,519)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (858)

Latest Posts

  • Trump team holds ‘constructive’ face-to-face nuclear talks with Iran, will meet again next weekend

    April 13, 2025
  • Biden admits keeping classified Afghanistan document ‘for posterity’s sake’ in leaked audio

    May 17, 2025
  • CFPB sues America’s largest banks for ‘allowing fraud to fester’ on Zelle

    December 21, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Super Micro Stock Soars 65%; TQQQ Fluctuates

    October 8, 2024
  • ‘New Golden Age’: Republican lawmakers ecstatic as Trump takes office with slate of new orders

    January 20, 2025
  • Musk blasts Soros in series of posts after Biden gives him nation’s top civilian award: ‘Hatred of humanity’

    January 10, 2025

Editor’s Pick

  • Vance preaches unity as tensions boil at House GOP retreat over MIA lawmakers

    January 29, 2025
  • Vance says Harris ‘bent the knee to the Hamas caucus’ by choosing Walz over Shapiro

    August 7, 2024
  • Biden gave Americans the business. Trump is giving us businessmen 

    January 28, 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