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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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

Scott Bessent	Potential role Treasury secretary	Role in first term —	Billionare Yes	Major donor Yes	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	Attended N.Y. trial —	Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI Yes	Ties to Fox —	Lobbyist Yes
Taylor Budowich	Potential role White House deputy chief of staff	Role in first term —	Billionare —	Major donor —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	Attended N.Y. trial —	Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI —	Ties to Fox —	Lobbyist —
Matt Brasseaux	Potential role White House political affairs director	Role in first term —	Billionare —	Major donor —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago 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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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	Events at Mar-a-Lago —	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 —	Events at Mar-a-Lago Yes	Attended N.Y. trial —	Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI Yes	Ties to Fox —	Lobbyist —