Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, ‘Chinese hawk’: Here is how the new Trump administration looks like

Following his victory in the Presidential Elections, the new President of the United States, Donald Trump has started assembling his cabinet and key administration officials. The Republicans managed to grab a big victory in the elections and successfully managed to pull the presidency, popular vote, swing states, senate majority, house majority, state governor majority, and state legislature majority as well. With great victory comes great responsibility, the people of the United States will have a hope for the New Trump Administration to take up the issues for which they casted their votes for the Republicans.  Trump has started making his pick for the administration circle and is set to get hold of defense, immigration, economic policy and other subject areas. Here are the picks Donald Trump made- 

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy- In an effort to streamline government, Doland Trump created a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will be co-led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. These two have been tasked with reforming the federal bureaucracy and enhancing operational efficiency.

In his statement, Trump mentioned that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will provide “advice and guidance” to the White House from outside the government. They will collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large-scale structural reform and introduce an entrepreneurial approach to government like never before.”

Following the announcement, ‘elated’ Musk and Ramaswamy have shared a slew of tweets in connection with the DOGE.  

Susie Wiles-  Susie Wiles who served as co-chair of Donald Trump during the 2024 Presidential elections has been appointed as chief of staff, a role critical for maintaining order and cohesion. Wiles, 67, managed Trump’s campaign with discipline, and her leadership aims to bring stability after the turnover-prone first Trump term. 

Tom Homan-  Trump’s immigration stance is underscored by his appointment of Tom Homan as “border czar.” Tom Homan is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director, and is committed to prioritizing the deportation of illegal immigrants who pose safety and security threats. Tom Homan is known for his tough stance as far as the deportation of undocumented immigrants is concerned.

Mike Waltz- Donald Trump tapped on the soldiers of the retired Army Green Beret, Mike Waltz to take command of the National Security Adviser. He is expected to shape the U.S. security policy in the Asia-Pacific region. Mike Waltz is known for being a vocal critic of China. 

Marco Rubio– Dubbed a ‘Chinese Hawk’, Senator Marco Rubio will be tasked with guiding the Foreign policy .He is named as the secretary of state. Rubio, a hawkish figure on the international stage, aligns with Trump’s call for reduced U.S. involvement abroad while maintaining a strong stance on geopolitical issues, including relations with China and Iran.

Pete Hegseth-  Pete Hegseth, former Fox News correspondent and military veteran  has been opted as the defense secretary. He will be expected to challenge the Pentagon’s progressive policies. 

Elise Stefanik– Elise Stefanik has been picked by Donald Trump to look over the diplomatic front as the ambassador of the United Nations. Stefanik is a steadfast Trump supporter and his approach regarding the conflicts like Russia-Ukraine and Gaza will be interesting to look at.

John Ratcliffe- The former Director of National Intelligence, returns as CIA director, maintaining Trump’s preference for loyalists in intelligence. Kash Patel who was seen as the main contender for the CIA director missed out. 

Lee Zeldin– Lee Zeldin, the former New York congressman, will serve as the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, who will look to increase domestic energy production 

Kristi Noem- Kristi Noem, the current serving governor of South Dakota has been picked as the Secretary of Homeland security and will work to enable Donald Trump’s commitment to a strict homeland 

This new administration team suggests a strong alignment with Trump’s past agenda, emphasizing deregulation, stringent immigration control, and an assertive stance on foreign policy. The assembled cabinet promises continuity in Trump’s approach to reshaping federal governance, positioning the administration to act decisively on its America First principles.

What does the new Trump Administration mean for Canada and India

The new representatives in the Trump administration may spell challenges for Canada, as many advisors and cabinet members have previously voiced criticism of Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Kristi Noem, recently appointed Secretary of Homeland Security, has taken shots at Trudeau in the past. Similarly, Mike Waltz, the new National Security Advisor, has been an outspoken critic of the Canadian Prime Minister, openly supporting Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre for Canada’s leadership on social media. Trump himself has had a rocky relationship with Trudeau. In 2022, he labeled Trudeau “a far-left lunatic” over his COVID-19 vaccine mandate for truck drivers crossing the border. In 2018, Trump walked out of a G7 summit in Quebec, calling Trudeau “very dishonest and weak” following Trudeau’s comments on trade.

Given these dynamics, India may find favorable prospects with this administration, as it includes officials holding strong anti-China positions. Marco Rubio, the new Secretary of State, is particularly known for his anti-China stance, which could align with India’s own strategic interests. Overall, the Trump administration’s composition appears to bode well for India, while potentially signaling friction with Canada.