In a recent turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has been discerning in selecting the individuals for various key posts in his forthcoming cabinet. One commonality that appears among them is an unwavering endorsement for Trump, coupled with their impressive credentials and significant experience or a zealous impetus to bring transformative changes to their respective departments.
Several of the chosen ones are closely affiliated to the state of Florida. Callista Gingrich, hailing from Southwest Florida, is one such appointee. Gingrich, 58, is the wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and carries forward an impressive record as Trump’s ambassador to the Holy See during his initial term.
Laudably, the Gingriches made a prudent investment of $3 million in a home in Naples back in 2021. Callista’s appointment as the new ambassador to Switzerland marks another accomplishment enriching her distinguished career.
Trump has also bestowed significant roles on a few other notable personalities over the past few days. Katie Miller, a Fort Lauderdale native, previously served as the esteemed press secretary for former Vice President Mike Pence. It seems to be an exciting new start for her as she joins the Department of Government Efficiency advisory board; an elite entity run by none other than the billionaire visionary Elon Musk and the former presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy.
Also sharing a Floridian origin, Mauricio Claver-Carone, a Miami-native, has been identified to function as the State Department’s Special Envoy for Latin America. This is indeed a commendable recognition of his capabilities for such a prominent position.
Among others, Chad Mizelle from Tampa has been privileged to be chosen as the chief of staff for the Department of Justice. It is evidence of Trump’s faith in Mizelle’s competence to execute the responsibilities of this prestigious appointment.
Melania Trump, the soon-to-be first lady once again, has filled her office by appointing Hayley Harrison, her dedicated aide from Mar-a-Lago, as her chief of staff. This choice is implicit of the trust Melania places in Harrison’s abilities to handle such an important role.
Among those from Florida who have been chosen by Trump for various positions in his Cabinet so far, Susie Wiles of Jacksonville has been selected as the chief of staff, while U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio from Miami will serve as the secretary of state.
Former Florida AG Pam Bondi from Temple Terrace is marked to be the attorney general. U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz from St. Augustine is set to step into the crucial role of the National Security Advisor, while Janette Nesheiwat from Umatilla will be taking up the role of the Surgeon General.
At the helm of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services resides Dr. Mehmet Oz from Palm Beach. Meanwhile, former Santa Rosa Beach-resident Mike Huckabee has been assigned the role of U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Todd Blanche from Palm Beach is due to serve as the deputy attorney general, while Dr. Dave Weldon from Indialantic has been appointed as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Taylor Budowich, also from Palm Beach, has been given the responsibility of the deputy chief of staff.
In the quest to further advance space research, Jared Isaacman from Lakeland and Kennedy Space Center has been brought onboard to serve as the director of National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Meanwhile, the prestigious post of the director of the National Institutes of Health goes to Jay Bhattacharya.
Furthermore, Paul Atkins from Tampa has been secured for the position of the Securities and Exchange Commission chairman. On the international front, Kimberly Guilfoyle from West Palm Beach has been chosen as U.S. ambassador to Greece, while Daniel J. Newlin from Orlando is set to serve as U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
Dr. Peter Lamelas from West Palm Beach will represent the U.S. as the ambassador to Argentina. Lastly, Callista Gingrich from North Naples brings our esteemed list to a close as the ambassador to Switzerland.