Upon winning the presidency, Donald Trump has unveiled a lineup for his new administration’s team that seems to follow a distinct pattern. It appears that loyalty to Trump, past connections to television, familial bonds, prior roles in his defense team, and links to the state of Florida are common threads connecting his chosen members. Notably, when his initial choice for attorney general had to step down due to escalating controversies, former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, Trump promptly selected another Floridian to fill in: Pam Bondi, former Attorney General. We will explore here the fascinating array of Florida connections in Trump’s Cabinet.
Most recently, the selection from Florida was Chad Chronister, the Hillsborough County Sheriff, proposed last Saturday for the leadership of the Drug Enforcement Agency. However, the gravity associated with this role led Chronister to step away on Tuesday. Thus, the process to find another suitable figure in Trump’s administration continues.
The White House Chief of Staff role was given to Susie Wiles from Jacksonville. An influential force in Florida politics and senior campaign advisor for Trump, Wiles also became the first woman to serve as Chief of Staff under a current sitting president. Her previous professional engagements include being a political consultant for then-Governor Rick Scott and incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis. Wiles is known for negotiating Trump’s campaign commitments and played a significant role in orchestrating his surprising revival in politics.
For the position of Secretary of State, Trump has chosen Senator Marco Rubio from Miami. Rubio, a Republican from Florida and former Trump adversary, is Cuban American, which would make him the first Latino Secretary of State. His extensive experience in foreign policy, gleaned from his time with Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees, is a crucial asset. Despite entering politics as a moderate and initially opposing Trump, Rubio has since transformed into a key ally.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi of Temple Terrace has been named Attorney General, succeeding Trump’s initial nominee who stepped down due to a resurfacing scandal. Bondi was attorney general for eight years, working under then-Governor Rick Scott. Her competent fight against the opioid and prescription drug crisis during her tenure was considerable, even as she opposed the Affordable Care Act and same-sex marriage legalization. Notably, she was part of Trump’s defense team during his first round of impeachment.
The position of National Security Advisor has been offered to Representative Mike Waltz from St. Augustine, Florida. A decorated Green Beret combat veteran, Waltz has represented Florida’s 6th District for three terms. Waltz’s rich portfolio includes civic roles at the Pentagon and presiding over the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, the House Intelligence Committee, and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. He is an advocate of the ‘America First’ foreign policy stance embraced by both Governor DeSantis and Trump.
Janette Nesheiwat of Umatilla, Florida, has been chosen as Surgeon General. Coming from humble beginnings in Umatilla and having graduated from the University of South Florida, Nesheiwat is board-certified in family medicine. She has experience as a physician at Washington Regional Medical Center and at Northwest Medical Hospital. Currently, she holds the position of Medical Director at CityMD, an urgent care center network in New York and New Jersey.
Serving as the Administrator for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be Dr. Mehmet Oz of Palm Beach. More than just a seasoned cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality, Dr. Oz also owns commercial investment properties and a generous cattle farm in Florida. Trump previously assigned him to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. During the Covid-19 outbreak, he supported the, now refuted, theory of using antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment.
The assignment of US Ambassador to Israel has been entrusted to Mike Huckabee, formerly from Santa Rosa Beach. Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, Baptist minister, and once-TV host, has twice vied for the Republican presidential candidacy unsuccessfully. Huckabee has resided in South Walton County for almost a decade before moving closer to family in Little Rock. He is a staunch advocate for Israel and has expressed his support for Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Deputy Attorney General will be Todd Blanche, who recently purchased property near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach County. Blanche, a seasoned federal prosecutor and defense lawyer, defended Trump in his New York trial and two federal criminal cases.
Finally, the Directorship of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been bestowed upon Dr. Dave Weldon from Indialantic, Florida. Beginning his tenure in Florida’s Brevard County in 1987 after serving as an army physician, Weldon was elected to Congress in 1994. Among his noted contributions is the establishment of the East Central Florida VA Clinic. Trump praised Weldon in his nomination speech for his efforts to ensure accountability in CDC policy and budgeting, as well as his leading role in Government Oversight and Reform Committee hearings concerning CDC issues.