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Trump transition live updates: Trump announces pick for energy secretary

Chris Wright has expressed strong opposition to climate change action.

ByMeredith Deliso, Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: November 17, 2024, 6:57 PM EST

After a sweeping victory over Vice President Kamala Harris on Nov. 5, President-elect Donald Trump is now set to become just the second ever to serve nonconsecutive terms in office.

Trump has wasted no time in moving to assemble his team for a second term in the White House -- naming Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser and Tom Homan as his "border czar," among other positions.

Inauguration Day is Jan. 20.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Nov 12, 3:45 pm

Tracking those Trump has named to serve in his Cabinet, administration

Ahead of his return to power in January, Trump is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration.

They include some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.

Here is a running list of the people Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration.

Nov 14, 2024, 4:21 PM EST

Trump nominates RFK Jr. for HHS secretary

Trump officially announced he has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Health and Human Services secretary.

"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," he said in a statement, adding that Kennedy will "restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency."

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump at Macomb Community College on Nov. 1, 2024, in Warren, Michigan.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The position requires Senate confirmation.

Kennedy is an anti-vaccine activist who founded the Children's Health Defense, a prominent anti-vaccine nonprofit that has campaigned against immunizations and other public health measures like water fluoridation.

President-elect Donald Trump said he has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he wrote in a social media post Thursday.
7:07

Trump picks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS

President-elect Donald Trump said he has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he wrote in a social media post Thursday.
ABCNews.com

Nov 14, 2024, 2:33 PM EST

JPMorgan Chase CEO not joining Trump administration

Trump said JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon will not be invited to be a part of his administration, after Dimon had already repeatedly indicated that he doesn't intend to join the second Trump administration.

"I respect Jamie Dimon, of JPMorgan Chase, greatly, but he will not be invited to be a part of the Trump Administration. I thank Jamie for his outstanding service to our Country!" Trump said on social media Thursday.

A few weeks ago, Trump falsely posted on his social media that Dimon had endorsed him. Dimon, through his spokesperson, immediately refuted the claim.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon speaks at The Institute of International Finance annual membership meeting at the Ronald Reagan Building, Oct. 24, 2024, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

-ABC News' Soo Rin Kim, Kelsey Walsh and Lalee Ibssa

Nov 14, 2024, 1:31 PM EST

Blumenthal says he knows 5-10 GOP senators considering voting against Gaetz

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told reporters Thursday he "can name between five and 10 Republicans who are seriously considering voting against" Matt Gaetz's nomination for attorney general.

Blumenthal said the senators are also "insisting that there be a vote," after Trump has urged the incoming GOP Senate majority to embrace recess appointments to install members of his Cabinet.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin confers with Sen. Richard Blumenthal as the panel convenes to confirm President Joe Biden's nominees in the closing weeks of the 118th Congress in Washington, Nov. 14, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

"Republicans, as well as Democrats, are absolutely aghast at the idea that we would allow a recess appointment of the top judicial officer in the United States of America; that is absolutely abhorrent to the powers and traditions of the United States Senate and the Constitution," Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal, who is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also demanded that the House ethics report on Gaetz regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use be released following Gaetz's resignation from Congress.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Benjamin Siegel and Hannah Demissie

Nov 14, 2024, 12:31 PM EST

Gaetz resignation letter read on House floor

On the House floor Thursday afternoon, the clerk read a resignation letter from Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz regarding his immediate departure from Congress, following Trump's nomination of him for attorney general.

"I hereby resign as a United States representative for Florida's 1st congressional district, effective immediately. And I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress to pursue the position of attorney general in the Trump administration," the House clerk read from the letter, which was submitted on Wednesday.

In light of Gaetz's resignation, the new House breakdown is 220 Republicans, 213 Democrats and two vacancies.

The Florida congressman and President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general had been under House ethics investigation.
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Matt Gaetz’s resignation letter read on House floor

The Florida congressman and President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general had been under House ethics investigation.
ABCNews.com

-ABC News' Lauren Peller