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Trump transition live updates: Trump announces his press secretary

Karoline Leavitt was the national press secretary for Trump's reelection bid.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024, 7:36 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.

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.

10:29 AM EST

JD Vance talking to senators about Gaetz support: Sources

Vice President-elect JD Vance has already been working the phones reaching out to senators trying to gauge support for Matt Gaetz -- who Trump named for the attorney general role, according to three sources with knowledge of the calls.

Matt Gaetz has also been making calls to senators, sources said.

The calls from Vance underscore ABC News' reporting that he is expected to be the "eyes and ears" for Trump in Congress.

Also, the House Ethics Committee, which sources said was preparing to meet this week to deliberate over whether to release a final report on Gaetz -- is not expected to meet Friday, per two sources.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Vice President-elect JD Vance arrives for the Senate Republicans Leadership Elections at the US Capitol Hill, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
Nov 14, 2024, 9:14 PM EST

Marianne Williamson praises RFK Jr., calls out Democrats over health policy

After wishing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. congratulations for his nomination as health secretary, former Democratic presidential candidate and progressive Marianne Williamson told ABC News the Democratic Party has a "profound lack of understanding of people’s health concerns."

"I agreed with and campaigned on a lot of things Bobby Kennedy has to say, just as I have disagreed with other things," Williamson said.

"But I recognized the malicious way the system sought to remove him from the conversation, due to a problem not within him but within it," she added.

Williamson said that she suggested the Democratic Party "announce its own root cause food and health platform as an alternative" after Kennedy endorsed Trump.

"I offered the policies I had developed during my own campaign. Their disinterest displayed a profound lack of understanding of people’s health concerns, and how proactively creating health is a critically needed complement to treating the symptoms of sickness," Williamson said.

Nov 14, 2024, 8:57 PM EST

Trump says he will tap Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior

Trump made another cabinet announcement Thursday evening, saying North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will be tapped to be the Secretary of the Interior.

Speaking of energy policy, Trump said, "We're going to slash energy costs. We're going to get your energy bills in half, and that's going to bring down the cost."

Republican Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum shakes hands with former President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump during a Caucus Night watch party in Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb. 8, 2024.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Teasing the announcement, which he said will formally come Friday, Trump revealed Burgum will lead the Department of the Interior.

"He's going to head the Department of Interior and he's going to be fantastic," Trump said.

Nov 14, 2024, 8:57 PM EST

Trump praises Elon Musk and RFK Jr. during gala address

During his address at the America First Policy Institute's annual gala, Trump praised his newly announced cabinet members, Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Vivek Ramaswamy.

"He launched a rocket three weeks ago, and then he went to Pennsylvania to campaign because he considered this more important than launching rockets that cost billions of dollars. Elon Musk, what a job he does," Trump said of Musk, who he appointed to spearhead the new Department of Government Efficiency with Ramaswamy.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Alex Brandon/AP

Speaking of RFK Jr., who was tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Trump said, "I guess if you like health and if you like people that live a long time, it's the most important position."