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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 15, 2024, 6:46 PM EST

Trump announces Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary

President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that he selected Karoline Leavitt, a longtime communications staffer, as his White House press secretary.

Leavitt, 27, previously served as an assistant press secretary in Trump's first administration and was the national press secretary for his reelection campaign.

Karoline Leavitt waves as former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Oct. 23, 2023, in Derry, N.H.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

"Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator," Trump said in a Truth Social post.

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

Nov 15, 2024, 3:33 PM EST

Doug Burgum announced as interior secretary pick, chair of new 'National Energy Council'

Trump announced he has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as his interior secretary in a post on social media Friday.

The president-elect teased his pick for the position, which requires Senate confirmation, during remarks at Mar-a-Lago Thursday night.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 17, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Trump also announced that Burgum will be joining his administration as chairman of the "newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council."

The council will consist of all departments and agencies "involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation [and] transportation" of American energy, Trump said.

Burgum was seen as a possible running mate of Trump's. He was one of his busiest surrogates, campaigning for the former president and raising money for his reelection campaign.

Nov 15, 2024, 1:36 PM EST

Trump announces 2 White House staffers

Trump announced two new White House staffers on Friday.

Steven Cheung, who previously served as the director of strategic response in Trump's first term, will serve as director of communications in his second.

Steven Cheung walks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump votes on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Evan Vucci/AP

Sergio Gor, who ran the pro-Trump Super PAC Right For America, will serve as assistant to the president and director of the presidential personnel office.

"Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024," Trump said in a statement. "I am thrilled to have them join my White House as we, Make America Great Again!"

Sergio Gor speaks during a rally for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, in New York City, Oct. 27, 2024.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Nov 15, 2024, 12:43 PM EST

Speaker Johnson urges House Ethics Committee not to release Gaetz report

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday he does not think the House Ethics Committee should release their report into now-former GOP Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.

"I think it's a terrible breach of protocol and tradition and the spirit of the rules," Johnson told reporters at the U.S. Capitol.

Speaker Mike Johnson speaks at a press conference for House Republicans, following their leadership meeting, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 13, 2024.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

The House Ethics Committee was investigating Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Johnson said he didn't think it was "relevant" for the public to know what's in the report.

“The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee," he said.

Johnson said he had not yet spoken with Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., but that he plans to.

Guest postponed a meeting the House Ethics Committee had planned for Friday morning.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have called on the committee to release the report.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel, Lauren Peller and Isabella Murray