A major role for women is anticipated in President-elect Trump’s administration, with several nominees and appointments to key positions already announced. So far, Trump has appointed eight women to Cabinet-level roles, doubling the four he initially appointed during his first term.
Susie Wiles has been designated as his chief of staff, marking a historic moment as the first woman to hold this position in U.S. history. Additionally, other women have been selected for prominent roles, including press secretary and surgeon general.
Supporters of the president-elect assert that these appointments reflect his commitment to elevating women, especially despite past criticisms regarding his comments and treatment of women. This move also follows a historic election where female voters played a crucial role in his victory.
Trump’s appointments signal a growing focus on women in top administration roles
A former official from the Trump administration noted, “You’re not seeing an administration that’s sort of an old boys club.” While the president-elect’s nominations await confirmation, experts like Micki McElya, a history professor at the University of Connecticut, suggest that Trump’s selection of more women for his administration indicates a strategy to forge a new coalition.
“He’s certainly promoting more women to top jobs than he did the first time,” McElya remarked. Trump has also nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Linda McMahon, a former head of Trump’s Small Business Administration, as his Education secretary.
Other nominees include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) for Homeland Security secretary and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) for Labor secretary. Brooke Rollins, an attorney and policy adviser, is nominated as Agriculture secretary, while former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler (R) is tapped to lead the Small Business Administration.
Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, is now the nominee for attorney general after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew from consideration. Tulsi Gabbard, a former representative from Hawaii, is nominated for the role of director of national intelligence, which would make her the first woman of Pacific heritage to occupy that position.
Roma Daravi, who previously served as the deputy director of strategic communications in Trump’s White House, commented on the diversity represented in his Cabinet picks. “This is still the best country and the most diverse country in the world, and you see that in his Cabinet picks, but it’s happening organically,” she stated.
Daravi added that this diversity emerges when emphasis switches away from race and gender. However, besides Gabbard and Chavez-DeRemer, who is Latina, many of Trump’s high-level female appointees are predominantly white, representing a critical demographic that contributed to his victory over Vice President Harris.
McElya explained that these selections seem designed to continue appealing to white women voters, a key segment of Trump’s coalition. “I think coming right out of the gate with the first woman to be in a position of chief of staff, as we are coming off of what would have been a historic first in terms of the presidency, is very important,” she noted. “It sends a clear message about promoting women into leadership roles.”
Samantha Dravis, a former official in Trump’s administration, highlighted the caliber of the women surrounding the president. “He’s got women around him who provide him with sound and good counsel and who get things done,” she stated.
“These women possess the education, expertise, and experience required for their roles, so I wouldn’t say this is a president who selects women simply because they are women.” During Trump’s first term, seven women served at various points in his Cabinet from 2017 to early 2021.
Several prominent women represented his administration publicly, including former press secretaries Sarah Sanders, Kayleigh McEnany, and Stephanie Grisham, who also served as White House communications director. Mercedes Schlapp held the position of director of strategic communications, while Kellyanne Conway, who ran Trump’s 2016 campaign, served as a senior counselor.
Republican strategist Ashley Davis, who worked in the George W. Bush administration, remarked that Trump has a history of appointing women to major roles. “He supports strong women and rewards their hard work. It actually doesn’t surprise me,” she said.
In comparison, President Biden has appointed 13 women to Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions during his tenure, the highest number in U.S. history, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.
Daravi pointed out that many women appointed during Trump’s first administration remain close to him. “All of these people still are surrounding him,” she said. “Some are taking roles in the administration, while others are pursuing public positions, like Sanders, who was elected governor of Arkansas.”
Women leaders are poised to shape key policies in Trump’s upcoming term
For this new term, Trump has appointed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, who, at 27, will become the youngest person to hold the position. Experts have noted some common characteristics among the appointees for Trump’s second administration.
According to Lilly Goren, a political science professor at Carroll University, many of Trump’s nominees appear younger than typically expected for such roles. McElya observed, “I think most of the commonality is disruptors, good on camera, good on controversy. And large donors, like McMahon.”
Goren suggested that Trump’s selections are more about comfort and loyalty than a strategic effort to include more women in his administration. Adding to the complexity of analyzing Trump’s appointees is the expected turnover within his administration. Goren highlighted that during his first term, Cabinet turnover reached record highs, with several nominees for his second term already withdrawing.
“He went through so many different people in different roles in his first administration,” Goren stated. “I am not necessarily sure how long each of these people will remain in their positions if confirmed by the Senate.” Critics of Trump point to his track record regarding women, citing sexual misconduct allegations and past comments about female critics and political opponents.
McElya noted that some of his male nominees for top administration roles reflect these concerns. Several of Trump’s Cabinet selections, including Gaetz, face allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump himself was found liable for sexual abuse last year.
Despite this, Republicans and Trump supporters contend that the president-elect is not receiving adequate recognition for his efforts to appoint more women. “One thing that’s been frustrating to me is that you just don’t see President Trump getting credit for that,” said a former Trump administration official.
“Republican women seem to be constantly attacked or maligned by the media instead of being praised for the important roles we are filling,” the official added. Davis remarked that women, regardless of political affiliation, often face higher expectations.
“I always say we work harder and prepare longer because we are always watched differently than our male colleagues. I don’t think it is different with R’s and D’s or who you work for,” she concluded.
