President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team revealed on Wednesday that preparations are underway to staff the incoming administration over the next several weeks. Linda McMahon, former Small Business Administration (SBA) head, and businessman Howard Lutnick issued a statement outlining the team’s plans following Trump’s decisive election victory. By Thursday morning, Trump was projected to secure the popular vote along with 312 electoral votes, including wins in key battleground states.
“Since the formation of President Trump’s transition organization and our announcement as Co-Chairs in August, we have been preparing for President Trump’s next administration,” McMahon and Lutnick stated. “In the days and weeks ahead, President Trump will be selecting personnel to serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make the life of Americans affordable, safe, and secure.”
McMahon and Lutnick indicated they would present Trump with a diverse selection of experts for key roles in his administration. “As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on Day 1,” they added in a joint statement.
McMahon, spouse of former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, previously led the SBA during Trump’s first term and currently heads the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank. Lutnick, a billionaire and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, was a significant financial supporter of Trump’s campaign.
Other notable transition team members include Vice President-elect JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump Jr. has emphasized his commitment to keeping “bad-faith actors” out of the administration. “I want to block the liars. I want to block the guys that are, you know, pretending they’re with you. I just want to block the bad actors. I just want to be a block. That’s it,” he remarked at the Republican National Convention in July.
Trump is also set to meet with President Joe Biden soon. “President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call,” said Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung after Biden’s congratulatory call. Biden is expected to make his first statement from the White House since the election on Thursday morning.
