Trump’s Florida 9: Who they are and what they bring to the new administration

The president-elect’s nominations have given Florida a prominent role in his administration.

Florida tops the list of states with the most people nominated to join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration when he is sworn in as the 47th president of the US in January.

Trump has chosen nine people from his adopted home state to join his administration, followed by six picks from Trump’s second state of residence, New York.

The president-elect’s penchant to surround himself with loyalists has given Florida a prominence in his administration, one that could very well reshape the face of the nation. In fact, Trump appears to be intent on trying to fulfill the campaign promise of his onetime challenger for the party’s presidential nomination, Gov. Ron DeSantis, to “Make America Florida.” 

“Donald Trump is someone who rewards his loyalists,” University of Florida political professor Daniel Smith told WUFT-TV.  “The United States has been taken over by Florida. We’re all Floridians as a result of this election.”

So, who are Trump’s picks and what do they bring to the new administration? Here’s an overview of how each aligns with the president-elect’s agenda.

Pam Bondi: A Trump loyalist

Last week, Trump announced that he was nominating former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for US Attorney General after his first choice, fellow Floridian and former Representative Matt Gaetz, withdrew his nomination amid investigations by the House Ethics Committee into alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Bondi, who made history in 2010 when she was elected as Florida’s first female attorney general, challenged then-President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) and called for Florida to adopt Arizona’s “show me your papers” immigration law. 

A strong Trump loyalist, Bondi has been a critic of the criminal cases against the president-elect, calling out Special Counsel Jack Smith for “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.”

Marco Rubio: From challenger to ally 

If the Senate confirms him, Marco Rubio, 53, who was born in the US to Cuban refugee parents, would be the first Latino to hold the position of Secretary of State.

An outspoken critic of Cuba’s Communist government and a strong backer of Israel, Rubio’s views have aligned closely with those of Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign policy. He was also one of 15 Republican senators to vote against military aid to help Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion.

Since criticizing Trump when he ran against him for president in 2016, Rubio has become a strong Trump loyalist.

Mike Waltz: China hawk

The retired Green Beret and National Guard colonel who represents Florida’s 6th Congressional District has been asked by Trump to serve as his national security adviser, a position that plays a major role in foreign and national security policy decision-making. The role does not require Senate confirmation. 

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An ardent Trump advocate, Waltz serves on the House China Task Force that seeks to thwart the Chinese Communist Party’s influence. He is also aligned with the president-elect’s opposition to the military’s diversity and equity programs and has been skeptical of giving more aid to Ukraine. 

Waltz backed efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 election defeat.

Susie Wiles: The Ice Maiden

Chosen to serve as the Chief of Staff, Wiles helped oversee the Trump campaign’s strategy and messaging alongside co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita. She had also directed Trump’s successful presidential campaign in Florida in 2016 and has helped orchestrate some of the most crucial Republican wins in the Sunshine State.

In a written statement, Trump credited Wiles – who is known in Trump’s circle as “the ice maiden” – with helping him “achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history.” She will be the first woman to serve in the White House chief of staff role.

Sergio Gor: In the inner circle

Gor, a journeyman in Republican politics who has published Trump’s books, has been named director of the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), the White House’s clearinghouse for appointments and staffing. 

The 37-year-old – who ran Right for America, a super PACs supporting Trump’s election – spends time at Mar-a-Lago and is part of the president-elect’s inner circle. 

As a strong Trump loyalist, he will be in charge of staffing Trump’s administration with similarly minded allies. 

Mike Huckabee: Staunchly pro-Israel 

Huckabee’s nomination as ambassador to Israel signals a continuation of Trump’s pro-Israel policies, which included recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US Embassy there in 2018.

A long-time ally of Trump, Huckabee has voiced support for the Israeli government and the settlement movement, which critics argue undermines efforts for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

In 2020, Huckabee sold his lavish seafront Florida mansion and moved back to Arkansas, but his Florida ties remain strong. 

Todd Blanche: A Trump defender

The president-elect has chosen Todd Blanche to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official. As deputy attorney general, Blanche would be tasked with managing the day-to-day functions of the department, while advising the attorney general on policy priorities and other issues.

Blanche played a central role in Trump’s defense teams in the Manhattan hush money case, and the federal classified documents prosecution, which was dismissed by a judge this summer. Blanche was also involved in the federal case related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Blanche became a Floridian in 2024 when he purchased a home in Palm Beach County. He also switched his voter registration from Democrat to Republican.

Dean John Sauer: A proponent of presidential immunity

Dean John Sauer — who lives in Town ‘n’ Country, Florida — was nominated for Solicitor General by Trump, whom he represented in an oral argument before a panel of US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in January of this year.

As Trump’s attorney, Sauer argued for presidential immunity in a case – Trump v. United States – that resulted in the Supreme Court granting former presidents’ immunity for “official acts.” Sauer argued that a president could not be criminally prosecuted for ordering to kill a political opponent, unless he was first impeached and convicted in the US Senate.

James Blair: The campaigner

James Blair has been nominated as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs. A political consultant at a firm based in Tampa, Blair was the Trump campaign’s political director, overseeing Trump’s ground game to reach low-propensity voters. He will join the White House as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs.

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