Linda McMahon Leads Donald Trump’s Transition Team Alongside Howard Lutnick

Following his victory in the 2024 presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed a seasoned team to lead his transition efforts, with Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick at the helm. McMahon, a former CEO of WWE and the 25th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, will oversee policy for the transition team. Her extensive experience in Trump’s first administration and her role in helping small businesses during her tenure at the SBA make her a key figure in this transition process.

Howard Lutnick, the longtime CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, will be responsible for personnel. Lutnick served as Trump’s leading conduit to Wall Street during the 2024 campaign, bringing significant financial sector expertise to the transition team.

In another significant appointment, Trump named Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, marking the first time a woman has held this influential role. Wiles, who managed Trump’s victorious campaign, is credited with running a disciplined and well-executed campaign and is known for her ability to earn Trump’s respect and guide his decision-making.

The transition team also includes other notable figures such as JD Vance, who has risen quickly in politics and now serves as Vice President; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic; Tulsi Gabbard, a former U.S. Representative from Hawaii; and Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, both of whom are involved in the Trump Organization.

Unlike the transition team in 2016, which was marked by infighting and public jockeying, this team is characterized by a more aligned and experienced group of individuals. The team is working diligently at Mar-a-Lago to select the best candidates for various cabinet positions, including Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin for the Department of Treasury and former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf for the Department of Homeland Security).