Trump taps loyal allies for key White House roles in new administration

President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 13 the appointment of four key figures from his campaign to senior White House roles, marking the initial assembly of his incoming administration.

The appointees—Dan Scavino, Stephen Miller, James Blair, and Taylor Budowich—are all campaign veterans and poised to shape policy, security, communications, and public affairs in the new administration, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Dan Scavino, a longtime Trump loyalist, will return to the White House as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff. Known for his close work with Trump since his first term, Scavino earned a reputation as a trusted advisor throughout the recent campaign. Stephen Miller, another familiar figure from Trump’s first administration, will also return as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for Policy and Homeland Security adviser. Known for his influential role in shaping immigration policy, Miller's reappointment indicates a renewed focus on national security and border policy under the Trump administration.

James Blair, who previously served as political director for Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee, will join as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs. Taylor Budowich, with a background in the pro-Trump Super PAC, MAGA Inc., will serve as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for Communications and Personnel.

In a statement, Trump praised the four appointees: "Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were 'best in class' advisors on my winning campaign, and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House. They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles."

Cabinet selections reflect loyalty

Trump has begun selecting other Cabinet members, including Tom Homan as "border czar" to lead on immigration, Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security, Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense, and Rep. Michael Waltz as national security adviser. Trump has reportedly chosen Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his pick to lead the State Department, while Steven Witkoff is designated as his special envoy to the Middle East.

President-elect Trump is also expected to name a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations toward ending the ongoing war with Russia. According to sources speaking with Fox News Digital, "You’re going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement…You’re going to see that in short order." The position, as in previous administrations, is not expected to carry a salary.

Controversial peace proposal stirs debate

Sources close to Trump suggest he aims to expedite a resolution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with some advisers reportedly encouraging a proposal that would create an 800-mile demilitarized zone along current frontlines. The proposal would allow Russia to retain control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory seized since the war’s beginning and would require Kyiv to suspend aspirations for NATO membership for 20 years. Critics have argued that such terms risk appeasing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A report last week by The Wall Street Journal noted that these suggestions are similar to campaign trail proposals from Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and that they are now being considered by multiple advisers close to Trump.

In a separate report, The Washington Post claimed that Trump recently spoke directly with Putin, allegedly advising the Russian leader to avoid escalating the conflict. Trump’s transition team has not confirmed or denied the call.

As Trump quickly assembled his team, the President-elect stated his intention to govern differently in his second term, focusing on assembling loyal aides and allies to drive his administration’s goals forward. The unfolding appointments indicate a swift shift in policy focus, especially in terms of national security, international relations, and border management.