From Elon Musk to Robert F. Kennedy: Who’s in and who’s out under a Trump administration

The Republican politician’s return is also likely to signal some departures from prominent figures elected and maintained during the Biden administration.

This morning, former President Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 election, having secured more than the 270 seats needed to occupy the Oval Office.

Of course, the entrepreneur is known to change his mind — only time will tell if he keeps his promises of roles for some of the most notable figures who backed his campaign, but here’s a look at who could be in and who isn’t could join out.

Potentially in: Elon Musk

In an election night speech, Trump said “a star” had been born in Elon Musk, describing the Tesla CEO as a “fantastic guy.”

The SpaceX founder has spent at least $132 million in an effort to help Trump get into office, openly admitted he wanted to be “f*cked” if the former president did not step forward on voting day.

In an interview last month with Fox NewsTrump was asked about the “incredible fat” he has said he would like to trim from government agencies.

He said the question should be directed to Musk, explaining: “He’s dying to do this. You know he’s actually a great businessman … and he’s a great cost-saver. You’ve seen that. And he said: ‘I could cut costs without affecting anyone.’

Those on the sharp end of Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives may disagree with this overview: Just ask the Twitter employees — now X — who were let loose in droves when Musk bought the platform in October 2022.

That said, Musk doesn’t want to be in government.

Trump said: “He doesn’t want to be in the government, he just wants to be in charge of cost savings. We’re getting a new position, secretary of cost savings, Elon wants to do that.”

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond Fortunes request for comment.

Potentially in: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump allegedly entered into an agreement with RFK Jr— who also ran for president this election cycle — and offered him a job in exchange for his endorsement.

asked by CNN in August if he wanted to appoint the independent politician to his cabinet, Trump said, “he probably would.”

“He’s a brilliant guy. He’s a very smart guy. I’ve known him for a very long time,” Trump added at the time.

On one Zoom call with journalists in late October, RFK Jr announced that Trump had “promised” him control of health agencies if he won the White House.

“President Trump has promised me … control of the public health agencies,” the former nominee said.

The departments that RFK Jr. would oversee, reportedly include the Department of Health and Human Services and its sub-agencies: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ), as well as a “few others” .

RFK Jr also said the Department of Agriculture would report to him.

This appointment is “the key to making America healthy,” the politician added. “We’ve got to get rid of seed oils, we’ve got to get rid of pesticide-intensive agriculture — we’ve got to make that transition to regenerate agriculture,” RFK Jr. continued.

Representatives for RFK Jr. did not immediately respond Fortunes request for comment.

Potentially out: Jerome Powell

Trump said in February that if elected in November, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell would lose his job.

When asked if he would reappoint Chairman Powell, Trump bluntly replied, “No, I wouldn’t,” adding that Powell had “missed” inflation.

Trump has also claimed that Powell and the Federal Open Market Committee FOMC are “political” — a claim the FOMC has repeatedly denied.

In February, he said Powell would likely “do something” like cut interest rates to “help the Democrats.”

In July, the FOMC still hadn’t cut the base rate, and Trump changed his tune.

He told Bloomberg that he would let Powell serve until the end of his term in May 2026, “especially if I thought he was doing the right thing.”

Of course, in September the FOMC pleased the markets not only with a cut, but also by lowering the base rate to twice the expected 25 basis points.

For his part, Powell – who was nominated for the role by Trump himself in 2017 – has stoically ignored the barbs from Trump and his running mate JD Vance. Powell and his fellow FOMC members have reiterated that they are not a political entity and are federally mandated to operate independently.

“All that the Fed can do, and all the Fed does, is take the Federal Reserve Act — which says you have to look at maximizing employment and stabilizing prices and base your decisions on that — that’s what we do,” Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee told Assets in August. “You can read the minutes yourself. The printout comes out. You can read word for word what everyone is saying. It’s not about elections, it’s about economic conditions.”

The Fed declined to comment when contacted by Assets.

Potentially out: Jack Smith

Special Counsel Jack Smith has worked for the US Department of Justice, bring historic charges against former President Trump.

Smith’s cases relate to the former president’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The Justice Department is unable to prosecute a sitting president, and Trump has made it clear he wants Smith out as soon as it is within his power.

Trump said last month he would fire Smith “within two seconds” if given the keys to the White House, and has referred to the prosecutor as “disturbed Jack Smith.”

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