Meet the most powerful women in the Trump administration

President Donald Trump appointed a number of women to high-ranking roles in his administration.
One-third of Trump's original Cabinet and Cabinet-level appointments — eight out of 24 — were women.
Trump appointed Susie Wiles as the first-ever female White House chief of staff.

In an appearance on "The View" ahead of the 2024 election, Mark Cuban said that President Donald Trump "doesn't like to be challenged" by "strong, intelligent women."

Susie Wiles, Trump's 2024 campaign manager who went on to become his White House chief of staff, had something to say about that.

"I'm told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump," she wrote in a rare social media post on X in October 2024. "Well, here we are! I've been proud to lead this campaign."

(Cuban later apologized for his wording, but added that "I stand by my opinion that he does not like being challenged publicly.")

Trump's history with women is complex, with a record of inflammatory comments, lawsuits, and contentious political actions such as laying the groundwork to overturn Roe v. Wade. However, Trump has also made notable gains with women voters. In 2024, 45% of women voted for Trump compared to 55% of men — a narrower gender gap than in 2016 and 2020, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

During his second non-consecutive term, Trump has named women to several historic appointments in his administration, including the first female White House chief of staff and the youngest-ever press secretary.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics, one-third of Trump's original Cabinet and Cabinet-level appointments — eight out of 24 — were women.

However, three of the most powerful women in Trump's administration have recently lost their roles. In April, the president fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, weeks after firing another, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer also resigned on Monday following investigations into alleged misconduct.

When reached for comment in March 2025, the White House referred Business Insider to the president's comments from a 2025 White House event for Women's History Month in which he praised the women in his Cabinet and said he was "thrilled to say that we have more women in our Cabinet than any Republican president in the history of our country."

Meet the most powerful women in the Trump administration.

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

At his 2024 election victory party, Trump said that Susie Wiles "likes to stay in the background," but she has emerged as a key figure in Trump's political operation.

Wiles is the first woman in US history to serve as a president's chief of staff. A longtime member of Trump's inner circle, she ran his Florida campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and acted as his campaign manager in 2024.

"Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected," Trump wrote on Truth Social when announcing Wiles as his White House chief of staff. "Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again."

In a March 2025 interview on Lara Trump's "My View" show on Fox News, Wiles described herself as "quietly competitive."

"I see my job as just sort of keeping the trains on the tracks and running on time here, so that the subject matter experts, and particularly the president and the vice president, can do what they need to do to fix the country," she said.

In a series of interviews with Vanity Fair published in December, Wiles described Trump as having an "alcoholic's personality," Vice President JD Vance as a "conspiracy theorist," and said she was "aghast" at Elon Musk's dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development.

Wiles called the Vanity Fair article a "disingenuously framed hit piece" in a post on X, but did not dispute any of the magazine's reporting. The Trump administration stood behind her, with Karoline Leavitt telling Business Insider that "President Trump has no greater or more loyal advisor than Susie," adding, "The entire Administration is grateful for her steady leadership and united fully behind her."

In March, Trump announced on Truth Social that Wiles had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and that she would remain in her role at the White House during treatment.

"Her Strength and her Commitment to continue doing the job she loves, and does so well, while undergoing treatment, tells you everything you need to know about her," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Susie, as one of my closest and most important advisors, is tough and deeply committed to serving the American People. She will soon be better than ever!"

Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary

Karoline Leavitt in the White House briefing room.

At 28, Karoline Leavitt is the youngest-ever White House press secretary. During Trump's first presidency, she interned at the White House as a college student and worked with then-press secretary Kayleigh McEnany after graduating. After running for Congress in New Hampshire in 2022, she joined Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as his national press secretary.

"He doesn't care if you're a man or a woman, with kids or no kids," Leavitt said of working for Trump in an interview with The Conservateur. "He just wants the hardest worker and the best person for the job. And that's what makes him a great boss."

As press secretary, Leavitt continues to shape the narrative of the Trump administration, establishing a "new media seat" in the White House briefing room and restricting the access of outlets that don't follow Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Leavitt has spoken about navigating motherhood as a high-powered member of Trump's presidential campaign, telling The Conservateur that going back to work after having her baby was "incredibly challenging emotionally, physically, spiritually." She took just four days off after giving birth in July, returning to work after Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

She is expecting her second child with husband Nicholas Riccio in May, making her the first-ever pregnant White House press secretary.

Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate who supported Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, made a hard-right pivot after dropping out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. She became a Fox News contributor, campaigned with GOP candidates, and joined Trump's 2024 transition team along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

As director of national intelligence, Gabbard leads 17 organizations in the US Intelligence Community. She did not have prior intelligence experience beyond serving on House committees during her time in Congress.

"As a former Candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties - She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength," Trump wrote on Truth Social in his announcement of her nomination.

Gabbard was one of the Trump officials added to a Signal group chat created by then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussing attack plans against Houthi militants in Yemen, which also inadvertently included The Atlantic editor Jeffery Goldberg. Testifying before the House Intelligence Committee in March 2025, Gabbard called Goldberg's inclusion in the chat a "mistake," but maintained that "no classified information was shared."

Jake Lahut, citing "two sources familiar with the discussions," reported in Sherwood News in April that the White House has told Gabbard to leave her post by the midterm elections. Alexa Henning, Gabbard's acting chief of staff, called the report "false" in a post on X.

Linda McMahon, secretary of education

When nominating Linda McMahon for education secretary, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort."

McMahon, the former CEO of WWE, served as the head of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term before stepping down to chair the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action. She also served on the Connecticut Board of Education for one year.

In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order directing McMahon to begin dismantling the Department of Education. In a radio interview with WABC 770 AM's "Cats & Cosby," McMahon said Trump was "dead serious about the fact that he wants me to fire myself."

Alina Habba, senior advisor to the Attorney General

Alina Habba rose to prominence as Trump's personal attorney during a series of high-profile lawsuits, including his civil fraud trial and defamation trial in which the verdict awarded columnist E. Jean Carroll $83 million.

Trump initially appointed Habba as counselor to the president. In March 2025, Trump withdrew her nomination and appointed her as interim US attorney for the District of New Jersey. A US appeals court ruled that Habba's appointment was unlawful, and she resigned in December.

Habba wrote on X that she resigned "to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love," adding, "do not mistake compliance for surrender."

She now serves as senior advisor to the attorney general for US attorneys, where she worked with Pam Bondi at the Justice Department before Bondi's firing in April.

Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the Small Business Administration

Kelly Loeffler, a millionaire businesswoman and former CEO of the bitcoin company Bakkt, previously served as a senator from Georgia.

"Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for our Small Businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to Taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach."

As head of the Small Business Administration, Loeffler has visited Los Angeles to assess post-wildfire recovery efforts for small businesses and announced that the SBA would move six of its offices out of "sanctuary cities" that refuse ICE detention requests and relocate them to "municipalities who share this Administration's commitment to secure borders and safe communities."

Brooke Rollins, secretary of agriculture

In Trump's first White House administration, Brooke Rollins served as director of the Domestic Policy Council, assistant to the president for strategic initiatives, and director of the Office of American Innovation. She went on to serve as the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.

"Brooke's commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none," Trump said in a statement announcing her nomination.

Upon taking office, Rollins' main focus as agriculture secretary was lowering the price of eggs, which rose 237% from January 2021 to January 2025. She has since worked with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to introduce new dietary guidelines emphasizing the consumption of meat, full fats, and whole foods.

Casey Means, nominee for surgeon general

Casey Means graduated from the Stanford School of Medicine, but did not complete her residency program at Oregon Health & Science University and does not hold an active medical license.

She opened a functional medicine practice in Portland before pivoting to a career as an entrepreneur and wellness influencer. She founded Levels, a diet and exercise tracking app, and wrote a memoir titled "Good Energy." She has also promoted various wellness items through sponsorships on her social media.

Means and her brother served as advisors to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign. In a Truth Social post announcing her nomination as surgeon general, Trump wrote that Means has "impeccable 'MAHA' credentials," citing her connection to Kennedy Jr.

Means has not yet been confirmed by the Senate. Trump previously nominated physician and former Fox News contributor Janette Nesheiwat to the role, but withdrew her nomination in May 2025.

Editor's note: This list was first published in March 2025 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.

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