Trump transition recap: Rubio to be nominated for Secretary of State; Gaetz AG

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump unveiled a series of new hires on Wednesday as he continues building out his new administration, including plans to nominate two Florida Republicans to critical jobs: Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state.

The other major personnel announcement: Tulsi Gabbard, the former Hawaii Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate whom Trump picked to be director of national intelligence.

Trump's latest staffing moves came just hours after Senate Republicans elected Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., as the next Senate majority leader after rejecting public overtures from Trump allies who backed a different candidate.

Thune won in a secret-ballot, beating out opposing candidates Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla. Scott had the support of prominent Trump allies including Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The 63-year-old Thune will succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has led his chamber's Republicans since 2007 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history.

The Senate majority leader is one of the most powerful people in Washington – and soon will have an important say over Trump's agenda. Thune will have the power to set the schedule for the Senate, which has sole control over confirmation of the Cabinet, about 1,200 other high-level government jobs and a president's judicial nominees.

In other big news on Wednesday, multiple media networks made their official calls that House Republicans would maintain their majority in 2025 and the GOP conference in a unanimous voice vote endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to return as their leader next year as the GOP prepares to govern alongside Trump and with complete control of Washington's main power levers.

Live updates as Biden, Trump to meet at White House: What to know, how to watch

Matt Gaetz resigns from Congress after Trump taps him for attorney general 

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday that Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has resigned "effective immediately."

Trump announced on Wednesday that he's nominating Gaetz to serve as attorney general in his second term, a move that raised eyebrows even among some of his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill.

- Marina Pitofsky 

House Republicans agree to change rules protecting speaker

Two factions of the House Republican conference that have often been at odds with one another - the House Freedom Caucus and the Main Street Caucus - have agreed to a rule change that could protect Speaker Mike Johnson from an insurgent push to topple him.

At issue is a procedural tool that Rep. Matt Gaetz and other conservatives used to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and has often been blamed as a source of the chaos in the chamber for the last two years.

Because any one member can force a vote to oust the Speaker, each member has more leverage than is typical. Now, that threshold would be raised to nine members.

The agreement would be formalized at the beginning of the next Congress in January, when members rewrite their own rules.

- Riley Beggin

5 takeaways from the Matt Gaetz attorney general nomination

President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general signaled a like-minded approach to overhauling the Justice Department after both men were investigated criminally.

But the choice also sparked some of the first criticism of Trump's cabinet selections, as senators questioned whether the Florida Republican would be a serious choice to become the country's top law enforcement official.

Check out USA TODAY's five takeaways from the surprising announcement.

- Bart Jansen

5 takeaways from Trump's return to DC

Trump met with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office for nearly two hours on Wednesday as the outgoing president did what Trump wouldn't four years ago ? extend a helping hand and embrace a peaceful transfer of power. Trump addressed congressional Republicans earlier in the day on Capitol Hill.

The image of Trump sitting next to Biden, shaking hands, marked an extraordinary moment that crystallized Trump's remarkable comeback: from a twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former president ? whose supporters waged a violent insurrection at the Capitol ? to the soon-to-be 47th president.

Check out USA TODAY's five takeaways from the president-elect's swing through DC.

- Joey Garrison

After Trump endorsement, GOP backs Mike Johnson for second term as House speaker

House Republicans on Wednesday endorsed Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to return as their leader next year as the GOP prepares to govern alongside President-elect Donald Trump and with complete control of Washington's main power levers.

Johnson's win isn't surprising. He ran unopposed and there were no objections before the unanimous voice vote.

It's also not the final say on the matter. Johnson still must notch a majority of votes from the 435-person chamber during a public floor vote in early January that will keep him in a job that also means he's second in line for the presidency after Vice President-elect JD Vance.

- Karissa Waddick and Riley Beggin

Democratic senator 'speechless' over Gaetz nomination

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he was “speechless” over Trump's decision to nominate Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general.“I look forward to the confirmation hearings, to hearing their views and reviewing their qualifications and considering,” said Coons.Asked whether his Republican colleagues would go along with Trump’s picks, Coons said the choice is “up to them.”“That's the choice they're going to have to make. Our system works when the guardrails work, which requires both the courts and the Congress to work. The confirmation process requires us to review thoroughly and seriously the appropriateness, qualifications, character of nominees. I hope we will do so,” Coons said.— Sudiksha Kochi

Trump chooses firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz to run Justice Department as attorney general

Trump announced Wednesday he chose Rep. Matt Gaetz, a firebrand lawmaker who has been a harsh critic of the Justice Department even as he was investigated by it, as attorney general.

The Florida Republican has been a vocal critic of the department from his seat on the Judiciary Committee and a staunch defender of Trump. Gaetz accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of weaponizing the department and said he agreed with special counsel Robert Hur's decision not to charge President Joe Biden for mishandling classified documents because he was "senile." Gaetz also accused FBI Director Christopher Wray of being "blissfully ignorant" about how agents ran their investigations.

Gaetz demonstrated his willingness to fight the Washington establishment by opposing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and nearly scuffling with other lawmakers on the House floor during the dispute. Gaetz fended off a Republican primary challenge this year from a rival McCarthy supported.

- Bart Jansen

Trump picks Tulsi Gabbard as his director of national intelligence

Trump on Wednesday picked former congresswoman and Army veteran Tulsi Gabbard as his nominee for director of national intelligence, a cabinet-level post.

"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 said in a statement.

Gabbard was a Democrat when she served in the House of Representatives from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. She ran for president in the Democratic primary in 2020 before leaving the party in 2022 and becoming a Republican this year.

- Tom Vanden Brook and Erin Mansfield

Cornyn: Senate will ‘have some questions’ for Gaetz

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said that senators will have a responsibility to seriously consider Matt Gaetz and any other nominees from President-elect Trump.

“I assume we’ll have some questions for him,” Cornyn told reporters Wednesday when asked about the Florida congressman whom Trump announced he'd nominee to be attorney general.

Asked about the House Ethics Committee's investigation into Gaetz for sexual misconduct, Cornyn said, “Well that might come up,”

“I don’t know whether there’s any basis to it or not,” Cornyn said. “So I’m sure we’ll be asking a lot of questions.”

— Savannah Kuchar

Trump AG nominee Gaetz was probed in sex trafficking investigation

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who president-elect Donald Trump picked as his attorney general Wednesday, is being probed by the House Ethics Committee as a part of an ongoing investigation that includes allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

The Freedom Caucus member and close Trump ally was also under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for allegations that he had sexual relations with a minor and paid for her travel and allegedly was introduced to him by a Joel Greenberg, a one-time friend who is serving an 11-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to sex trafficking in 2022. In February 2023, the DOJ ended the investigation without charging Gaetz.

- Sam Woodward and Karissa Waddick

Marco Rubio given nod for Secretary of State

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed he's chosen Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as Secretary of State in his next administration.

Rubio has deep foreign policy experience and has transformed from a Trump opponent to a close ally who was a finalist to serve as Trump's vice president.

He is currently the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee and serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rubio, a Cuban American, would be the first Latino person to serve as Secretary of State.

Rubio has expressed support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia, but voted against additional aid for the country last year. He recently said the war in Ukraine is going to end with "a negotiated settlement," something Trump has also supported. He's also advocated for a tough approach to American adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.Trump and Rubio, 53, ran against each other in the 2016 Republican primary, which turned nasty as they lobbed insults at each other. But they patched up their relationship and worked together on shared foreign policy goals during Trump’s first administration. They grew closer during the 2024 campaign, when Rubio was on the short list to be Trump’s running mate and campaigned relentlessly for him.

A fluent Spanish speaker, Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants who grew up in West Miami. He adds diversity to Trump’s Cabinet and foreign policy chops. A senator since 2011, he serves on the Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees and has been one of the most outspoken lawmakers on confronting China and U.S. adversaries around the world.

Rubio is expected to easily gain Senate confirmation, with lawmakers from both parties already announcing their support for his nomination.

- Riley Beggin and Zac Anderson

Mark Warner says he'll evaluate Cabinet nominees on individual basis

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he will evaluate at Trump's cabinet nominees on an individual basis. But he does have a preference for the next Secretary of State.

"I don't want to jump in front of the president-elect," Warner told reporters Wednesday. "But should he go ahead and nominate my friend Marco Rubio? I think that'd be a very strong choice."

Together, Warner and Rubio serve as chair and vice-chair of the House intelligence committee.

Rubio is expected to be named as Trump's pick for the position, according to reports from CNN and New York Times.

- Savannah Kuchar

GOP wins control of the House

Republicans have won both the House and the Senate, giving the GOP total control over Congress for at least the next two years and creating a friendly path for President-elect Donald Trump's priorities.

The GOP will have a majority in the 435-member House after defending enough key seats in New York, California and other swing districts that had appeared more competitive before Election Day than they ultimately were, according to multiple networks tracking the results. Republicans also have taken control of the Senate by toppling Democratic senators in Montana and Ohio and prevailing in other closely watched races.

Their victory sets up a Republican trifecta in Washington for the next two years, laying the groundwork for Trump and the party to implement their priorities without major resistance.

John Thune will be next Senate Majority Leader

Sen. John Thune will be the next Senate Majority Leader. He won 29-24 in a secret ballot election.- Riley Beggin

Trump backers lament Thune's election as Senate majority leader

Trump hasn't said anything - yet - but allies are already squawking about John Thune's election as Senate Republican majority leader.

Trump World has feuded for years with Thune, seeing him as a clone of frequent Trump critic Mitch McConnell. Trump himself tried, unsuccessfully, to field a GOP primary challenger to Thune in 2022.

The president-elect did not weigh in on the Senate majority leader race, but prominent allies campaigned against Thune in favor of Florida Senator Rick Scott.

After Thune prevailed, Trump backer Charlie Kirk said on X that Thune "has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda."

"If he does, we will support him," Kirk said. "If he doesn't, we will work to remove him."

Buckle up.

-David Jackson

Rick Scott is out on the first ballot in the election for the Senate majority leader

Scott received the fewest votes in the secret ballot election despite a public pressure campaign from conservative media and Trump allies.

Now senators will move into a second round of votes to determine whether Sen. John Cornyn or Sen. John Thune will be the next leader.

- Riley Beggin

GOP lawmakers enthused about Department of Government Efficiency

Republican lawmakers expressed support for the new Department of Goverment Efficiency, to be headed by businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

“I think it's one of the most important things that we can take on in this next administration,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. “With our federal debt approaching $36 trillion this has created the inflation crisis in America. I fully support it,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said.

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., told reporters that while he supports the new department, he expects Congress will push back.

“Congress always needs to do oversight, so we always need to protect our authority, right?” said Guthrie. “And so there, I assume whatever they suggest, they'll be statutory changes that we'll need to make, and then obviously, Congress will have a role…if there's anything that we feel requires change of statute, then Congress will have its role definitely.”

— Sudiksha Kochi

Republicans say they will red stamp Trump’s agenda

Dressed in a red Trump tie and $399 gold Trump sneakers, Rep. Troy Nehls said that if it weren’t for Trump, the GOP would have lost the House.

“His mission and his goals and objectives, whatever that is, we need to embrace all of it, every single word,” Nehls said.

For leaders in the House, Nehls said that means, “if Donald Trump says, jump three feet high and scratch your head, we all jump three feet high and scratch our head.”

-Karissa Waddick

Will Speaker Johnson face opposition?

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said she expects Speaker Mike Johnson to face opposition for his gavel but would not say which members exactly would be the ones to challenge him.

“It’s a big game of trust and there’s not a lot of trust in Washington,” Luna told reporters leaving House Republicans’ meeting with Trump Wednesday morning.

“Hopefully though everyone can unify behind the president’s agenda,” she continued.

Luna declined to say how she would be casting her vote for leadership.

— Savannah Kuchar

Trump arrives on the Hill

Trump arrived at the Hyatt Hotel for his meeting with Congressional Republicans at 10 a.m.

His motorcade pulled into the back of the hotel.

Trump is expected to meet with Joe Biden at the White House at 11 a.m.

-Karissa Waddick

Jack Smith to step down as special counsel investigating Trump, reports say

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two criminal cases against Trump, plans to step down before the president-elect takes office, the New York Times reported citing people familiar with Smith's plans. Smith and his team plan to finish their work and exit before Trump can make good his pledge to fire Smith within “two seconds” of being sworn in. CNN also reported the move, citing a Justice Department official familiar with the discussions.

Smith's case involving classified documents Trump kept after leaving office was dismissed by a federal judge in Florida, but Smith's team has filed an appeal. In a case in Washington charging Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, Smith asked for and received a monthlong pause to the filing deadlines. The Justice Department is working to determine how to proceed in both cases, but department policy has been against prosecuting sitting presidents.

- Bart Jansen

Some Republicans aren’t concerned about narrow House majority

Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., told USA TODAY that they aren’t worried about a narrow GOP majority in the House as Trump taps GOP members for cabinet roles. Lawler acknowledged that the margin will be "very tight" until those moving into administration roles are replaced.

“Ultimately, I think if we are focused on addressing the major issues, I would imagine there will also be Democrats voting in favor of legislation," Lawler said. "It won't really be that much of an issue."

He added that Trump was picking “really solid members who will do a great job in the administration.”

Some of Trump’s picks include Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., as U.N. ambassador and Rep. Mike Walz, R-Fla., as national security advisor. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is also expected to be named secretary of state, according to reports from CNN and The New York Times.

Stefanik and Walz's House seats will have to be filled by holding special elections, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would decide who gets the Senate seat if Rubio is chosen.

Roy also said he isn’t too worried and is waiting to see what happens in the House special elections. As for Rubio’s spot, he’s optimistic.

“The Senate, of course, they can do an immediate appointment, so that's not as big of a deal,” Roy said. “Absolutely, that'll be immediately filled. So as long as you fill it with a good person, which in this case, I know Governor DeSantis will pick somebody awesome for the Senate.”

Melania Trump won't visit White House with Donald Trump

Melania Trump is skipping the tea. A day after it became clear that Donald Trump would return as president after his decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden invited the president-elect and his wife to the White House.

Donald Trump accepted the invitation the same day, saying through his spokesperson that he "looked forward to the meeting." Melania Trump remained silent. On Wednesday, she announced she won’t be taking tea with Jill Biden.

“Her husband’s return to the Oval Office to commence the transition process is encouraging, and she wishes him great success,” Melania Trump's office said in a statement on X.

Melania Trump declines: White House invitation. No tea with Jill Biden

Trump to meet with Speaker Johnson, other top GOP lawmakers

Donald Trump on Wednesday plans to make his first visit to Capitol Hill since winning the White House for a meeting with congressional GOP leaders who will be tasked with advancing the incoming administration's agenda in 2025, according to Johnson. Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he expects the meeting with Trump to take place Wednesday morning before the president-elect goes to the White House for an 11 a.m. sit-down with Joe Biden.

"That will be a great meeting and a moment for all of us," Johnson told reporters outside the U.S. Capitol. "There's a lot of excitement, a lot of energy here. We're really grateful for President Trump leaving it all on the field to get elected."

Kristi Noem tapped to run Homeland Security

President-elect Donald Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be his secretary of Homeland Security, selecting another loyalist to lead an agency central to his efforts to crack down on the number of immigrants who enter the country without permission. In a statement late Tuesday, Trump heralded Noem for deploying her state's National Guard to the southern border. He said that she would work closely with his newly appointed "border czar" to secure the United States' southern border.

Noem said in a statement she was "honored and humbled" by the appointment, which will require Senate confirmation. "I look forward to working with Border Czar Tom Homan to make America SAFE again," she said. "With Donald Trump, we will secure the Border, and restore safety to American communities so that families will again have the opportunity to pursue The American Dream.”

? Joey Garrison, Francesca Chambers

Trump taps South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head Homeland Security Department

Fox TV personality picked to run Pentagon

Trump nominated Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth to lead the nation’s military as the next Defense secretary, a surprise move that elevates an unorthodox candidate to one of the most prominent positions in American government. The position requires Senate confirmation, not likely to be a problem with a GOP majority.

"With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down," Trump said in a statement Tuesday night.

? Zac Anderson

Trump taps conservative media pundit Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary

Musk, Ramaswamy to lead 'efficiency' department

President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he's tapped Musk, the world's wealthiest person, and former Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" that will work to slash federal government spending, waste and regulations. Trump said the commission will "provide advice and guidance from outside of government," partnering with the White House and Office of Management and Budget "to drive large-scale structural reform" throughout the federal government. He said the team's work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026.

Trump taps Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new 'Department of Government Efficiency'

"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies ? Essential to the 'Save America' movement," Trump said in a statement.

? Joey Garrison, Josh Meyer, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump transition recap: Rubio picked for Secretary of State