With President Donald Trump taking office in January, he is using the transition time to choose staff for the upcoming government. Many of his nominees are staunch supporters of Israel, believing that Hashem has given Eretz Yisroel to the Jewish people as a gift and everlasting inheritance.
By Anash.org reporter
With the 47th administration of the U.S. government forming, the Republican Party has secured a majority in the House of Representatives. President-elect Donald Trump has announced a series of new appointments for his upcoming administration. These results hold important ramifications for the security of Israel.
The nominations for key positions in the upcoming American administration include supporters of Israel who have consistently expressed their commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Here is a compilation of the top nominations by Donald Trump that will take their positions after Senate approval on January 20:
Marco Rubio has been nominated for the position of Secretary of State. Rubio has consistently called for a tougher U.S. foreign policy toward geopolitical adversaries such as China, Iran, and Cuba. On the subject of Israel’s response to Hamas, Rubio declared: “Israel has no choice but to seek the complete eradication of Hamas in Gaza. There simply is no diplomatic solution or ‘measured response’ available.”
Pete Hegseth has been nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense. Hegseth is a staunch critic of the “two-state solution”, supports Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and supports a hardline approach to Iran. In his announcement, President Trump proclaimed: “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”
During a speech at a 2018 conference in Israel, Hegseth said: “Jerusalem as the capital was a miracle, and there’s no reason why the miracle of the reestablishment of the temple on the Temple Mount is not possible. I don’t know how it would happen. You don’t know how it would happen, but I know that it could happen. That’s all I know.”
Kristi Noem has been nominated for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem, as Governor of South Dakota, signed an executive order prohibiting state businesses from engaging with entities boycotting Israel. In the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel, she passionately expressed solidarity with Israel, declaring: “Beloved people of Israel: your friends and allies in America stand with you. We support you in defending the homeland given to your people by G-d.” In 2022, she unsuccessfully attempted to reinstate morning prayers in schools.
Mike Waltz has been nominated for the position of National Security Advisor. Waltz has called for the destruction of Hamas after the October 7 attacks and supports expanding military cooperation with Israel and transferring advanced military technologies to the country.
Elise Stefanik has been nominated for the position of Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations. Stefanik, a Congresswoman from New York, has been very vocal with her support for Israel and was one of the first American officials to visit Israel after the October 7 attack. In her ongoing advocacy, she repeatedly emphasizes: “We must bring them home now!”
Steven Witkoff has been nominated for the position of Special Envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff is a Jewish American businessman. David Friedman, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, enthusiastically endorsed the nomination, saying: “Another great call. Steve is a brilliant businessman and a lover of Israel who will receive a warm welcome throughout the halls of power within the Middle East.”
Mike Huckabee has been nominated for the position of United States Ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, a former Governor of Arkansas, has been a very strong advocate for Israel. In a passionate address at Ma’ale Adumim, he asserted: “There is no such thing as the West Bank – it’s Judea and Samaria. There is no such thing as settlements – they’re communities, they’re neighborhoods, they’re cities. There is no such thing as an occupation.”
Speaking at a Gush Katif dinner, Huckabee elaborated: “And that’s why if our president makes an absurd suggestion that Israel should go back to the pre-67 borders, I’m thinking well, we’re going to roll back, let us just roll all the way back to Abraham and let this be one of those borders that were originally established, so it is as far back as you can go!”
Celebrating the nomination, President Trump shared: “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Vivek Ramaswamy & Elon Musk have been nominated to lead the Department of Government Efficiency. Ramaswamy advocates for Israel’s right to reject the “two-state solution” and supports measures such as deporting Arabs from Israel.
After the October 7 attack, Ramaswamy declared: “Israel is free to defend itself to the fullest, using whatever means Israel determines to be in its national self-interest.” Taking a bold stance, he further proposed: “Israel should assassinate the top 100 Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and [have them] facing Gaza so that October 7 never happens again.”
Musk is the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and the social network X and has been a forceful advocate for the freedom of speech. Musk visited Israel in November 2023, touring the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which was severely impacted by the October 7 Hamas attacks. He aligned with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the necessity of eradicating Hamas.
Lee Zeldin has been nominated for the position of Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin is Jewish and served previously as a Congressman from New York. Zeldin has described Israel as America’s “strongest ally” and advocated for legislation opposing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. He also co-authored a 2017 bill banning the boycott of Israel.
John Thune has been nominated for the position of Republican Senate Leadership. Thune, a Senator from South Dakota, has been on solidarity visits to Israel and was among the first to visit Israel after the October 7 events. He co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which would have made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, to encourage or participate in boycotts against the Israeli government and Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
Eretz Yisroel (not israel)