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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A review by government watchdog Accountable.US found President-elect Donald Trump has nominated at least 10 people to major positions within his second administration who have been with Fox News, most of whom were hosts or contributors. While qualifications and ethics have been called into question for most of these nominees, Trump’s choices reflect his priority of loyalty-above-all and passion for watching cable news. During the final year of his first administration, President Trump reportedly watched “up to 7 hours of cable news every morning before getting to the Oval Office as late as noon.” These Fox News personalities could serve alongside five billionaires and several other ultra-high-net-worth individuals Trump has hand-picked to lead key agencies despite campaigning on promises to help working-class Americans.

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Donald Trump surrounding himself in the White House with billionaires and cable news pundits that sing his praises on national TV portends an agenda that will serve himself and wealthy, well-connected special interests – while working people get tuned out."

Accountable.US Executive Director Tony Carrk

Roundup of Fox News Hosts and Contributors President-Elect Trump Has Chosen for Top Administration Positions: 

  • Sean Duffy, Trump’s pick for Transportation Secretary, is co-host of The Bottom Line on Fox Business and joined Fox News as a contributor in 2020. Duffy was swept into Congress as part of 2010’s “Tea Party wave.”
  • Janette Nesheiwat, Trump’s pick for Surgeon General, is a doctor and Fox News contributor. She is one of the directors of an urgent care center company, CityMD, that was recently accused of COVID fraud and agreed to pay over $12 million to settle the allegations brought by the DOJ.
  • Mike Huckabee, Trump’s pick to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel, had a talk show on Fox News called Huckabee from 2008 to 2015. Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, has been staunchly pro-Israel throughout his career.
  • Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice for Director of National Intelligence, has appeared frequently on Fox News and has filled in as host for Tucker Carlson Tonight. Gabbard is a veteran and former Representative of Hawaii. Her nomination raises many national security concerns.
  • Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s pick for senior director for counterterrorism, was a Fox News contributor from 2017 to 2019. Gorka “joined the network as a national security strategist in November 2017” but did not renew his contract in 2019. After not renewing his contract, the far-right commentator said he would continue to appear on Fox News occasionally.
  • Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s pick for White House press secretary and the youngest person tapped for the position, interned at Fox News while in school. She “also served in the White House press office during the first Trump administration.”

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