Why these top Republicans won't be in Trump's cabinet
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
President-elect Trump is quickly filling top jobs in his administration, but several potential contenders for such posts have opted out.
Why it matters: At least three GOP senators and a governor, all likely to have key roles in shaping the future of Trump's Republican Party, are focused on other priorities — including some that could set up possible runs for the White House in 2028.
- The senators' moves also come as Republicans are wary of chipping further into their slim majorities in the Senate and the House.
Zoom in: Those who've taken themselves out of the running for roles in Trump's second administration include:
- Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — the former GOP presidential candidate will chair the Senate Banking Committee in the upcoming Congress and has launched a bid to chair the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for the 2026 midterm cycle. He elevated his national profile during the 2024 campaign, and by 2028 — when Trump will be prohibited from seeking a third term — Scott could be in play for the GOP nomination again.
- Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) — He was under consideration for CIA director and defense secretary before pulling himself out of the running. He's on track to be the next conference chair, the No. 3 Senate GOP leadership position. Cotton also is in line to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee if Trump, as expected, appoints Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as secretary of state.
- Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-Mo.) — He withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general to stay in the Senate.
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — He's often mentioned as a potential contender for president in 2028, and has waved off questions about joining Trump's cabinet, saying he plans to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2026.
Between the lines: House Republican leaders have signaled to Trump that it wouldn't be wise for him to pluck more Republicans from the House, given the GOP's majority thin majority in the upcoming congressional session.
- Trump already plans to nominate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to UN ambassador and has asked Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) to be national security adviser.
- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday that he has spoken to Trump about the slim margins and does not expect Trump to nominate more House Republicans.
- "We've got really competent, capable people here," Johnson said. "Many of them could serve in really important positions in the new administration, but President Trump fully understands and appreciates the math here."
By the numbers: Trump still has to appoint most of the two dozen cabinet or cabinet-level positions — a task he's undertaking at a makeshift situation room at Mar-a-Lago, surrounded by TV monitors.
The bottom line: With thin GOP majorities in the House and Senate in the new Congress, Trump likely will have to find loyalists outside the legislative branch for the rest of his cabinet picks.
