March 8 2025
On this International Women's Day, it’s a fitting moment to celebrate the women who have been part of the Donald Trump administration, both past and present, as they’ve played pivotal roles in shaping policy, public discourse, and political strategy. Melania Trump, Susie Wiles, Pam Bondi, Tulsi Gabbard, Kristi Noem, Karoline Leavitt, Linda McMahon, Brooke Rollins, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer represent a range of backgrounds and contributions, from advocacy to leadership in high-level government positions.
Melania Trump served as First Lady during Donald Trump’s first term (2017-2021) and has returned to the role in his second term. Born in Slovenia in 1970, she’s the second First Lady born outside the U.S. and the only one to become a naturalized citizen. Her signature initiative, BE BEST, focused on children’s well-being, addressing issues like opioid addiction, online safety, and mental health. She traveled globally to promote this cause, including a solo trip to Africa in 2018, visiting Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Egypt to highlight programs benefiting children. Melania also showed a deep commitment to military families, visiting bases domestically and abroad, including a 2018 trip to Iraq, and worked with the American Red Cross to support deployed troops. Her role as First Lady often emphasized compassion, though critics have pointed out the contrast between her initiatives and some of her husband’s policies, like family separations at the border, which she reportedly opposed privately.
Pam Bondi, confirmed as Attorney General in early February 2025, brings a prosecutorial background to the Trump administration. As Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019, she focused on combating violent crime and the opioid crisis, later serving on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission. Bondi was also a defense lawyer during Trump’s first impeachment trial and supported his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Her appointment as the nation’s top law enforcement official has been praised by Trump loyalists for her toughness, but critics question her independence, citing her close ties to Trump and past decisions, like her 2016 acceptance of a $25,000 donation from Trump’s foundation while her office was reviewing fraud allegations against Trump University—a case she ultimately dropped. This raises questions about whether her tenure will prioritize Trump’s agenda over broader justice concerns.
Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed as Director of National Intelligence in February 2025, oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. A former Democrat from Hawaii, Gabbard joined the Republican Party in 2024 after years of shifting rightward on social issues like abortion and transgender rights. She’s the first female military combat veteran, Pacific Islander American, and Hindu American in a Cabinet-level role. Her military service includes deployments to Iraq (2004-2005) and Kuwait (2008) with the Hawaii Army National Guard, and she currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Gabbard’s appointment has been controversial due to her past actions, like her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and her promotion of Kremlin talking points before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Supporters argue her military experience and outsider perspective will bring fresh insight to intelligence, but critics worry her history suggests a potential to politicize the role, especially given Trump’s claims of needing to “rebuild trust” in the intelligence community.
Kristi Noem, confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security in late January 2025, leads a department with a $60 billion budget and hundreds of thousands of employees. As South Dakota’s governor since 2019, Noem gained national attention for her resistance to COVID-19 mandates, emphasizing individual freedoms over public health measures—a stance that aligned with Trump’s views but drew criticism for contributing to high infection rates in her state. Her role now includes managing border security, a contentious issue in Trump’s agenda. Noem, a rancher and farmer, has positioned herself as a conservative firebrand, but her governorship wasn’t without controversy, including a 2024 memoir where she described executing her dog after it killed chickens, which sparked widespread backlash. Her appointment reflects Trump’s preference for loyalists who share his state-driven policy approach, though some question whether her lack of federal experience will hinder her effectiveness in such a complex role.
Karoline Leavitt, at just 27 years old, became the youngest White House Press Secretary in history when she assumed the role in January 2025. Previously Trump’s campaign press secretary, Leavitt is also the first Gen Z member to stand behind the podium. Her youth and energy are seen as a way to connect with younger conservative voters, but her relative inexperience has raised eyebrows. Leavitt’s rapid rise—she was elected to Congress at 25, one of the youngest women ever to do so—shows her political savvy, but the press secretary role demands navigating intense media scrutiny and complex policy issues. Her appointment signals Trump’s intent to refresh his administration’s image, though it remains to be seen how she’ll handle the pressures of the position.
Linda McMahon, nominated as Education Secretary. She previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term (2017-2019), where she oversaw programs that contributed to low unemployment rates for women. A former WWE executive, McMahon has been a longtime Trump ally, co-founding the America First Policy Institute, a think tank that shaped his second-term agenda. Trump has vowed to abolish the Education Department, a goal McMahon supports, arguing for returning education to state control. Critics argue this could exacerbate inequalities in education access, especially for marginalized communities, while supporters say it aligns with conservative principles of limited federal oversight. McMahon’s business background and loyalty to Trump make her a fitting pick for his vision, but her confirmation hearings have drawn scrutiny over her qualifications to lead such a massive department.
Brooke Rollins, confirmed as Agriculture Secretary in February 2025 by a 72-28 Senate vote, brings a policy-heavy background to the role. A conservative lawyer, she co-founded the America First Policy Institute and served in Trump’s first term in the Office of American Innovation and as acting director of the Domestic Policy Council. Raised on a farm and educated at Texas A&M University in agriculture development, Rollins has focused on rural advocacy and food security. Her leadership is expected to prioritize American farmers and self-sufficiency, but her tenure in policy think tanks rather than direct agricultural management has led some to question her practical experience. Still, her alignment with Trump’s “America First” agenda makes her a key player in shaping agricultural policy.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominated as Labor Secretary, is still undergoing Senate confirmation as of March 2025. A former Oregon congresswoman (2023-2025), she lost her re-election bid in 2024 but gained Trump’s attention for her bipartisan appeal, particularly with labor unions like the Teamsters, who endorsed her nomination. Chavez-DeRemer’s support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act), which expands labor rights, has drawn mixed reactions—progressive Democrats like Elizabeth Warren have signaled support, while some Republicans, like Sen. Rand Paul, oppose her for it, citing its potential to undermine state right-to-work laws. Her nomination reflects Trump’s attempt to broaden his base by appealing to workers, but her moderate stance may complicate her confirmation in a polarized Senate. If confirmed, she’ll oversee worker safety, wages, and workforce laws, potentially balancing Trump’s pro-business instincts with her pro-labor record.
Susan Wiles Political consultant who has served as the 32nd White House chief of staff since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she was co-chair of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, having previously been CEO of Trump's leadership PAC Save America and co-chair of his 2016 campaign in Florida. On November 7, 2024, she was selected by then president-elect Trump to be the White House chief of staff in his second administration, and she became, on January 20, 2025, the first woman to hold the role.
These women collectively highlight Trump’s strategy of blending loyalty with diversity in experience—ranging from military service (Gabbard) to business (McMahon) to political newcomers (Leavitt). On this International Women’s Day, these women’s contributions to the Trump administration showcase their influence in a historically male-dominated political sphere. Yet, their legacies will likely be judged not just on their appointments, but on how they navigate the tensions between their roles, Trump’s priorities, and the broader needs of the American public—especially women.
photo credit: Getty Images and X profiles
copy credit: Grok / X