Here are the early picks and top contenders for some of the key posts overseeing defense, intelligence, health, diplomacy, trade, immigration and economic policymaking.

MARCO RUBIO, secretary of state

On Wednesday, Trump tapped U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to be his secretary of state, putting the Florida-born politician on track to be the first Latino to serve as the United States' top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, was arguably the most hawkish option on Trump's shortlist for secretary of state. The senator has in past years advocated for a muscular foreign policy with respect to U.S. geopolitical foes, including China, Iran and Cuba.

Over the last several years he has softened some of his stances to align more closely with Trump's views. The president-elect accuses past U.S. presidents of leading the U.S. into costly and futile wars and has pushed for a less interventionist foreign policy.

MATT GAETZ, attorney general

Trump said on Wednesday that he had selected Gaetz, a U.S. representative, to be his nominee for attorney general.

"Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System," Trump said in a statement announcing the selection of the Florida lawmaker.

Trump's inner circle has described the attorney general as the most important member of the administration after Trump himself, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and seek retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years.

TULSI GABBARD, director of national intelligence

Trump on Wednesday named Gabbard, a former Democratic representative and critic of the Biden administration, as his director of national intelligence.

Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent and has little direct experience with intelligence work. If confirmed she would become the top official in the U.S. intelligence community after Trump starts his second term in January.