Vivek Ramaswamy, Kashyap Patel, Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal could get key posts under Trump 2.0

New Delhi: US President-elect Donald Trump's team, after his inauguration on January 20, may feature key figures from the Indian-American community, including Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Bobby Jindal.

While Haley and Jindal are old timers in the Republican Party circuit, Patel is a Trump loyalist and has worked in the US National Security Council under Trump 1.0. He was previously a federal public defender, a federal prosecutor working on national security cases, and a legal liaison to the US military.

Patel joined the National Security Council in February 2019 and climbed up to the post of senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate. Later, he became chief of staff to acting defence secretary Christopher Miller.


Trump's rival-turned-ally Ramaswamy has emerged as a star in the Republican Party and could lead the Department of Homeland Security. Ramaswamy has been a vocal supporter of Trump and aligns closely with his 'America First' policies.

According to leading western media outlet Politico, Jindal could be a candidate for the important role of health and human services secretary.

The former governor of Louisiana currently chairs the Center for a Healthy America, an element of the America First Policy Institute linked to Trump. Jindal was the assistant secretary of health and human services during the George W Bush Jr presidency.

Haley, once the South Carolina governor, served as UN ambassador during the first two years of Trump's first term. Haley was invited to speak at the 2024 Republican Convention, where she offered her "strong endorsement" of Trump.

Trump's transition team includes Howard Lutnick, Linda McMahon and his sons Eric and Donald Junior, who are expected to assist in shaping the new administration's direction and personnel decisions.