Since returning to the White House, President Trump has leaned on a circle of influential women—some loud and public in their support, others exercising clout more quietly inside the administration.
Trump’s relationship with women has long been politically fraught, with controversies about his behavior and comments shadowing him from his first run for office through to his second term.
Even so, major flashpoints—including the release of the “grab them by the p*ssy” recording and a 2023 civil court finding of sexual assault—failed to derail his electoral fortunes, with Trump winning again the following year.
Those scandals also did little to diminish support from many women aligned with the MAGA movement, a group that initially made up roughly a third of his second-term cabinet choices. After a series of internal changes, that figure is now reported to be closer to 19 percent.
Still, not every high-profile woman brought into Trump’s orbit has remained in place over the past 16 months.
In recent months, polarizing officials—including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem—have reportedly been pushed out after generating heavy backlash or failing to deliver on key priorities tied to the president’s agenda.
Those who remain have generally managed a careful balance: staying close enough to advance Trump’s goals while avoiding anything that might be seen as competing with him for attention.
At the center of that power structure is Susie Wiles, widely viewed as one of the most influential figures in Washington. Appointed chief of staff when Trump took office in January 2025, she had already proven indispensable by co-running his campaign and helping steer his political operation while he was out of power.
During the 2024 campaign, the 68-year-old also stepped in publicly after Mark Cuban accused Trump of disliking being challenged by “strong, intelligent women.”
In a rare public message, Wiles said: “I’m told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are! I’ve been proud to lead this campaign.”
The former lobbyist also made history as the first woman to ever serve as White House chief of staff. Last month, she disclosed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, prompting Trump to issue a supportive statement.
“Susie, as one of my closest and most important advisors, is tough and deeply committed to serving the American People,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “She will soon be better than ever!”
Another standout figure is Tulsi Gabbard, a political operator with an unusually varied résumé: military service that included deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, a leadership role inside the Democratic National Committee, and even a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Her shift from backing Bernie Sanders in 2016 to aligning with Trump in 2024 marked one of the most dramatic ideological pivots in recent American politics.
Gabbard became Trump’s Director of National Intelligence after he returned to power in January 2025, joining other former Democrats—such as RFK Jr.—who moved toward the new center of influence in American politics.
But the prominent anti-interventionist—known for criticizing U.S. involvement in Syria—has kept a lower profile lately, particularly after Trump and Israel launched what was described as a “military operation” against Iran.
“A war with Iran would make the war in Iraq look like a cakewalk,” she told Fox News in May 2019. “The devastation and the cost would be far greater than anything they’ve ever experienced.”
Trump’s second-term team also included a pick that surprised many observers: Linda McMahon, the former CEO of WWE and a familiar figure to years of wrestling fans.
McMahon’s public profile was forged in professional wrestling’s most famous era, including over-the-top storylines that made her part of the on-screen spectacle for millions of viewers.
Her appointment as Secretary of Education raised eyebrows, though she did serve on Connecticut’s Board of Education from 2009 to 2010. As with other key figures in Trump’s orbit, however, personal loyalty has often been viewed as a central factor in earning his trust.
That loyalty matters all the more given Trump’s repeated vow to eliminate the Department of Education—an agency he has attacked as a “one-stop shop for the woke cartel.”
McMahon has echoed the point herself, saying in a radio interview that President Trump is ‘dead serious about the fact that he wants me to fire myself.’
Karoline Leavitt has become one of the most visible women in Trump’s administration, taking on the press secretary role at just 27 and becoming the youngest person ever to hold the job.
Her rise was rapid but not entirely unexpected: after graduating in 2019 she worked in White House communications, then served as an assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany near the end of Trump’s first term.
Leavitt’s biggest leap came during Trump’s 2024 comeback run, when she served as national press secretary and became one of his most aggressive and reliable messengers.
In the briefing room, Leavitt has taken a combative approach, frequently challenging mainstream media outlets over perceived bias while elevating smaller conservative publications.
She gave birth to her first child in July last year but returned to work after only four days.
She said of working for Trump: “He doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman, with kids or no kids. He just wants the hardest worker and the best person for the job. And that’s what makes him a great boss.”
One figure with significant influence who often draws less attention is Alina Habba. After serving as Counselor to the President—effectively a senior advisory role—she left the White House within months to become interim U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Her higher-profile government roles followed years of work as one of Trump’s key legal defenders while he was out of office, advising and representing him during some of his most contentious legal battles.
That work included a lawsuit against the New York Times and efforts to block New York Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into Trump—litigation that also featured Habba’s extended questioning of Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Announcing her new interim role as the top lawyer in New Jersey, Habba said on X: “I am honored to serve my home state of New Jersey as Interim U.S. Attorney and I am grateful to President Trump for entrusting me with this tremendous responsibility.
“Just like I did during my time as President Trump’s personal attorney, I will continue to fight for truth and justice. We will end the weaponization of justice, once and for all.”
Earlier this year, Habba finalized a divorce from her husband of six years and relocated to a Palm Beach mansion near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.