Donald Trump is slated to re-enter the White House after his victory in the 2024 US presidential election. He defeated Democrat opponent Kamala Harris, and is expected to begin selecting Cabinet members and top administration officials over the next few weeks. As per reports, among the key figures being considered are Jamie Dimon, Scott Bessent, and John Paulson, who are all staunch Trump supporters. However, it appears that Trump is likely to assign a major national security role to a person of Indian origin – Kashyap "Kash" Patel.
Kash Patel, a former Republican House staffer who held various defence and intelligence roles during Trump's first term, was active on the campaign trail. Patel is currently seen as the leading candidate for CIA chief. Reports suggest that Trump allies strongly endorse Patel, even though any position requiring Senate approval may face hurdles.
Described as an "ultimate Trump loyalist", Patel was appointed to a top advisory role during Trump's first term when issues surrounding the Ukraine conflict arose.
He previously served on the National Security Council in 2019, impressing Trump with his stance on national defence and security matters.
Patel has faced controversy during his career. Last year, in an interview with Trump ally Steve Bannon, he pledged to "come after" politicians and journalists viewed as adversaries of Trump.
His approach has earned him criticism from some seasoned national security officials, who found him volatile and excessively deferential to Trump.
(With inputs from Reuters)