All the president’s women: a familiar downward trajectory in Trump’s cabinet
Half of Trump’s female cabinet officials have been replaced by men, while men facing misconduct allegations remain Donald Trump is not, by any measure, a feminist. He has said so himself. But the president has often pointed to his hiring and promoting of women in an attempt to stave off criticism of both his policies and personal conduct over the years. During his second term, however, there is one common…
Key points
- Half of Trump's eight female cabinet officials have resigned or been fired in his second term.
- All departed female cabinet officials were replaced by men, while men facing misconduct allegations remain.
- Trump denied reports he was considering replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles.
During Donald Trump's second term, half of his eight female cabinet officials have either resigned or been fired within a few months, and all have been replaced by men. Several other women in his administration have also departed, while numerous male officials facing intense scrutiny and calls for resignation remain in their posts.
On Friday, Trump denied reports that he was considering replacing Susie Wiles, his White House chief of staff and the first woman to hold the job. He said she would be there for a long time.
Recent departures and replacements
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was fired on Friday, just five days into the role, after a widely panned first press briefing and questions over her legal credentials. She had taken over from Karoline Leavitt, who resigned in August after 20 months to spend time with her family.
Former homeland security secretary Kristi Noem was sacked on 5 March amid controversy over immigration enforcement operations that killed two US citizens in Minneapolis and a $220m ad campaign. She was succeeded by Markwayne Mullin. Former attorney general Pam Bondi was pushed out in April after mishandling the Epstein files release; her deputy Todd Blanche took over in August. Former labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down in April after misconduct allegations and was replaced by Keith Sonderling. In May, Tulsi Gabbard resigned as national intelligence director, officially citing her husband's cancer diagnosis, and was eventually replaced by Jay Clayton. Earlier this week, Kimberly Guilfoyle was asked to step down as US ambassador to Greece.
If you’re a man in the Trump administration, it seems that they reward misconduct
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Male officials remain in post
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced multiple controversies including allegations of war crimes, and FBI director Kash Patel, who has denied allegations of being intoxicated or absent on the job, remain in their positions. Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick also stayed after scrutiny over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The only senior male official punished was Mike Waltz, fired as national security adviser in May last year after adding a journalist to a Signal group chat where Hegseth disclosed secret war plans. Waltz was later nominated as US ambassador to the UN.
