Trump Names Campaign Spokesman Steven Cheung as Communications Director

Steven Cheung, political adviser for former President Donald Trump, walks outside of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. federal courthouse ahead of former President Donald Trump’s court appearance in Miami, Fla., on June 13, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 15 that campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung will serve as his communications director in the White House.

He also tapped Sergio Gor to serve as president of the Presidential Personnel Office.

“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024,” Trump wrote in a statement on the selections.

Cheung, who currently serves as Trump’s communications director, served in the first Trump White House as director of strategic response. He was also on the first Trump campaign and transition team. Before that, he worked for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Cheung will be assistant to the president and head of communications in the White House.

Gor, meanwhile, will lead the presidential personnel office while also serving as an assistant to Trump. The president and founder of Winning Team Publishing, Gor is an alumnus of Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) office and led pro-Trump Super PAC Right for America. Gor’s position was held by John McEntee at the end of Trump’s first term.

The decision had leaked prior to the official announcement, leading to a celebratory post on X from Donald Trump Jr.

“Sergio will be great!” he wrote.

The announcement follows other pivotal non-cabinet appointments.

Trump chose Tom Homan to be the border czar. Homan, a Border Patrol veteran, led Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the incoming president’s first term.

In an appearance on 60 Minutes ahead of the election, Homan explained how family separation during illegal immigrant deportations could be avoided.

“Families can be deported together,” he said on social media platform X.

Vice President Kamala Harris has held a roughly parallel role under Biden. But she sought to distance herself from that administration’s immigration policy as early as 2021, when the Biden-era border crisis was first beginning to unfold.

Stephen Miller, also a veteran of Trump’s first presidency, was selected to be deputy chief of staff for policy as well as homeland security adviser. Bruce Reed is the current deputy chief of staff for policy in the Biden White House.

Another established Trump loyalist from his first term, Dan Scavino, will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. An announcement of his roles from the transition team described him as “one of President Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides.”

James Blair and Taylor Budowich will likewise have senior positions in the new White House—Blair as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political, and public affairs and Budowich as deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. Both men will also be assistants to the president. Budowich was in charge of the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. PAC, while Blair was key to the Trump campaign’s ground game in 2024.

William McGinley, previously counsel at the Republican National Committee, will be the White House counsel, replacing Biden White House counsel Ed Siskel.