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By Jasmine Laws
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President-elect Donald Trump is increasingly tapping into the millennial talent pool, injecting a new generation of young leaders into his top team as he prepares for his second term in office.
So far, the 78-year-old Republican—who will be the oldest person to assume the presidency when he's inaugurated in January—has announced he's nominating Elise Stefanik, 40, for the role of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Matt Gaetz, 42, as attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard, 43, as Director of National Intelligence; all Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions. And 40-year-old JD Vance is the country's first millennial vice president. Trump has also appointed Stephen Miller, 39, as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.
This is already more than the number of millennials in President Joe Biden's Cabinet, which boasted only one when it was first assembled: Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg, now 42-years-old. Most of Biden's senior advisers are over the age of 50.
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Biden framed himself as a transitional figure during his 2020 presidential campaign, emphasizing his role in uniting a deeply divided nation and setting the stage for the next generation of Democratic leadership. Biden, who was the oldest president to assume office, often spoke about being a "bridge" to the future, implying that he would help pave the way for younger leaders.
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Millennials are the demographic cohort following Gen X and preceding Gen Z. While the exact range of birth years can vary slightly depending on the source, millennials are typically defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, making them between 28 and 43 years old in 2024.
Most of Trump's nominations fall into the Gen X demographic, but some of those are on the cusp of being millennials: Pete Hegseth, who the president-elect has picked to be secretary of defense, and Lee Zeldin, who's been tapped to head the Environmental Protection Agency, were both born in 1980.
But more millennials could be on their way into Trump's top team. Names in the mix for the role of press secretary include Alina Habba, 40, and Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy, 37.
Newsweek has contacted the Trump team and the Biden administration out of normal working hours via email for comment.
Key Characteristics of Millennials
- Tech-Savvy: They grew up during the rise of the internet, personal computers, and smartphones, making them highly comfortable with technology.
- Education-Focused: Millennials are one of the most educated generations, with many pursuing higher education degrees.
- Culturally Diverse: They are the most racially and ethnically diverse adult generation in history.
- Work Preferences: Millennials value work-life balance, prefer meaningful work, and often prioritize flexible work environments over traditional office settings.
- Digital Natives: They are heavily influenced by social media and digital content, using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, formerly Twitter, during their formative years.
- Economic Challenges: Many millennials entered the workforce during or after the Great Recession (2008–2009), leading to economic hardships such as high student loan debt and delayed milestones like homeownership.
Update, 11/14/2024, 10:38 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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