As Donald Trump embarks on the second year of his renewed presidency, his administration has set its sights on expanding influence abroad, all while attempting to quell domestic discontent triggered by his stringent deportation policies.

Despite the challenges that accompany the second year of Trump’s return to power, his core team remains largely unchanged and intact, navigating through the political landscape with him.

The first year witnessed its share of notable departures, most prominently National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who was removed following his involvement in the notorious Signal-gate texting scandal. Meanwhile, former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino stepped down in December, citing pressures on his family life as the primary reason.

Insiders suggest that significant changes within Trump’s team are unlikely as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The president himself expressed satisfaction with his cabinet’s performance during a recent meeting, signaling stability within his ranks.

However, working within Trump’s administration is akin to a roller-coaster ride, requiring resilience to navigate the turbulent news cycles and maintain the president’s favor.

As Trump faces a challenging electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms, the guidance and advice he receives will prove crucial in steering his political course.

Barring the unthinkable, the president isn’t going to sack his No. 2, JD Vance.

But as immigration operations have sparked unrest in Minnesota – and Trump Border Czar Tom Homan has taken the reins from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem – one insider warns that Noem is losing trajectory fast.

The Daily Mail assessed the president’s top 10 advisers to determine who’s rising, who’s falling, and who holds real power in the West Wing.

Susie Wiles 

If anyone has President Trump’s abiding loyalty, it’s White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. That was evidenced by her ability to survive a scathing two-part Vanity Fair exposé in which she was quoted saying Trump has an ‘alcoholic’s personality,’ calling Vance a ‘conspiracy theorist’ and accusing Elon Musk of microdosing during his X rants.

One White House insider tells the Daily Mail that Wiles is ‘least likely to go anywhere.’

With a proven track-record of winning elections, Wiles’ council will be vital in a crucial midterm cycle year where Trump will travel every single week to help Republicans hold onto their slim majorities in Congress. And Wiles is expected to be by his side every step as he refocuses on domestic issues after a foreign affairs-heavy first year back in office. 

Wiles is branded as the one person who can level with Trump, and the individual’s opinion the president values most. If Wiles were to leave, it would likely be her decision – not Trump’s, the White House insider said.

Pete Hegseth

A report at the end of 2025 claimed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth could be ‘the first major casualty’ of Trump’s second term. Back in April, reports emerged that the White House was hunting for a replacement amid the Signal-gate scandal, but nothing came of it. 

Determined to make his mark at the Pentagon, Hegseth spent his first year renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War – despite Trump’s promise to be the president who ends wars. 

Trump likes having Hegseth – a pretty-faced, muscled-up, tattooed former Fox News host – as the face of the US military. The retired Army Major has pushed to restore a ‘warfighter’ spirit and ‘warrior ethos’ among the ranks. 

The hawkish Pentagon leader oversaw Caribbean drug boat strikes last year and the early January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. He could become even more vital to Trump’s agenda this year if the US conducts military operations in Mexico or Cuba.

Kristi Noem 

The most at-risk Trump official changes month-to-month, but right now it’s Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Democrats are calling for her impeachment over DHS mismanagement, and reports claim she’ll be the first Cabinet member fired in 2026.

Trump made border security and illegal immigration a cornerstone of all three presidential campaigns, putting Noem at the helm of his mission to deport 1 million migrants in his first year back in office – a goal the department fell short of reaching.

Riddled with turf wars, staff turnover and an endless stream of bad press, Noem can’t catch a break. More recently, eight sources told the Washington Examiner that Noem and Corey Lewandowski launched an ‘evil’ plot to oust Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott.

Noem’s relationship with Lewandowski has fueled criticism of her leadership, especially after his status as a special government employee (SGE) at DHS allegedly expired last year.

And the biggest test looms: Noem must handle continued fallout from the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis and prevent heavy-handed tactics from tarnishing Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Noem has seen a dramatic loss of confidence with a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll conducted this week finding her with a paltry 33 percent approval rating, and her disapproval rose dramatically to 41 percent compared to 37 percent in December. 

Even Trump is responding by reassigning his DHS lead to focus on border security rather than internal enforcement.

Pam Bondi

Trump’s first choice for Attorney General wasn’t Pam Bondi.

She emerged as his pick only after former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration. Gaetz lacked the Senate votes following release of a House Ethics report alleging sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

But Bondi has remained a stalwart in the Trump administration, never publicly losing the president’s confidence despite facing a barrage of calls from within the MAGA movement to be fired amid the botched Jeffrey Epstein files review.

‘If she could survive that, she can survive anything,’ an FBI insider told the Daily Mail, adding that they thought Bondi would be fired on several occasions during the first year but she somehow survived every hit.

One insider told the Daily Mail that Bondi is losing her grip on influence within the West Wing.

Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patel is no stranger to public criticism – even this week facing a New York Times report where 45 current and former officials spoke against his leadership.

Unlike former deputy Bongino, Patel appears to plan to stick it out for all four years, but his blunders likely aren’t all behind him.

He’s been criticized for reassigning agents to immigration enforcement; using a taxpayer-funded jet for personal travel with his country music artist girlfriend; and being more concerned with optics than investigations.

One executive said Patel conducts official business at soccer games rather than in an office. Another said he’s obsessed with controlling the social media narrative of high-profile cases like the Charlie Kirk assassination.

An FBI insider told the Daily Mail that Trump will likely need a loyalist like Patel once ‘impeachment season’ kicks off – alluding to potential inquiries should Democrats retake Congress in the 2026 midterms.

Reports emerged in November 2025 that Trump was considering firing Patel amid blunders related to the Kirk assassination and Jeffrey Epstein files. But the president publicly called the reports ‘fake news’ and said Patel is ‘doing a great job.’

Tom Homan

Border Czar Tom Homan lost steam during Trump’s first year before the president breathed new life into his mission.

One of Trump’s first appointees after the November 2024 election, Homan slipped into a background role – falling from tough border enforcement operator to scandal-plagued second fiddle to Noem, who loves the spotlight.

Homan was hit with bad headlines in 2024 for allegedly receiving bribes from undercover FBI agents and has faced turbulence since.

Internally, he lost ground after his slow response to the Minnesota ICE shooting of Renee Good, initially saying he wanted to review evidence before commenting. This hurt his standing with Trump officials, though his decade-long relationship with the president seems secure.

With Homan and Noem competing to be Trump’s favorite deportation deputy, this past week the scales turned in favor of the Border Czar.

Following a second American death at the hands of immigration officers in Minneapolis, Trump elevated Homan to take over the mess caused by Noem’s team. He quickly met with liberal local officials and touted at Thursday’s press conference how the tide has turned – perhaps a subtle jab at Noem.

Homan’s stock within the White House is rising, an insider shared.

Marco Rubio 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is Trump’s most irreplaceable Cabinet member.

Insiders told the Daily Mail he is the most beloved member of the president’s team.

The former Florida senator, whom Trump labeled ‘Little Marco’ during the 2016 presidential election, is now the best supporting actor in the president’s Cabinet.

He has so much support that Rubio is a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, right behind Vance.

Trump has bestowed hand-selected assignments upon Rubio that prove the secretary of state carries a significant portion of the White House’s policy portfolio.

Rubio now leads the National Security Agency, USAID, Trump’s Venezuela plans, the committee securing the World Expo 2035 for Miami, and other roles like National Archivist.

As the face of memes that keep on giving, Rubio will only be relied on more as the internet and the president shower him with more jobs, titles and glorious memes.

A well-placed source revealed to the Daily Mail that Cabinet members celebrate the many memes of the State Department boss in a private group chat.

Scott Bessent 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has proved adept at turning hardline policies into widely-felt victories.

Bessent has backed the president’s battles against Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell and his tariff war with countries abroad.

One Trump insider told the Daily Mail that Bessent sits comfortably within the president’s most trusted inner circle alongside Homan, Rubio and Vance.

Beyond his on-camera elegance in explaining Trump’s economic plans, Bessent has gone toe-to-toe with the president’s toughest detractors, like his fiery diatribes against California Governor Gavin Newsom at the World Economic Forum.

Bessent’s sharp comebacks and willingness to take on Trump’s foes bode well considering his boss’s tough-guy persona.

Floated as a possible replacement for Powell, Bessent has clearly earned the president’s respect and insiders say he has expanding influence.

Karoline Leavitt 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has been one of the president’s most pugnacious fighters during Trump’s first year, showing how adept she is at battling the ‘fake news’ face-to-face.

However, she is pregnant and expecting a baby this May, meaning she may need time away from the White House podium.

She told the Daily Mail she intends to serve out the full four-year term, but the question of who may fill her shoes in her absence arises.

Leavitt had her first child, Niko, during Trump’s 2024 campaign and returned to work the same week – she may opt for slightly more time off this round.

Frequently pulled into top policy meetings, Leavitt regularly advises Cabinet members on their messaging, including Rubio and the president.

Those who work with her tell the Daily Mail her influence and face time with Trump continue to grow.

Stephen Miller 

White House Deputy Chief of Staff and top Trump advisor Stephen Miller has seen his importance explode during Trump’s first year.

Heading up the White House’s deportation department, Miller has overseen the policies behind the president’s sprawling deportation mandate.

Whether Miller is satisfied with the pace of deportations so far remains an open question.

However, Miller recently experienced a setback after labeling Alex Pretti a ‘would-be assassin,’ leading to widespread criticism from left and right.

Though Miller later blamed the rhetoric on a miscommunication from Noem’s team, it tarnished his image.

Still, the top Trump advisor has been pulled closer in on other matters, like watching US special forces raid ex-dictator Nicolas Maduro’s home live at Mar-a-Lago and being deputized to sell Trump’s tariff plan to leaders on Capitol Hill.

Miller’s importance within the White House only seems to be growing, and with a president keen on longtime friends, the top advisor’s influence appears to be hitting its zenith.