Trump’s ‘A-Team’ of Entrepreneurs Takes Center Stage Post-Oath, Aiming to Tackle Global Challenges
New Delhi [India], January 29: Following his inauguration, President Donald Trump has officially unveiled the much-anticipated ‘A-Team’ of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators. This powerhouse group aims to address major global challenges with a groundbreaking entrepreneurial approach. The team is set to reshape government systems by applying innovative strategies from the private sector.
A Visionary Initiative
During his inaugural address, President Trump highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating, “This team represents the best and brightest minds, united to create solutions that will transform not just our government, but also how the world tackles critical issues.” The ‘A-Team’ will collaborate closely with the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a non-governmental advisory body led by billionaire Elon Musk. This department aims to deliver structural reforms and inject entrepreneurial vigor into governmental processes.
President Trump emphasized that the initiative would focus on fostering economic growth, technological innovation, and global stability, describing it as “a fusion of government and entrepreneurial ingenuity.” The acronym “DOGE” humorously nods to Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency, adding a touch of modernity to the endeavor.
The Power Players
The ‘A-Team’ comprises an eclectic mix of industry titans, philanthropists, and strategic thinkers. Here’s a closer look at some key members:
Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel has been up and down in his support for Trump, but he is a staunch ally of Vice President JD Vance. Thiel made his fortune as an early investor in PayPal and Facebook. He’s a longtime Republican donor who has spent more than $49 million on campaigns since 2000, USA TODAY reports.
Miriam Adelson
Miriam Adelson is a medical doctor who owns a majority stake in the Las Vegas Sands casino company and the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, according to Forbes. Adelson is one of Trump’s largest donors, having given $100 million to political action committee Preserve America’s efforts to elect him, according to OpenSecrets.org. Adelson is influential behind the scenes, given her financial resources and ardent support of Israel, where she was born, USA TODAY reports. Forbes reports her family’s net worth at $34.2 billion. A self-described libertarian, Thiel has expressed controversial opinions and associated with figures on the far right. Vance worked for Thiel at his venture capital firm in Silicon Valley. Thiel helped Vance win a seat in the U.S. Senate, a job that provided a launchpad for his selection as Trump’s running mate.
Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon helped her husband, Vince McMahon, build the World Wrestling Entertainment empire. As part of Trump’s Cabinet in his first presidential term, Linda McMahon served as head of the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. McMahon sat near Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention and co-leads his transition team. Politico names her as a potential pick for Commerce secretary.
Howard Lutnick
Howard Lutnick is chairman and CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald. Lutnick is a major Trump donor and co-chair of the Trump 2024 transition team, along with McMahon. Lutnick and Trump are close, according to Politico. Lutnick once appeared on “The Apprentice,” Trump’s showcase reality television program. Lutnick is considered a potential candidate for Treasury secretary.
Bill Ackman
Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager, endorsed Trump for president despite previous misgivings, according to Reuters. He even listed 33 reasons for supporting Trump. As election results trickled in, Ackman rejoiced on X, formerly Twitter, about Trump’s impending victory, predicting “the implosion of the Democratic Party” and chastising the mainstream media. He had previously predicted Trump’s triumph.
Diane Hendricks
Billionaire Diane Hendricks spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee to discuss her life as one of nine girls in her family, a single mom and wife who sought to fulfill the American dream. The Wisconsin entrepreneur is the 92nd-richest person in the world, according to Forbes. Hendricks is the co-founder of ABC Supply, a distributor of roofing supplies, siding, and windows. She has an estimated net worth of $20.9 billion, leading the Forbes’ list of richest self-made women in America for the past seven years, USA TODAY reports.
Dr. Paramjeet Singh Makani
Dr. Paramjeet Singh Makani is an Indian serial entrepreneur, investment banker, and serves as the Director – Global Operations at Pantomath Financial Services Group & Managing Partner at The Wealth Company. According to reports, Makani got connected with the team in 2018, where he showed excellence in critical matters at hand then, gained him favor in the office and earning him a title as a rainmaker. He continued working on with governmental bodies, development agencies, and corporate frameworks leading potential projects across environmental, economic, social, political, and technological sectors. Makani will continue his journey with the team, driving significant results to everything that is dreamt big. Not coincidental, he has recently been elected as a Director in Indian Ministry of Finance.
Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, has vacillated between supporting Democrats and Republicans in the past. In 2024, he threw his support behind Trump. Andreessen chose Trump, TechCrunch reports because he believes Trump’s policies are better for the tech industry. He believes the Biden administration has stifled tech startups through overregulation and unnecessary taxation. Trump, he reasons, would allow tech innovation to flourish.
Timothy Mellon
Timothy Mellon, heir to the Mellon family fortune, has been bankrolling Trump politically for years. Mellon donated at least $115 million to the Trump campaign, according to Reuters. He also backed Trump in 2020. Mellon has donated to many anti-immigration measures and was a major contributor to a Texas-led fund to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, a concern he shares with Trump. Forbes estimates the Mellon family is worth $14.1 billion. Timothy Mellon lives in Wyoming and is rarely photographed, Reuters reports.
John Paulson
John Paulson, a hedge-fund billionaire, endorsed Trump in 2024 and has backed him since 2016, Politico reports. According to Bloomberg, Trump has floated Paulson’s name privately as a potential Treasury secretary. Paulson is a longtime proponent of tax cuts and deregulation, according to Reuters, and has supported tariffs to for national security and to counter unfair trade practices, as has Trump. Back in April, Paulson hosted a Trump fundraiser at his Palm Beach, Florida, home.
Scott Bessent
One co-host of that April fundraiser was Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager and Trump fundraiser. Bessent has served as an unofficial adviser to the Trump campaign, Politico reports, and is considered to be in the running for a cabinet position: Treasury, perhaps. Bessent has a warm relationship with Trump, Reuters reports, and has praised the president’s economic philosophies.
Woody Johnson
Robert Wood Johnson IV, the billionaire owner of the New York Jets, served as ambassador to the United Kingdom in the first Trump administration. His colleagues inside the Jets football organization suspect Johnson may reprise the role under a second Trump administration, the New York Post reports.
Recent Developments
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has recently faced scrutiny. The National Federation of Federal Employees accused DOGE of violating federal regulations with a vague job posting for software engineers and other technology professionals. The job listing lacked essential details such as pay, security requirements, and qualifications, which federal vacancy announcements typically include.
Additionally, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., a key defense manufacturer known for producing the Predator drone, has urged DOGE to overhaul the Pentagon’s contracting system. In a letter dated January 24, 2025, addressed to Musk, the company highlighted significant issues such as delays and bureaucratic inefficiencies, aiming to streamline processes to better respond to threats.
A Global Impact
President Trump’s formation of this team marks a shift in governance, blending public and private sector expertise to create innovative solutions. By assembling this diverse group, the administration hopes to bridge divides and address challenges spanning environmental sustainability, economic disparity, and technological disruption.
Makani remarked, “This initiative transcends politics; it’s about building a better world. The collaboration between nations and industries will redefine how we tackle global issues.”
The Road Ahead
As the ‘A-Team’ begins its work, the world watches with anticipation. Will this ambitious initiative achieve its lofty goals? One thing is certain: the entrepreneurial spirit fuelling this team promises to make waves in the corridors of power and beyond.