About T.W. Shannon:
T.W. Shannon currently serves in the Trump Administration as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Agriculture, leading the Department’s Office of Rural Prosperity. In this role, he advances the Administration’s vision for a “Golden Age of Rural America” through strategic investments in infrastructure, housing, education, and entrepreneurship. He also serves as a weekend anchor on Newsmax, hosting Wake Up America every Saturday and Sunday, where he brings a grounded, commonsense perspective to national news and policy. A seasoned leader with deep experience across both the public and private sectors, Shannon made history as Oklahoma’s first African American and youngest Speaker of the House at age 34. During his tenure, he championed infrastructure development, economic growth, and deregulation—overseeing billions in road funding and pioneering public-private partnerships that revitalized communities across the state. Prior to his current federal role, Shannon served as CEO of Chickasaw Community Bank, where he grew the institution’s assets from $113 million to more than $500 million, expanding access to capital for Native and rural communities nationwide. An enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, Shannon began his career in public service as a congressional staffer for Congressmen J.C. Watts and Tom Cole, focusing on federal policy, constituent services, and legislative strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Cameron University and a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University School of Law. A recognized thought leader in governance and ethics, he has been honored as both a Harvard Institute of Politics Fellow and an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow for his contributions to principled leadership and public policy. T.W. has been married to Devon Shannon since 2001. They are the proud parents of two children, Audrey Grace and Tahrohon Wayne II.