Donald Trump has nominated Robert F Kennedy Jr to steer the Well being and Human Providers division, and chosen authorities posts for members of his personal authorized group within the newest raft of appointments given to his most loyal backers regardless of ongoing criticism.
Public well being consultants warned that the selection of RFK Jr on Thursday might price lives due to his vaccine denial and infamous help of conspiracy theories. His function nonetheless must be confirmed by the Senate, and a few senators have already expressed doubt that a few of Trump’s nominees will garner adequate votes regardless of a Republican majority within the chamber.
Two members of Trump’s authorized group, Todd Blanche and Dean John Sauer, have been nominated for deputy lawyer basic and solicitor basic respectively. Trump put ahead Jay Clayton, who chaired the Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) beneath Trump’s first time period, for US lawyer for the southern district of New York.
Trump’s nominee for lawyer basic, Matt Gaetz, continued to attract criticism from his Republican colleagues, with senior Republican senator John Cornyn becoming a member of Democratic senator Dick Durbin to name for a report into allegations of sexual misconduct by Gaetz – which he denies – to be shared with the Senate. Republican Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted as Home speaker final yr in a putsch backed by Gaetz, mentioned the ex-congressman “gained’t get confirmed” as lawyer basic.
The flurry of nominations this week has led some to wonder if Trump’s 2024 picks are extra excessive than these he selected in 2016 – right here’s a have a look at how they stack up to this point.
Right here’s what else occurred on Thursday:
Trump transition information and updates
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The FBI ought to examine each Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard earlier than they’re confirmed for his or her cupboard posts, Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser John Bolton has mentioned. Gabbard, who Trump nominated as director of nationwide intelligence, is thought for her tolerant view of Russian president Vladimir Putin and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
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Elon Musk reportedly met Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, and mentioned easy methods to defuse tensions between Iran and the US, two Iranian officers instructed the New York Occasions. As Trump prepares to handle conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East, Musk, the world’s richest man, has been aiding in discussions with international officers, establishing himself because the nation’s most influential civilian come January.
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Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are looking for Individuals who’re “high-IQ small-government revolutionaries” and prepared to work over 80 hours every week to be a part of their new division, at zero pay. Trump named Musk to co-lead the newly created authorities effectivity division that sits exterior the federal authorities.
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Advocates have urged state governments to search out new methods to defend immigrants and block Trump’s mass deportation plan. California shielded many non-citizen residents from removing in Trump’s first time period however immigrants rights teams warn an aggressive, multi-pronged response will probably be wanted.
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A Democratic lawmaker will file a movement particularly mentioning Trump can solely serve two phrases, after the president-elect joked he could be prepared to serve an unconstitutional third time period as president whereas assembly with Home Republicans on Wednesday.
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Trump introduced his former Georgia congressman Doug Collins as secretary of veterans affairs. Collins ran for Senate in 2020, ending third within the major. He additionally “supplied counsel to Trump within the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election as Trump sought to problem Georgia’s election outcomes”.
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