Who has Donald Trump chosen to help him run the United States for the next four years?
We are still waiting for President-elect Donald Trump to make what is probably the most important appointment to his new administration: the choice of Secretary of State. The latest reports suggests that the pick will be Rex Tillerson who is the CEO of Exxon Mobil and someone with a business relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin,
Meanwhile consider the other appointments which Trump has already announced:
- Defence: retired Marine Corps general James Mattis, a noted military hawk
- Homeland Security: another retired Marine Corps general, John Kelly
- CIA Director: Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo who has criticised the Iran deal
- Treasury: former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin who favours massive tax reductions
- Attorney General: Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, a hardliner on immigration
- Labour: Fast-food executive Andrew Puzder, a critic of regulation and the minimum wage
- Health & Human Services: Georgia Congressman Tom Price who opposes Obamacare and abortion
- Housing & Urban Development: retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a critic of government welfare
- Environmental Protection Agency: Scott Pruit who opposes Obama’s Clean Power Plan and denies climate change
- Commerce: billionaire investor Wilbur Ross who is a critic of US trade deals
- Transportation: Elaine Chao, a former Secretary of Labour
- Education: the mega rich Betsy DeVos who has lobbied for school vouchers
- Ambassador to the UN: South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley
- National Security Adviser: retired general Michael Flynn who has flirted with conspiracy theories
- Chief of Staff: former Chair of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus
- Chief Strategist: Steve Bannon, the man behind Beitbart News which is seen as the platform for the ‘alt right’
It’s going to be a turbulent time with massive implications for us all.
December 11th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
If you ever watched the U.S.TV series “Madam Secretary”, you’d be in no doubt as to whom the Secretary Of State position should go to!
Interesting, though possible dangerous, times don’t you think?
December 11th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Hi, Brian.
I’ve watched every episode of the first two series of “Madam Secretary” and enjoyed them. When I was in the States recently, I noticed that series 3 has started to be broadcast there but I don’t think we’ll see it in the UK until January 2017.
I agree with you – dangerous times.
December 11th, 2016 at 3:12 pm
I think you’ve left out the name of the Health & Human Services appointment – Tom Price?
December 11th, 2016 at 7:35 pm
Thanks for pointing this out, Peter – corrected now.