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President-elect Trump on Saturday seized on the mysterious drone controversy in New Jersey to mock one-time ally turned nemesis Chris Christie. 

The president-elect, who will take office in just over a month, shared an AI-generated meme of the former New Jersey governor eating McDonald’s with more McDonald’s meals being delivered by drones, mocking his weight on Truth Social and X. 

Christie endorsed Trump in 2016 but was later axed as the head of his transition team. 

Last year, Christie had a short-lived presidential campaign for the 2024 election during which he called Trump a ‘coward’ and a ‘puppet of Putin,’ but he dropped out in January.

‘I want to promise you this, I’m going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again. And that’s more important than my own personal ambition,’ he said when he dropped out. 

Christie’s weight has been a frequent target for Trump since their falling-out. Last year, Trump jokingly told a supporter to not call the former governor a ‘fat pig.’ 

Since mid-November, New Jersey residents have been baffled by unexplained sightings of what appear to be drones. 

The sightings have also been reported in other areas of the country, including military installations, prompting lawmakers to demand answers. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement have said the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety. 

On Friday, Trump called for the drones to be shot down if there’s no reasonable explanation for them. 

‘Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge,’ he wrote on Truth Social. ‘I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!’

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Since winning the election last week, President-elect Donald Trump has begun evaluating and rolling out his picks for his Cabinet and other top roles. 

Here’s a roundup of whom Trump has picked to fill top jobs in his administration: 

Publicly announced

White House Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – Elise Stefanik
National Security Adviser – Michael Waltz 
‘Border Czar’ – Tom Homan 
Ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee 
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator – Lee Zeldin 
Middle East Envoy – Steven Witkoff
White House Counsel – William McGinley
CIA Director – John Ratcliffe
Department of Government Efficiency – Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy 
Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth  
Homeland Security Secretary – Kristi Noem
Deputy Chief of Staff – Dan Scavino
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor – Stephen Miller
Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs – James Blair
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel – Taylor Budowich
Director of National Intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard
Secretary of State – Marco Rubio
U.S. Attorney General – Pam Bondi
Secretary of Health and Human Services – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York – Jay Clayton
Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins
U.S. Solicitor General – Dean John Sauer
Deputy Attorney General – Todd Blanche
Secretary of the Interior – Doug Burgum
Communications Director – Steven Cheung
Director of Presidential Personnel – Sergio Gor
Press Secretary – Karoline Leavitt
Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary – William Owen Scharf
Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – Brendan Carr
Secretary of Transportation – Sean Duffy
Secretary of Commerce – Howard Lutnick
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator – Dr. Mehmet Oz
Secretary of Education – Linda McMahon
Ambassador to NATO – Matthew Whitaker
Treasury Secretary – Scott Bessent
Office of Management and Budget – Russ Vought
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Scott Turner
Labor Secretary –Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Director of CDC – Dave Weldon
FDA commissioner – Marty Makary
Surgeon General – Janette Nesheiwat
Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism – Sebastian Gorka
Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor – Alex Wong
Secretary of Agriculture – Brooke Rollins
Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs – James Braid
Director of the Office of Political Affairs – Matt Brasseaux
Director of the Office of Public Liaison – Alex Latcham
National Institutes of Health Director – Dr. Jay Bhattacharya
U.S. Trade Representative – Jamieson Greer
Secretary of the Navy – John Phelan
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services – Jim O’Neill
Domestic Policy Council Director – Vince Haley
White House National Economic Council Director – Kevin Hassett
Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia – Keith Kellogg
U.S. Ambassador to France – Charles Kushner
FBI Director – Kash Patel
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator – Chad Chronister (Withdrawn)
Senior Advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs – Massad Boulos
U.S. Ambassador to U.K. – Warren A. Stephens
Secretary of the Army – Daniel P. Driscoll
Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing – Peter Navarro
Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs – Adam Boehler
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Jared Isaacman
Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Justice Department – Gail Slater
Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury – Dr. Michael William Faulkender
Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State and Chief of Protocol for the United States of America – Monica Crowley
Head of the Office of White House Counsel – David A. Warrington
Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service – Billy Long
Administrator of the Small Business Administration – Kelly Loeffler
Social Security Administration – Frank Bisignano
White House Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency Czar – David Sacks
Ambassador to China – David Perdue
Ambassador to Chile – Brandon Judd
Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection – Rodney Scott
Acting Director of ICE – Caleb Vitello
Counselor of the Department of State – Michael Needham
Counselor to the President – Alina Habba
Director of Policy Planning at the State Department – Michael Anton
Deputy Secretary of State – Christopher Landau
DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights – Harmeet K. Dhillon
General Counsel of the Office of Management and Budget – Mark Paoletta
Chief of Staff at the Office of Management and Budget – Ed Martin
Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission – Mark R. Meador
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey – Tom Barrack
Chair of the Federal Trade Commission – Andrew N. Ferguson
U.S. Ambassador to Greece – Kimberly Guilfoyle
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment – Jacob Helberg
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico – Ron Johnson
U.S. Ambassador to Beligum – Bill White
Intelligence Advisory Board – Devin Nunes
Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security – Troy Edgar

 

White House Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles

Wiles has been widely lauded for heading Trump’s successful campaign this year, having run Trump’s campaign operations in Florida in 2016 and 2020. She maintained close ties with the president-elect throughout the Biden administration and signed on as CEO of Trump’s Save America PAC in 2021. 

‘Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,’ Trump said in a statement. 

US Ambassador to the United Nations – Elise Stefanik

Elise Stefanik, the New York Republican representative and current House GOP Conference Chair has been an attack dog for Trump in Congress. 

She is a staunch supporter of Israel, having made headlines for her combative lines of questioning of Ivy League university presidents over their handling of anti-Israel protests, some of which prompted the presidents to resign.

National Security Adviser – Michael Waltz 

On Tuesday, Trump announced the Florida Republican representative and former Army Green Beret would be his national security adviser. He’s decidedly a hawk on China and Iran. 

‘Mike retired as a Colonel, and is a nationally recognized leader in National Security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism,’ Trump said in a statement. 

‘Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!’

‘Border Czar’ – Tom Homan 

Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was an architect of Trump’s zero-tolerance policy during his first administration, one that led to backlash from family separations at the border. 

Homan has served under six administrations and presidents in both parties, dating back to the Reagan era, as a rank-and-file Border Patrol agent. He was appointed to the position of executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE under President Obama.

While serving at a ‘czar’ level rather than in an official Cabinet position, Homan will be in charge of ‘the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,’ Trump announced on Truth Social. 

‘I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,’ Trump wrote. ‘Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job.’

Ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee 

Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, is a staunch supporter of Israel, prompted by his evangelical faith. 

‘Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him’, a statement attached to Trump’s Truth Social post said. ‘Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!’

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator – Lee Zeldin 

Zeldin, a former House Republican from New York, had a notably strong, but unsuccessful, showing in the race for governor against Kathy Hochul in 2022. 

During that race, he called for New York to lift its ban on fracking.

Prior to running for governor, Zeldin served as a U.S. Congressman for eight years. During that time, Zeldin served on the House Foreign Affairs and House Financial Services committees. He also championed infrastructure and research projects like the preservation of Plum Island and Army Corps of Engineers initiatives.

Middle East Envoy – Steven Witkoff

Witkoff, a real estate investor, landlord, and the founder of the Witkoff Group, was tapped as Trump’s Middle East enjoy. He campaign with Trump during the campaign.

In his announcement, Trump said that Witkoff would be an ‘unrelenting Voice for PEACE’ in the highly-contentious region.

White House Counsel – William McGinley

McGinley, who served in Trump’s first presidential term as White House cabinet secretary, returns to the White House for Trump’s second term. The White House Counsel conducts key behind-the-scene research into potential Supreme Court nominees.

CIA Director – John Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe previously served under Trump during his first term as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He will head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 

In 2020, he was awarded the National Security Medal, the nation’s highest honor for distinguished achievement in the field of intelligence and national security. 

Department of Government Efficiency – Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy 

Billionaire Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Trump said that the pair will work together to ‘dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.’

‘It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,’ the announcement on Tuesday evening said. ‘Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time.’

Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth  

Trump nominated Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. He would need to be confirmed by the Senate to assume the position. Hegseth has long championed a strong military and veterans causes. 

He served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army infantry officer, being awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Hegseth was a host on ‘FOX & Friends Weekend’ and FOX Nation until his last day on Tuesday. 

‘Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy,’ Trump said. 

Homeland Security Secretary – Kristi Noem

Trump announced on Tuesday that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is his pick for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem would need to be approved by the Senate to assume the position.

DHS oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  

‘She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times,’ the Trump transition team said in a statement on Tuesday. ‘She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries.’

Deputy Chief of Staff – Dan Scavino

Trump announced that his longtime aide Dan Scavino Jr. will return to the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff. 

‘Scavino was a Trump Campaign Senior Advisor and remains one of President Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides,’ the Trump transition team said. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor – Stephen Miller

Trump announced Stephen Miller would serve as deputy chief of staff for policy in his administration. Miller was a senior adviser in Trump’s first term. He helped craft many of Trump’s hard-line speeches and plans on immigration. 

Since Trump left office, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers fashioned as a conservative version of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.

Miller has advocated for mass deportations during the second Trump term. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs – James Blair

Trump announced James Blair would serve in the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs. 

‘Blair was the Trump Campaign and Republican National Committee Political Director, managing hundreds of staff and overseeing a wide portfolio of political operations and programs,’ the Trump transition team said. 

Blair was in charge of the Trump campaign’s get-out-the-vote operations in key battleground states, which Trump swept on Election Day. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel – Taylor Budowich

Trump announced that Taylor Budowich will join him in the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. 

‘Prior to joining the Trump Campaign, Budowich served in a senior role in President Trump’s Leadership PAC, Save America, and as CEO of the pro-Trump Super PAC, MAGA Inc.,’ the Trump transition team said. 

‘Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were ‘best in class’ advisors on my winning campaign, and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,’ Trump said in a statement announcing his senior campaign aides would be promoted to the White House. ‘They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.’

Director of National Intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is Trump’s pick for the position of director of national intelligence. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

The cabinet-level position involves overseeing the intelligence community and advising Trump and the National Security Council on intelligence matters. Gabbard is an Iraq War veteran and a U.S. Army reservist.

‘As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!’

Secretary of State – Marco Rubio

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as his Secretary of State. 

‘It is my Great Honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The United States Secretary of State. Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.’

Rubio is known as an Iran and China hawk. He is a top GOP member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and ran for president in 2016.

U.S. Attorney General – Pam Bondi

Trump announced Thursday evening that he’s nominating former attorney general of Florida Pam Bondi as the next attorney general of the United States.

Trump’s latest Cabinet pick replaces Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative and nominee for attorney general, who on Thursday withdrew as Trump’s pick for the top prosecutor after the ‘distraction’ his nomination had caused due to a swirl of allegations about paying underage women for sex. 

‘For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,’ Trump said. ‘I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!’

Shortly after the announcement, Gaetz said on X that Bondi is ‘a stellar selection’ by Trump for attorney general.

‘Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house,’ Gaetz wrote. ‘She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ.’

Deputy Attorney General – Todd Blanche

Trump named his personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. The president-elect said that the 50-year-old lawyer has experience prosecuting gangs – as well as representing Trump in his 2024 criminal trial in New York.

‘I am pleased to announce that Todd Blanche will serve as Deputy Attorney General in my Administration. Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long,’ Trump announced in a news release.

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump announced he will tap former 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

‘I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,’ Trump said in his announcement Thursday. 

‘The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!’ Trump added.

Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race in August and quickly endorsed the Trump-Vance ticket, and has since repeatedly vowed to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’

U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York – Jay Clayton

President-elect Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Jay Clayton to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

‘I am pleased to announce that Jay Clayton, of New York, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during my first term, where he did an incredible job, is hereby nominated to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ‘Jay is a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant.

‘Jay is going to be a strong Fighter for the Truth as we, Make America Great Again,’ the president-elect added.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins

President-elect Trump announced on Thursday his intent to nominate former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., to serve as secretary of veterans affairs.

‘Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need.

‘Thank you, Doug, for your willingness to serve our country in this very important role,’ the president-elect added.

U.S. Solicitor General – Dean John Sauer

Trump announced Dean John Sauer as his pick for U.S. solicitor general.

‘John is a deeply accomplished, masterful appellate attorney, who clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia in the United States Supreme Court, served as Solicitor General of Missouri for six years, and has extensive experience practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court and other Appellate Courts,’ Trump said in the announcement.

Sauer served as solicitor general of Missouri from 2017 to 2023, and represented Trump in his successful appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. United States.

Secretary of the Interior – Doug Burgum

President-elect Trump announced that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will lead the Department of the Interior during a speech at the Americans for Prosperity Gala at Mar-a-Lago.

‘He’s going to be announced [Friday]…I look forward to doing the formal announcement, although this is a pretty big announcement right now, actually,’ Trump said. ‘He’s going to head the Department of Interior, and he’s going to be fantastic.’

Burgum, a multi-millionaire former software company CEO turned two-term governor, launched a White House bid in June 2023. The governor made energy and natural resources a key part of his campaign for the GOP nomination.

After he dropped out of the race, Burgum became a high profile surrogate for the former president, appearing on the campaign trail and in media hits on Trump’s behalf. He was in consideration as Trump’s running mate this past summer before Sen. JD Vance of Ohio was picked as the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee.

Communications Director – Steven Cheung

Trump announced Friday, Nov. 15, that Steven Cheung would return to the White House as assistant to the president and director of communications. Cheung previously served as communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign and was the White House director of strategic response in Trump’s first term.

Director of Presidential Personnel – Sergio Gor

Trump also confirmed Friday that Sergio Gor will join the White House as director of the presidential personnel office. Gor, an ally and business partner of Donald Trump Jr.’s, was in charge of the pro-Trump political action committee Right For America and previously worked in Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s office. 

‘Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I am thrilled to have them join my White House, as we Make America Great Again!’ 

Press Secretary – Karoline Leavitt 

Trump announced campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt will serve as White House press secretary for his upcoming administration. 

‘Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,’ Trump said in a statement Friday evening. 

‘Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we, Make America Great Again.’

Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, unseating Nixon administration press secretary Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when he served in the role from 1969-1974.

Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary – William Owen Scharf

William Owen Scharf, one of Trump’s lawyers, will serve as assistant to the president and staff secretary starting in January.

In a statement on Saturday, the President-elect wrote that Scharf ‘is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team.’

‘[Scharf] has played a key role in defeating the Election Interference and Lawfare waged against me, including by winning the Historic Immunity Decision in the Supreme Court,’ Trump’s statement read.

Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright

Chris Wright, the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, has been picked to lead the Department of Energy, according to a statement President-elect Trump released on Saturday.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,’ Trump’s statement read, adding that Wright ‘has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy.’

Wright graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering, according to Liberty Energy’s website. He also completed graduate work in electrical engineering at University of California, Berkeley and MIT.

‘[Wright] is a self-described tech nerd turned entrepreneur and a dedicated humanitarian on a mission to better human lives by expanding access to abundant, affordable, and reliable energy,’ the company’s website reads.

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – Brendan Carr

President-elect Trump announced on Sunday that he has picked Brendan Carr to serve as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) starting in January.

‘Commissioner Carr currently serves as the senior Republican on the FCC. Before that, he was the FCC’s General Counsel,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘I first nominated Commissioner Carr to the FCC in 2017, and he has been confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate three times.’

As a current member of the FCC, Carr recently called out ‘Saturday Night Live’ for platforming Kamala Harris without inviting Trump, which violates FCC rules.

‘NBC has structured this in a way that’s plainly designed to evade the FCC’s rules,’ Carr said to Fox News Digital. ‘We’re talking 50 hours before Election Day starts, without any notice to other candidates, as far as I can tell.’

  Secretary of Transportation – Sean Duffy

President-elect Trump announced that he is nominating former Congressman Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, who is also a Fox News contributor and FOX Business co-host, to serve as the U.S. secretary of transportation.

‘Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant, starting his career as a District Attorney for Ashland, Wisconsin, and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District,’ Trump said in his announcement on Monday. ‘Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation. Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!’

While in Congress, Duffy helped advocate for fiscal responsibility, economic growth and rural development.

Duffy joined FOX News Media as a contributor in 2020. He currently serves as the co-host of FOX Business’ The Bottom Line alongside Dagen McDowell. He also provides political analysis across all FOX News Media platforms.

 

Secretary of Commerce – Howard Lutnick

Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick has been nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as secretary of commerce.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgeral, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.’

‘In his role as Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team, Howard has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen,’ Trump’s statement added.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator – Dr. Mehmet Oz

President-elect Trump plans to nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) starting in January, he announced on Tuesday.

‘America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again,’ Trump said in a Truth Social post. ‘He is an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator, who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades.’

Trump wrote that Dr. Oz is expected to ‘work closely’ with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who the president-elect nominated to run the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Secretary of Education – Linda McMahon

President-elect Trump is appointing Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to lead the Department of Education.

His announcement, which was posted on Truth Social, came hours after two sources told Fox News that McMahon was likely to be picked. Trump cited the businesswoman’s expertise when he made the announcement.

‘Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.’

Ambassador to NATO – Matthew Whitaker

Trump is tapping former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to become U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in his new administration.

Trump described Whitaker, who is from Iowa, as ‘a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended.’

‘Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability – He will put AMERICA FIRST,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I have full confidence in Matt’s ability to represent the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to promote PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Freedom, and Prosperity around the World.’

‘Matt is also the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, and is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A., MBA and J.D., where he played football, and received the Big Ten Medal of Honor,’ Trump added.

Treasury Secretary – Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, was chosen for the coveted post of Treasury secretary. Bessent was a key economic policy adviser and fundraiser for the Trump campaign.

‘Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists. Scott’s story is that of the American Dream,’ Trump said on Friday.

He has been an advocate for economic policies like lower taxes, spending restraint and deregulation that have long made up the core of the Republican Party’s platform, and has also been supportive of Trump’s use of tariffs in trade negotiations.

Office of Management and Budget – Russ Vought

On Friday, Trump tapped Russ Vought to lead the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought served as OMB director during Trump’s first term. He also served as deputy OMB director and acting director.

‘He did an excellent job serving in this role in my First Term – We cut four Regulations for every new Regulation, and it was a Great Success!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Vought is a contributor to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and a close Trump ally. 

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Scott Turner

Trump nominated Scott Turner as the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Turner, who is chair of the Center for Education Opportunity and is a former professional football player, previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC).

‘Scott is an NFL Veteran, who, during my First Term, served as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities,’ Trump said in a Friday statement. ‘Those efforts, working together with former HUD Secretary, Ben Carson, were maximized by Scott’s guidance in overseeing 16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions furthering Economic Development. Under Scott’s leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 Billion Dollars in Private Investment!’

Turner, a former Texas state lawmaker, played nine seasons in the NFL as a member of the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos.

Labor Secretary – Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Trump nominated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., on Friday for secretary of labor. 

‘I am proud to hereby nominate Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, from the Great State of Oregon, as United States Secretary of Labor,’ Trump wrote in an official statement. ‘Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America. I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.’

Chavez-DeRemer was first elected to Congress in 2022, and lost re-election in a close race against Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month. Her candidacy was backed by the Teamsters Union.

Director of CDC – Dr. Dave Weldon

President-elect Trump announced that former Rep. Dr. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is his pick as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

‘In addition to being a Medical Doctor for 40 years, and an Army Veteran, Dave has been a respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues, and served on the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, working for Accountability on HHS and CDC Policy and Budgeting,’ Trump said in the Friday evening announcement. 

Trump said that Dr. Weldon would restore trust in the agency and transparency.

FDA commissioner – Dr. Marty Makary

Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary, a pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Makary is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins, according to the university’s website, and was a Fox News medical contributor. 

‘FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator. The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency,’ Trump said on Truth Social.

‘He will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic,’ Trump said.

Surgeon General – Janette Nesheiwat

Trump also nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as surgeon general, saying that she would be a ‘fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventative medicine and public health.’

‘I am proud to announce that Dr. Janette Nesheiwat will be the Nation’s Doctor as the United States Surgeon General. Dr. Nesheiwat is a double board-certified Medical Doctor with an unwavering commitment to saving and treating thousands of American lives,’ he said.

Nesheiwat is a former Fox News medical contributor.  

Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Counterterrosim – Sebastian Gorka

Trump announced Friday that his former White House adviser, Sebastian Gorka, will serve in his incoming administration. Gorka will serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism. 

Gorka, a former Trump aide, previously served as deputy assistant to the president during Trump’s first term. He’s also a former Fox News contributor.

‘Since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement, serving previously as Strategist to the President in the first Trump Administration,’ Trump said. 

Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor – Alex Wong

Similarly to Gorka, Alex Wong served under Trump during his first term. 

Wong served in the State Department as deputy special representative for North Korea, and the deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. 

Secretary of Agriculture – Brooke Rollins

President-elect Trump tapped Brooke Rollins as his agriculture secretary. Rollins, the president and CEO of AFPI, previously served in Trump’s first administration as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council.

Trump lauded Rollins’ ‘commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.’

‘A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,’ Trump’s official announcement said. ‘From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.’

Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs – James Braid

Trump appointed James Braid to serve in the White House as the deputy assistant to the president and as the director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

Braid worked in legislative affairs at the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, and since then he has served as the lead policy staffer for Vice President-elect JD Vance in the U.S. Senate.

Braid has also served as chief of staff for multiple members of Congress, and has taken on several other senior policy roles on Capitol Hill since 2015.

Director of the Office of Political Affairs – Matt Brasseaux

Trump appointed Matt Brasseaux to serve as deputy assistant to the president and as the director of the Office of Public Affairs.

Brasseaux worked as a deputy political director for the Trump Campaign and Republican National Committee in 2024.

He also served as a regional political director for the Republican National Committee and campaign manager for now-Gov. Joe Lombardo in Nevada.

Director of the Office of Public Liaison – Alex Latcham

Trump tapped Alex Latcham to serve in the White House as the deputy assistant to the president and as the director of the Office of Public Liaison.

Latcham previously served as special assistant to the president and deputy political director during Trump’s first term.

For the past eight years, Latcham served Trump as a senior deputy political director for his campaign and for the Republican National Committee.

National Institutes of Health Director – Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

Stanford-trained physician and economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has officially been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, writing: ‘I am thrilled to nominate Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to serve as Director of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bhattacharya will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.’

Bhattacharya met this week with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was nominated by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the NIH and other health agencies, and impressed the former presidential candidate with his ideas to overhaul the NIH, which oversees U.S. biomedical research, according to The Washington Post.

U.S. Trade Representative – Jamieson Greer

The incoming president announced Jamieson Greer as his pick to serve as the next U.S. trade representative. Greer previously served as chief of staff to the trade representative during Trump’s first term, Robert Lighthizer at a time when the administration implemented tariffs on China and other nations. 

In announcing Greer’s nomination, Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, ‘therefore making it much better for American Workers.’

Secretary of the Navy – John Phelan

Businessman John Phelan will serve as the next secretary of the Navy as well. Phelan is the co-founder of co-founded MSD Capital.

‘His Record of Success speaks for itself — A true Champion of American Enterprise and Ingenuity!’ Trump said in a statement.

‘John will be a tremendous force for our Naval Service members, and a steadfast leader in advancing my America First vision,’ Trump said. ‘He will put the business of the U.S. Navy above all else.’

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services – Jim O’Neill

Jim O’Neill was nominated to serve as the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been tapped to lead the agency.

O’Neill, who served as principal associate deputy secretary of HHS, ‘will fight in unison to ensure every American, and especially our most precious resource, our children, will live long and healthy lives and, Make America Great and Healthy Again!’ said Trump.

Domestic Policy Council Director – Vince Haley

Haley, a speechwriter for the Trump campaign, will lead the president-elect’s domestic agenda. 

White House National Economic Council Director – Kevin Hassett

Economist Kevin Hassett, 62, was named director of the White House National Economic Council, bringing into Trump’s administration a major advocate for tax cuts. He played a crucial role in helping design and pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Trump said. 

He will also ‘will play an important role in helping American families recover from the inflation that was unleashed by the Biden Administration’ and that together they would ‘renew and improve’ the 2017 tax cuts, many of which are set to expire after 2025.

Hassett served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. 

Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia – Keith Kellogg

President-elect Trump has nominated a Vietnam War veteran and retired general for a potential new post focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump has created the position of special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, according to Reuters, and picked Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg for the post.

Kellogg served as former Vice President Mike Pence’s national security adviser and was spotted at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago club on Tuesday, according to the New York Post.

U.S. Ambassador to France – Charles Kushner

President-elect Trump has nominated Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, to serve in his new administration as the U.S. ambassador to France.

‘I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France,’ Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday. ‘He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests.’

In 2020, Kushner was pardoned by Trump 15 years after being found guilty of falsifying tax returns, witness tampering and illegal campaign contributions.

FBI Director – Kash Patel

President-elect Donald Trump has named longtime ally Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, who has been a frequent and harsh critic of the FBI, to serve as the bureau’s next director in the new administration.

Patel, 44, is an attorney with experience in national security, intelligence and counterterrorism and helped uncover the bureau’s surveillance of the Trump campaign and first term. He has been a member of Trump’s transition team, advising the administration on other appointments.

‘Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution.’

The current FBI director, Christopher Wray, is currently serving a 10-year appointment which began in 2017. Wray will either need to be fired or resign in order for Patel to take the position.

Patel is widely seen as a staunch Trump loyalist who will implement Trump’s desired reforms within the agency. During the first Trump administration, he served as senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council and later as the chief of staff for acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, from 2020-21.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator – Chad Chronister (WITHDRAWN)

President-elect Trump nominated Florida sheriff Chad Chronister as administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

‘For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE,’ Trump wrote in his announcement moments before he nominated Kash Patel to replace Christopher Wray as FBI director.

Chronister withdrew from the nomination on December 3 following intense backlash over his arrest of a pastor for violating COVID rules during the pandemic in 2020.

‘Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,’ Chronister announced on social media. ‘There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling.’

Senior Advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs – Massad Boulos

President-elect Trump tapped his daughter Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law, Lebanese-American businessman Dr. Massad Boulos, to join his Cabinet as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.

‘I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs,’ the president-elect wrote on TRUTHSocial. ‘Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene.’

Boulos led efforts to engage the Arab American community, organizing dozens of meetings across Michigan and other areas with large Arab populations. 

U.S. Ambassador to U.K. – Warren A. Stephens

Trump nominated businessman and philanthropist Warren A. Stephens to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James, which in simple terms, is the country’s representative to the U.K.

‘Over the last 38 years, while serving as the President, Chairman, and CEO of his company, Stephens Inc., Warren has built a wonderful financial services firm, while selflessly giving back to his community as a philanthropist,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social. ‘Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies.’

Trump then congratulated Stephens, his wife Harriet, their three children Miles, John and Laura, and their six grandchildren.

Secretary of the Army – Daniel P. Driscoll

Daniel P. Driscoll of North Carolina, a U.S. Army veteran and venture capitalist, will serve as secretary of the Army. Driscoll is a senior adviser to Vice President-elect JD Vance who fought with the 10th Mountain Division as a Cavalry Scout Platoon Leader in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

‘I am pleased to nominate Daniel P. Driscoll, from the Great State of North Carolina, to serve as the Secretary of the Army. As a former Soldier, Investor, and Political Advisor, Dan brings a powerful combination of experiences to serve as a disruptor and change agent,’ Trump posted on Truth Social.

Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing – Peter Navarro

Peter Navarro, who previously served as Trump’s trade adviser in the president-elect’s first term, will resume that role. Navarro returns to the White House as Senior Counselo for Trade and Manufacturing after his conviction on a misdemeanor contempt of Congress charge, for which he served four months in a federal prison.  

‘I am pleased to announce that Peter Navarro, a man who was treated horribly by the Deep State, or whatever else you would like to call it, will serve as my Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing,’ Trump posted on Truth Social. ‘During my First Term, few were more effective or tenacious than Peter in enforcing my two sacred rules, Buy American, Hire American. He helped me renegotiate unfair Trade Deals like NAFTA and the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), and moved every one of my Tariff and Trade actions FAST….’

Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs – Adam Boehler

Adam Boehler, a businessman and former government official, will be Trump’s special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, with the rank of ambassador. Boehler previously served as the first CEO of the United States Development Finance Corporation and had worked with the Trump administration to negotiate the Abraham Accords.

‘He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NO ONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader. Adam will work tirelessly to bring our Great American Citizens HOME,’ Trump said.

Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Jared Isaacman

Trump picked billionaire Jared Isaacman to head up NASA. Isaacman is a private astronaut and associate of Elon Musk, who will lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Isaacman is CEO of the payment processing company Shift4Payments and leads Polaris, a program that uses SpaceX vehicles to conduct private astronaut missions in orbit. 

‘I am delighted to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),’ Trump said.

‘Over the past 25 years, as the Founder and CEO of Shift4, Jared has demonstrated exceptional leadership, building a trailblazing global financial technology company. He also co-founded and served as CEO of Draken International, a defense aerospace company, for over a decade, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, and our Allies. Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.’

Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Justice Department – Gail Slater

Trump announced that Gail Slater will serve as assistant attorney general for the antitrust division at the Justice Department. 

Slater, a former Fox Corp. executive, served as tech policy aide in the first Trump administration and worked as a former adviser to Vice President-elect JD Vance.

‘Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech!’ Trump said on Truth Social. ‘I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice’s antitrust team will continue that work under Gail’s leadership.’

Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury – Dr. Michael William Faulkender

Trump announced that Dr. Michael William Faulkender will serve as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Faulkender is currently a finance professor at the University of Maryland and previously served as the assistant secretary of the t

‘Mike is a distinguished Economist and Policy practitioner who will drive our America First Agenda,’ Trump said in a post on Truth Social. ‘He will help Treasury Secretary Nominee Scott Bessent usher in a new Golden Age for the United States by delivering a Great Economic Boom for all Americans.’

Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State and Chief of Protocol for the United States of America – Monica Crowley

Trump named former Fox News host Monica Crowley to serve as ambassador, assistant secretary of state and chief of protocol for the United States of America.

‘During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department. Monica is a New York Times bestselling author, and has been a popular anchor, and political and foreign affairs analyst, for the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, among others.’ 

‘A graduate of Colgate University, she holds two Master’s degrees, and a Doctorate in International Relations, from Columbia University,’ he added.

Head of the Office of White House Counsel – David A. Warrington

Trump chose David A. Warrington to serve as the next head of the Office of White House Counsel.

In his announcement on Truth Social, Trump touted a number of Warrington’s accomplishments, including his diplomas from Georgetown University and George Mason University School of Law. He is currently a partner at Dhillon Law Group.

‘Dave will lead the Office of White House Counsel, and serve as the top attorney in the White House,’ Trump’s post read. Dave has represented me well as my personal attorney, and as General Counsel for my Presidential Campaign. He is an esteemed lawyer and Conservative leader.’

Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service – Billy Long

President-elect Trump announced on Wednesday that he is nominating former Missouri Rep. Billy Long to serve as the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in his new administration.

‘Billy brings 32 years of experience running his own businesses in Real Estate and, as one of the premier Auctioneers in the Country,’ the Republican leader wrote in a Truth Social post. ‘He then served 12 years in Congress, because he ‘felt it was important for his constituents to have a Representative who has signed the front of a check’!’

Trump also referenced Long’s experience working as a tax advisor. Long served in Congress from 2011 to 2023.

Administrator of the Small Business Administration – Kelly Loeffler

Trump is naming former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to head the Small Business Administration (SBA). The purpose of the SBA is to provide small businesses with access to resources such as loans, government contracts and business counseling.

Trump went on to call Loeffler, a longtime ally and a co-chair of his inaugural committee, a ‘tremendous fighter’ and cited her success in business.

‘Prior to her tenure in the U.S. Senate, Kelly built a 25-year career in financial services and technology,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘Along with her amazing husband, Jeff, she helped build a Fortune 500 company from 100 employees to over 10,000, as Executive VP. She and Jeff also helped me secure the Big Election Win in Georgia!’

Social Security Administration – Frank Bisignano

Shortly after announcing Long and Loeffler, Trump announced he had picked Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano to head the Social Security Administration.

‘Frank is a business leader, with a tremendous track record of transforming large corporations. He will be responsible to deliver on the Agency’s commitment to the American People for generations to come!’ Trump said in the announcement on Wednesday evening.

Bisignano previously was the CEO of First Data, the COO of JPMorgan Chase, as well as senior positions at Citigroup.

‘Fiserv Corporation, the world’s largest payments and financial technology company that touches almost every American household each day. He has a long career leading financial services institutions through great transformation,’ Trump said. Frank previously served as Co-Chief Operating Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Prior to JPMorgan Chase & Co., he held senior positions at Citigroup, including Chief Administrative Officer during 9/11, where he had responsibility for 16,000 employees in Lower Manhattan.’

White House Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency Czar – David Sacks

Trump named former PayPal Chief Operating Officer David Sacks to be his White House artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency czar.

‘In this important role, David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness,’ Trump said in his announcement.

‘David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas,’ he said.

Sacks, a former PayPal executive, has angel investments in several major firms, including Facebook, Uber, SpaceX, Airbnb and Palantir through his Craft Ventures fund. 

His enterprise software company, Yammer, was acquired by Microsoft for over $1 billion in 2012.

Ambassador to China – David Perdue

Trump named former Sen. David Perdue to serve as his ambassador to China. 

‘He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,’ Trump said on Truth Social. 

The appointment comes as Trump has threatened Beijing with additional tariffs unless it does more to prevent the illegal flow of fentanyl, which has been blamed for thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S.

Ambassador to Chile – Brandon Judd

Brand Judd was appointed as ambassador to Chile. 

Judd, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, was praised by Trump, who said he ‘helped me develop and implement the most effective Border Security policies in our Nation’s History.’

‘I am confident Brandon will represent the United States in the same manner as he represented all rank-and-file Border Patrol Agents as the President of the National Border Patrol Council. Brandon will do our country proud!’ Trump said. 

Commissioner of United States Customs and Border Protection – Rodney Scott

Trump nominated former border chief Rodeny Scott as the commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Scott is a former Border Patrol chief who served as chief from 2020 until he was ousted by the Biden administration in mid-2021. 

Since then, he has been a fierce critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies and its handling of the crisis at the southern border.

He would bring experience as a Border Patrol agent, and before being chief, he had led the San Diego Sector, one of the most challenging sectors in the country.

He has been highly critical of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and recently accused him of having ‘intentionally’ opened the southern border.

‘Scott Rodney served nearly three decades in the Border Patrol, building vast experience and knowledge in Law Enforcement and Border Security. Rodney served as the 24th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, where he implemented Remain-in-Mexico, Title 42, Safe Third Agreements, and achieved record low levels of illegal immigration. He began his career with the Border Patrol in 1992 at the Imperial Beach Station, San Diego Sector. Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, he served as an Anti-Terrorism Advisor to the CBP Commissioner, and later, as Deputy Executive Director of the CBP, Office of Anti-Terrorism,’ Trump said in a statement.

Acting Director of ICE – Caleb Vitello

President-elect Trump named Caleb Vitello as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Vitello previously served at the White House National Security Council as the Director for Interior Enforcement as well as serving as Unit Chief and Deputy Assistant Director of the National Fugitive Operations Program within ERO’s Enforcement Division.

‘Caleb Vitello A member of the Senior Executive Service, with over 23 years of service to ICE, Caleb currently serves as Assistant Director of the Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs, where he oversees Agency-wide training, equipment, and policy to ensure Officer and Public Safety,’ Trump said.

‘Caleb led the Fugitive Operations Academy, served as Deputy Assistant Director, and directed the National Fugitive Operations Program, providing policy guidance, strategic planning, and operational oversight for efforts to locate, arrest, and remove at-large, dangerous criminals and illegal aliens from the U.S.’ Trump said.

Counselor of the Department of State – Michael Needham

Trump wrote in another post that Michael Needham will serve as the Counselor of the Department of State, having served with Rubio for many years.

Michael Anton, Trump added in another post, will serve as the director of policy planning in the State Department.

‘Michael served me loyally and effectively at the National Security Council in my First Term. He has an extensive background in Government, the private sector, and academia,’ he wrote. ‘He spent the last eight years explaining what an America First foreign policy truly means.’

Counselor to the President – Alina Habba

Trump announced that Alina Habba would be joining his White House team as the counselor to the President on Sunday evening.

‘Alina has been a tireless advocate for Justice, a fierce Defender of the Rule of Law, and an invaluable Advisor to my Campaign and Transition Team,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ‘She has been unwavering in her loyalty, and unmatched in her resolve – standing with me through numerous ‘trials,’ battles, and countless days in court.’

The president-elect noted that there are not many who understand the weaponization of the ‘injustice’ system as well as Habba.

‘As a first generation American of Middle Eastern Heritage, she has become a role model for women in Law and Politics, most recently being named Chaldean Woman of the Year,’ Trump continued. ‘Congratulations to Alina, her husband Gregg, and her three beautiful children, Chloe, Luke, and Parker.’

Director of Policy Planning at the State Department – Michael Anton

Trump announced plans to appoint Michael Anton as the director of policy planning in the State Department.

‘Michael served me loyally and effectively at the National Security Council in my First Term. He has an extensive background in Government, the private sector, and academia,’ he wrote. ‘He spent the last eight years explaining what an America First foreign policy truly means.’

Deputy Secretary of State – Christopher Landau

Trump announced that Christopher Landau to serve as Deputy Secretary of State, who will work alongside Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio.

Together, Trump said, the two will promote the nation’s security and prosperity through an America first foreign policy.

‘Chris served as my Ambassador to Mexico, where he worked tirelessly with our team to reduce illegal migration to the lowest levels in History,’ Trump said. ‘He is also one of our Country’s great lawyers, and clerked for both Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas on the United States Supreme Court.’

DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights – Harmeet K. Dhillon

Trump on Sunday nominated Harmeet K. Dhillon as the assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Justice Department.

Trump said Dhillon has consistently protected civil liberties throughout her career, including taking on Big Tech for censoring free speech, representing Christians who were not allowed to pray together during the COVID-19 pandemic, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their employees.

‘Harmeet is one of the top election lawyers in the country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School and clerked in the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.’

Chief of Staff at the Office of Management and Budget – Ed Martin

Trump announced Tuesday that he is appointing Ed Martin to serve as the next Chief of Staff at the Office of Management and Budget.

In the announcement, the incoming president said Martin served as the Chief of Staff under Missouri Gov. Ed Blunt, adding that Martin and Phyllis Schlafly co-wrote ‘The Conservative Case for Trump.’

‘Ed has served as Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, and RNC member,’ Trump wrote. ‘Ed is a winner who will help Make America Great Again!’

Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission – Mark R. Meador

Trump nominated Mark R. Meador to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday.

‘Mark Meador is a partner at Kressin Meador Powers LLC, a boutique antitrust law firm,’ the president-elect wrote in a post on Truth Social. ‘He previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Antitrust and Competition Policy to Senator Mike Lee, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee.’

Trump also acknowledged Meador’s work as an antitrust enforcer at the FTC and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division.

‘He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago, and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center,’ Trump wrote. ‘Congratulations Mark!’

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey – Tom Barrack

President-elect Trump picked Tom Barrack to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, according to a post on Truth Social from the incoming president on Tuesday.

Trump wrote that Tom successfully managed a global private equity firm and is a respected and experienced voice of reason when it comes to political and business circles.

‘Tom was born and raised in Southern California, and earned a BA and JD from the University of Southern California and University of San Diego where he was a member of Law Review,’ Trump wrote. ‘Congratulations Tom!’

Chair of the Federal Trade Commission – Andrew N. Ferguson

Trump announced the appointment of Andrew N. Ferguson as the next Chair of the Federal Trade Commission in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday.

In the announcement, Trump said he was pleased to appoint Ferguson to the position, saying he has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship and protecting freedom of speech in the U.S.

Ferguson was sworn in as a commissioner on April 2, 2024, and as the chair, Trump said, he will be able to to fight on behalf of the American people on day one.

‘Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History,’ Trump wrote. ‘CONGRATULATIONS ANDREW!’

U.S. Ambassador to Greece – Kimberly Guilfoyle

Trump said Tuesday that he is appointing Kimberly Guilfoyle to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.

Acknowledging Guilfoyle as a close friend and ally, the president-elect said her experience and leadership in law, media and politics, and her sharp intellect, make her ‘supremely qualified’ to represent the U.S.

‘Kimberly is perfectly suited to foster strong bilateral relations with Greece, advancing our interests on issues ranging from defense cooperation to trade and economic innovation,’ Trump wrote. ‘Congratulations Kimberly!’

Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment – Jacob Helberg

Trump announced that Jacob Helberg would be the next Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment on Tuesday.

As part of the role, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, Helberg will ‘be a champion of our America First Foreign Policy.’

‘He will guide State Department policy on Economic statecraft, promoting America’s Economic security and growth, and American technological dominance abroad,’ Trump wrote. ‘Jacob is a successful technology executive, has the knowledge, expertise, and pragmatism to defend America’s Economic interests abroad, and always puts AMERICA FIRST!’

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico – Ron Johnson

Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday night that he was pleased to nominate Ron Johnson to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.

In the post, the president-elect said Johnson will work with Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio to promote the security and prosperity of the United States through strong ‘America First Foreign Policies.’

‘During my First Term, Ron served as the Ambassador to El Salvador, where he worked tirelessly with Salvadoran authorities and our team to reduce violent crime and illegal migration to the lowest levels in History,’ Trump wrote. ‘He also served our country for over twenty years with the Central Intelligence Agency after a distinguished career in the U.S. Army as a Green Beret.

‘Congratulations Ron,’ Trump added. ‘Together, we will put an end to migrant crime, stop the illegal flow of Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our Country and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!’

U.S. Ambassador to Belgium – Bill White

Trump announced that businessperson and major political donor Bill White would serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.

White is the founder and CEO of Constellations Group, a Manhattan-based consulting firm, and previously served as president of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York.

‘Bill is a highly respected businessman, philanthropist, author, and advocate for our Nation’s Military, Veterans, and First Responders. He is the CEO of Constellations Group, and former President of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum,’ Trump said. 

Trump tapped David Nunes to the Intelligence Advisory Board, which advises the president on the legality of foreign intelligence activities.

‘While continuing his leadership of Trump Media & Technology Group, Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s activities,’ Trump said in the announcement.

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security – Troy Edgar

Trump named Troy Edgar as his pick for deputy secretary of Homeland Security. 

‘Troy served for me previously as the Chief Financial Officer and Associate Deputy Under Secretary of Management for Homeland Security, where he did an outstanding job managing their $90 Billion Dollar budget, resourcing critical immigration policy, and funding Wall construction,’ Trump said.

‘Troy is currently an executive at IBM. He holds an M.B.A. and B.S. of Business Administration from the University of Southern California,’ Trump said. ‘He was previously the Mayor of Los Alamitos, California, where he helped me lead the City and County revolt against Sanctuary Cities in 2018.’

If the pair is confirmed, Edgar will serve alongside South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was tapped as Trump’s pick for the Department of Homeland Secretary.

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President-elect Trump nominated a few more candidates Saturday to serve in various positions during his second term.

Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes was picked as the chairperson of Trump’s Intelligence Advisory Board (IAB). IBM executive Troy Edgar was tapped as deputy secretary of Homeland Security. And Bill White was chosen as the ambassador to Belgium.

Nunes, if confirmed, will lead the IAB, which advises the president on the legality of foreign intelligence activities.

‘While continuing his leadership of Trump Media & Technology Group, Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s activities,’ Trump said in the announcement.

Trump also named Edgar as his pick for deputy secretary of Homeland Security. 

‘Troy served for me previously as the Chief Financial Officer and Associate Deputy Under Secretary of Management for Homeland Security, where he did an outstanding job managing their $90 Billion Dollar budget, resourcing critical immigration policy, and funding Wall construction,’ Trump said.

‘Troy is currently an executive at IBM. He holds an M.B.A. and B.S. of Business Administration from the University of Southern California,’ Trump said. ‘He was previously the Mayor of Los Alamitos, California, where he helped me lead the City and County revolt against Sanctuary Cities in 2018.’

If the two are confirmed, Edgar will serve alongside South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was tapped as Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Secretary.

Also on Saturday afternoon, Trump announced that businessperson and major political donor White would serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.

White is the founder and CEO of Constellations Group, a Manhattan-based consulting firm, and previously served as president of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York.

‘Bill is a highly respected businessman, philanthropist, author, and advocate for our Nation’s Military, Veterans, and First Responders. He is the CEO of Constellations Group, and former President of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum,’ Trump said. 

‘Bill has worked tirelessly to support Great American Patriots who have given everything for our Country by raising over $1.5 Billion Dollars for our fallen heroes, catastrophically wounded, and severely burned Service Members. He is a twice recipient of the Meritorious Public Service Award for extraordinary service from the U.S. Coast Guard, and for outstanding support from the U.S. Navy.’

 

White was a major Trump donor and surrogate for his 2024 campaign, though the millionaire investor backed former President Obama and Hillary Clinton in past races.

The picks are the latest in a long string of nominations the president-elect hopes the Senate will approve.

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President-elect Donald Trump wants to create an Iron Dome missile shield over the United States.

But what about the drones flying underneath it? ‘Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!’ he wrote Friday on Truth Social.

Couldn’t agree more, except please don’t get your shotgun out of the closet and start rooting around for a box of shells. It’s illegal to interfere with any aircraft in flight, manned or unmanned.  Maybe its deer season where you live, but alas, it is never drone season. Right now, statutes limit even the military’s ability to intercept drones in the U.S.

America’s got a drone problem.  Some are actually airplanes. Some drones are legal and no threat to you and me. Some are flown by drug cartels dropping off fentanyl in San Diego. Gen. Greg Guillot, Commander, U.S. Northern Command, told the Senate more than 1,000 drones per month cross the southern border. Other drones belong to the police, or to the military. Don’t forget the NYPD has 110 drone operators qualified by the FAA. I also expect some of the drone sightings connect to military experiments and operations.

But without question, the U.S. is vulnerable to a national security threat from drones in a way we’ve never experienced before. While many U.S. military installations have anti-drone systems, the rest of the country doesn’t. A new plan for countering drones in U.S. airspace should be top priority for President-elect Trump’s incoming Cabinet: Homeland Security, Defense, and Transportation, with the FAA.  Find a conference table at Mar-a-Lago and get key Cabinet nominees Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy started now. 

What worries me is the pattern emerging of sightings of multiple drones, operating at low altitude, with persistent and coordinated overwatch, near military bases and critical infrastructure. Of course, New Jersey has a lot of cool stuff: the aircraft carrier electromagnetic catapult test infrastructure, Picatinny Arsenal, Naval Weapons Site Earle, which stores and loads munitions for the Navy’s Atlantic fleet. 

While the New Jersey sightings date from Nov. 20, drone incidents started years ago. Back in 2017, an Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighter encountered a drone over the runway while landing at Langley AFB in Virginia. Yeah, I can see why the Chinese might want a close-up view of the engine intakes and stealth panel seals on that. In California, drones regularly drop inside the fences at the sprawling factories in Palmdale that build top secret military planes like the B-21 stealth bomber.  It’s a stew of attempted surveillance – whether by military aircraft aficionados or the Chinese or somebody else. 

‘Some of it, I’m pretty sure, is our adversaries. Why wouldn’t they?’ Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., commented to Breaking Defense at the Reagan National Defense Forum Dec. 7.

Here are my four biggest concerns. 

 It doesn’t feel like this last-gasp Biden White House is working the problem. Ever since the Chinese spy balloon traipsed from Montana to South Carolina in 2023, Americans have realized that our skies are not always safe.  

We are a low-trust society. The lack of transparency is almost worse than the drones.

 At the heart of the drone mystery is a very disturbing problem: We do not defend the interior airspace of our vast nation. That was apparent on 9/11, when it took 175 Air Force fighter jets launched all over the nation with their air refueling tankers to patch together linked interior radar coverage and communications. Many improvements have been made, but the 2023 spy balloon intercept took effort, and the drone challenge is a whole new chapter.

 This is a job for NORTHCOM but ‘at this time, NORTHCOM does not have a formal role in defending against UAS,’ Guillot said in March. He’s ‘making proposals to see if there is an increased role in the UAS fight.’ Mind you, NORTHCOM is busy with defending against China and Russia in the High North and upgrading West Coast missile defense. The Pentagon signed off on a counter-UAS strategy on Dec. 2 and the defense bill for Fiscal Year 2025 helps, but a lot of that is focused on overseas operations.  

 On Friday, German officials confirmed drone operations around the U.S. airbase at Ramstein. In Britain, drones were sighted over Royal Air Force bases, where the U.S. stations F-35s and keeps nuclear weapons storage sites. Villagers at Beck Row, Suffolk, had the same shocked reaction as New Jersey. ‘They were really noisy and had lights. They looked official to be honest,’ villager Casseem Campbell told the BBC on Nov. 29.  ‘You get more information off Facebook than you do the base,’ griped another resident. Both German and British officials suspect the drones may be part of an ongoing Russian espionage and disruption campaign to weaken NATO support for Ukraine.  

I don’t want any of Putin’s drones here. Time for the Trump team to figure this out.

Fortunately, the U.S. is awash in counter-drone systems. The Coyote is a counter-drone rocket launched from a tube on a truck or helicopter. The DroneHunter throws a net over drones weighing several hundred pounds, and has been tried out in Ukraine. U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters shot down drones with Hellfire missiles during an exercise in Saudi Arabia this fall. Another great method is electronic disruption of the drone’s flight controls and guidance. The list goes on, but none of it can work without coordinated surveillance and revamped command and control authorities.  

America’s drone problem comes down to this: leadership. Big decisions need to be made within the first few months of Trump’s new term. For as citizens in New Jersey will agree, we are out of time.

 

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave a stern warning to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after a report highlighted how one of Kennedy’s associates had sought to rescind approval for a polio vaccine.

McConnell, a polio survivor, said in a statement that ‘efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed – they’re dangerous.’ 

‘Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,’ he added, without naming Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic who is President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. 

McConnell’s statement follows a New York Times report on Friday that highlighted how Kennedy’s personal attorney, Aaron Siri, had represented clients in cases that sought to rescind approval for a version of the polio vaccine and others. 

‘Like millions of families before them, my parents knew the pain and fear of watching their child struggle with the life-altering diagnosis of polio. From the age of two, normal life without paralysis was only possible for me because of the miraculous combination of modern medicine and a mother’s love. But for millions who came after me, the real miracle was the saving power of the polio vaccine,’ McConnell said.

‘For decades, I have been proud to work with devoted advocates – from Rotary International to the Gates Foundation – and use my platform in public life to champion the pursuit of cures for further generations. I have never flinched from confronting specious disinformation that threatens the advance of lifesaving medical progress, and I will not today. 

The GOP leader was joined by his Democratic counterpart, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who demanded that RFK Jr. make his position on the polio vaccine clear.

‘This would undoubtedly make America sick again,’ Schumer said, sharing the Times report on X. ‘It’s outrageous and dangerous for people in the Trump Transition to try and get rid of the polio vaccine that has virtually eradicated polio in America and saved millions of lives. RFK Jr. must state his position on this.’ 

Reached for comment, a Trump transition team spokesperson said, ‘Mr. Kennedy believes the Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied.’ 

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As President-elect Trump gets ready to return to the White House, a leading Democratic pollster and strategist highlights that her party needs a new game plan to confront the former and soon-to-be future president.

‘The 2025 playbook cannot be the 2017 playbook,’ Molly Murphy, a top pollster on Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, emphasized as she gave a presentation at the first meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee since last month’s election.

Trump’s convincing win over Harris — he captured the popular vote and swept all seven key battleground states — as well as the GOP flipping the Senate and holding on to their fragile majority in the House, has Democrats searching for answers as they now try to emerge from the political wilderness.

Murphy, pointing to post-election polls, said most Americans give the president-elect a thumbs up on how he’s handling his transition, and that Trump will return to the White House next month more popular compared to eight years ago, when he first won the presidency. 

And she noted that voters ‘give him a pass on the outrageous’ comments he continuously makes because they approve of his handling of the economy. 

Murphy, in her comments Friday as DNC leaders huddled at a hotel near the U.S. Capitol, said the Democrats’ mission going forward is to change that perception.

‘We want to focus on this term … and tell the story about how this term is worse and things are not going to be good for the American people,’ Murphy said.

The Democrats’ message should be ‘Donald Trump does not care about you. He is going to screw you,’ Murphy argued. ‘As a north star, I think we need to stay focused on … the economy and costs.’

‘A lot of people are expecting the price of milk to go back where it was,’ Murphy noted. 

She said Democrats need to borrow a page from the GOP’s 2024 campaign playbook: ‘We can do what they did to us … even if the economy is stronger, costs are still going to be too high for people.’

And she added that Democrats need to spotlight what she called unpopular parts of the Trump agenda, including ‘tax breaks for the wealthy’ and ‘letting corporations drive up prices and making you pay for it.’ 

And she said the party needs to frame Trump’s proposed tariffs on key American trading partners ‘a sales tax on the American people that will drive up prices,’ which was a line that Harris used on the campaign trail.

Murphy also spotlighted that Trump and Republicans made gains with key parts of the Democratic Party’s base – younger voters, Latinos, and Black voters because of the economy, but also because of the Democrats’ ‘wonky’ messaging.

‘A lot of times we’re talking about polices,’ Murphy said, while Republicans have ‘culture conversations that create a connection between the party and the people that go beyond polices.’

Murphy argued that ‘these culture conversations that conservatives have been able to have in an organic way have been able to draw a connection that we know is not supported by policy … and we know that we have a lot of shared values with these working Americans and we need to find ways to have more authentic connection points there.’

DNC chair Jaime Harrison complimented Murphy’s presentation. 

But, Harrison, who is not running for a second four-year term steering the national party committee, pointed to the next White House race and offered that the party should also target Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance.

‘I think it will be a big error on our part if we focus all of our attention on Donald Trump and not JD Vance, particularly as we start to look at the 2028 race,’ Harrison highlighted.

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President-elect Trump won’t be on the ballot in the 2026 midterms, but Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley says that Trump will play a ‘significant’ role in supporting GOP candidates.

Republicans enjoyed major victories in last month’s elections, with Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to win the White House, the GOP flipping control of the Senate from the Democrats, and holding on to their razor-thin majority in the House.

Whatley argued that ‘as we go forward into this next election cycle, the fundamentals are going to remain the same’ during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital.

‘We need to make sure that we are building our state parties, that we’re building our ground game, we’re building our election integrity apparatus to be in place to make sure that when we get those candidates through those primaries in ‘26, that we’re going to be in a position to take them all the way to the finish line,’ he emphasized.

But the party in power traditionally suffers setbacks in the following midterm elections. And Trump, who was a magnate for voter turnout, won’t be on the ballot in 2026.

Whatley said that even though he won’t be a candidate, ‘President Trump is going to be a very significant part of this because at the end of the day, what we need to do is hold on to the House, hold on to the Senate so that we can finish his term and his agenda.’

And Whatley predicted that ‘Donald Trump will be very active on the campaign trail for Republicans. And his agenda is the agenda that we’re going to be running on.’

The Harris campaign and the Democratic National Committee outraised the Trump campaign and the RNC this past cycle, but Whatley is confident that with the party soon to control the White House, Republicans will be even more competitive in the campaign cash race in the midterms.

‘We’re pretty excited about where we are in terms of the fundraising that we did throughout the course of this cycle and what we’re going to do going forward,’ he said.

Whatley said that his message to donors will be ‘we were successful in putting Donald Trump into the White House, and we need to carry forward with his agenda by keeping these House majorities and Senate majorities.’

He also pushed back on the persistent questioning of the RNC and Trump campaign’s ground game efforts during the general election.

‘We focused very hard on low propensity voters. This was an entirely new system that we put in place over the course of this election cycle. It worked very, very well,’ he touted. 

And looking ahead, he said ‘in a midterm election cycle, low propensity voters are going to, again, be very, very important for us. So, we’re going to continue to focus on building that type of a program.’

Whatley spotlighted that ‘we also focused on outreach to communities that the Republican Party has traditionally not reached out to – Black voters, Hispanic voters, Asian American voters. That’s why we were able to see such seismic shifts towards Donald Trump versus where those blocks had been in 2016 and 2020. We also saw seismic shifts among young voters and women voters because we were talking to every single American voter. Our ground game was very significant.’

Whatley was interviewed a week after Trump asked him to continue as RNC chair moving forward.

In March, as he clinched the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, Trump named Whatley to succeed Ronna McDaniel as RNC chair. Whatley, a longtime ally of the former president and a major supporter of Trump’s election integrity efforts, had served as RNC general counsel and chair of the North Carolina Republican Party. 

Trump is term-limited and won’t be able to seek election again in 2028. Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance will likely be considered the front-runner for the 2028 GOP nomination.

But asked if the RNC will hold to its traditional role of staying neutral in an open and contested presidential primary, Whatley said ‘we will.’

And he added that ‘I’m very excited about the bench that we have in the Republican Party right now. You think about all the Republican governors, you think about all the Republican senators, the members of the House that we have, the leaders across the country that have been engaged in this campaign are going to be part of the president’s cabinet.’

Whatley argued that the president-elect’s ‘America First movement is bigger than Donald Trump. He is the tip of the spear. He is the vanguard of this movement. But. It is a very big movement right now.’

The chairman also emphasized that ‘Donald Trump has completely remade the Republican Party. We’re now the working-class party. We’re now a party that is communicating and working with every single voter, speaking to every single voter about the issues that they care about. So, as we go into 2028, we are in a great position to be able to continue the momentum of this agenda and this movement.’

Unlike the DNC, which in the 2024 cycle upended the traditional presidential nominating calendar, the RNC made no major changes to their primary lineup, and kept the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary as their first two contests.

Asked about the 2028 calendar, Whatley said ‘I’ve not had any conversations with anybody who wants to change the calendar on our side. I know the Democrats did during the course of this election cycle, not sure that it really helped them all that much.’

‘We’re very comfortable with the calendar as it is. But as we move towards 2028, we’ll have those conversations,’ he added.

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Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders are cautiously optimistic heading into the new year with a second Trump administration.

This week, Fox News Digital spoke to leaders from various faith communities, many of whom expressed hope the incoming administration would lead in the right direction but wary that President-elect Trump would still prove himself.

‘There are some [Jewish] communities that feel positive and optimistic, and there are some communities that feel extremely concerned,’ said New York City Rabbi Jo David, who has a private rabbinic practice.

‘I think there’s a mixed reaction, but there’s a skeptical optimism,’ said Haris Tarin, vice president of policy and programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor at 180 Church in Detroit, said Trump has the opportunity to go down as ‘the greatest president in history’ if he plays his cards right. ‘Only thing he needs to do is righteously regulate [the appropriate] resources.’

Samuel Rodriguez is lead pastor at New Season, a prominent U.S. megachurch, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. He echoed the sense of hope that some faith leaders are feeling looking toward Inauguration Day. 

‘I believe we’ll see a stronger emphasis on protecting religious freedom and ensuring that faith communities are empowered to thrive,’ Rodriguez said. ‘Policies that respect the role of faith-based organizations in society — whether they’re feeding the hungry, educating children or advocating for life — will likely take center stage. I also anticipate an administration that values the contributions of people of faith, not as something to tolerate but as an essential cornerstone of our nation.’

With respect to the Jewish community, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and director of Global Social Action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said antisemitism, particularly on social media and on college campuses, and the ’embrace of the Hamas narrative,’ are a top priority. 

‘We expect and hope for a completely different approach on the part of the incoming administration,’ Cooper said. ‘We expect that the billions and billions of sanction relief that President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have given to the terrorist-sponsoring regime in Iran, that’s going to come to an end.’

Cooper also said building on and advancing the Abraham Accords, a series of bilateral agreements on Arab–Israeli normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, will be important.

For Tarin, the biggest hope among the Muslim community, he says, is that there is not a repeat of the 2020 order by Trump that prevented people from certain Muslim countries from coming to the U.S.

‘No. 2, the hope is that all Americans, including American Muslims, their civil rights and civil liberties and the issues that they’ve been advocating for are protected. No. 3, the hope is for a cease-fire and the end to the conflict in the Middle East and specifically in Gaza,’ Tarin said. 

He added that it would be beneficial if Trump embraced parts of the Biden administration’s national strategy on Islamophobia. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump-Vance transition team for comment but did not receive a response.

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President-elect Trump on Friday posted a message on his Truth Social account that contrasted his 2023 mugshot with his Time magazine cover.

Trump was named Time’s Person of the Year this week, which included a cover and an in-depth interview as he prepares to take office for the second time. 

‘How it started, how it’s going,’ Trump wrote with his mugshot on the left side and his Time cover on the right. 

Trump’s mugshot was taken in May 2023 when he was processed at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta after being indicted on election racketeering charges.  

The magazine announced Trump, who faced an assassination attempt last summer and won the first nonconsecutive U.S. presidential term since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century, had been named its Person of the Year Thursday. 

Trump, in a ceremony after the announcement, called it an ‘honor.’ 

‘Thank you very much for doing it,’ he said. ‘Thank the whole group at Time. Really professional people.’ 

He was first named the magazine’s Person of the Year after his first presidential win in 2016. 

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Two Chinese spies and a Chinese national who was charged for disseminating child pornography were part of a White House prisoner swap as Biden’s presidency nears the end.

On Nov. 22, Biden granted clemency to Yanjun Xu, Ji Chaoqun and Shanlin Jin. 

Their releases were part of a prisoner swap that returned three wrongfully detained Americans from Chinese custody: Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung. 

The three Americans returned to the U.S. before Thanksgiving.

Xu and Chaoqun were both Chinese nationals who were convicted of espionage in the U.S. 

Xu, according to a release from the Department of Justice, was the first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the United States to stand trial and was sentenced to 20 years.

According to court documents, Xu targeted American aviation companies, recruited employees to travel to China, and solicited their proprietary information, all on behalf of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

In one example, noted in court documents, Xu attempted to steal technology related to GE Aviation’s exclusive composite aircraft engine fan module – which no other company in the world has been able to duplicate – to benefit the Chinese state.

The Department of Justice said that Xu openly discussed his effort to steal U.S. military information in addition to commercial aviation trade secrets.

Chaoqun was arrested and convicted after working with Xu on behalf of the CCP.

The federal agency said that Xu recruited and ‘handled’ Chaoqun, who was stationed in Chicago during the duration of the scheme.

The DOJ said that Xu directed Chaoqun to collect ‘biographical information on people to potentially recruit to work with them.’

‘Xu’s handling and placement of a spy within the United States to obtain information regarding aviation technology and employees is yet another facet of Xu’s egregious crimes towards the United States and further justifies the significant sentence of imprisonment he received today,’ said U.S. Attorney Parker at the time of the pair’s conviction.

Jin was serving his sentence after being convicted of possessing more than 47,000 images of child pornography while a doctoral student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 2021.

Biden commuted on Thursday the sentences of 1,499 people. He is also pardoning 39 individuals who were convicted of non-violent crimes.

President-elect Trump is set to take office in a little over a month, on January 20. He has said that he will immediately pardon people convicted of participating in the January 6, 2021, riot in the U.S. Capitol.

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