New York – President-elect Donald Trump’s early list of potential appointments to top positions appears to reward people who were loyal to him after a campaign in which many Republican Party leaders kept their distance.
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Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator who was one of Trump’s most fervent supporters in the U.S. Congress, is said to be under consideration for a prominent role, perhaps defense secretary, sources familiar with transition planning said on Wednesday.
Retired General Michael Flynn emerged as a possible pick for Trump’s national security adviser, the sources said.
Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, played a prominent role during the campaign, often serving as an introductory speaker at campaign rallies and has provided private counsel on foreign affairs.
“He has a calming influence on Trump,” said a source familiar with transition planning.
In addition, former House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee were also considered potential selections for secretary of state, the sources said. Corker chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Both Corker and Gingrich had been under discussion as potential vice presidential picks for Trump, a position that eventually went to Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
These same sources said Republican National Committee Reince Priebus, who has emerged as a trusted adviser to the New York businessman, was being talked about as a potential White House chief of staff.
A Priebus deputy, RNC senior strategist Sean Spicer, was a possibility for White House press secretary.
Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, who helped bring about a more disciplined approach to the candidate, was seen as potential White House senior adviser.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who endorsed Trump after dropping out of the 2016 Republican presidential nomination fight, was a possible education secretary.
Richard Grenell, a former spokesman for the United States at the United Nations, was a potential U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as was New York Republican Representative Peter King.
Mike Rogers, a former chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was in the mix for CIA director, the sources said.
Trump’s transition team set up a website (https://www.greatagain.gov/) and Twitter account (@transition2017), promising to keep the country posted on plans, Politico reported. Trump was a prolific user of Twitter during the campaign, sometimes using it to deliver pithy put-downs of his critics and rival
Who will be in charge of building the western wall with Mexico?
Donald Trump is a garbagehead! He should never have won!
Why not Ben Carson for surgeon general? Trump has anyway said he may entirely get rid of education secretary
Looking at the list, one sees the expected distribution of high office positions to political loyalists. However, everyone mentioned is somehow qualified for their positions, by their training and experience. This cannot be said for how Obama filled his cabinet. Favors only. We have witnessed the results of the favors only approach. We are fortunate that Republicans have a different agenda.
I think both parties are pretty much equally sleazy in this regards.
How experienced are these men for these positions?
I backed his candidacy on facebook, do I get a position too?
Nu–so where is Amb John Bolton–Secretary of State???? דמד
Thank god Trump won. Remember he beat out 17 very talented people to become the nominee of the Republican party. On the other hand,HRC beat out Sanders,a phony communist and self hating jew,in a rigged nomination. Trump had to overcome a rigged media,an incumbent president who spent much time campaigning for her (I don’t remember an incumbent president being so active in a presidential campaign in my lifetime and I remember the Kennedy-Nixon election campaign),outrageous slander from the HRC dominated Democratic party,quite a bit of voter fraud (documented in philadelphia,nevada,louisiana to name just a few places) and yet he won. He already has money,property,fame,family and respect. He doesn’t need these responsibilities. I believe he will be a great president (in the class of Washington,Lincoln and Reagan) and world leader. He will help Israel,bring law and order back,fight terrorism,bring in a conservative S.C. justice,fix the healthcare disaster,get rid of corruption in the government and illegal and criminal immigrants,shore up the economy among other difficult tasks that await him. Those who are critical of him on this site and throughout the country and world should instead be praying for his success.
Is John Barron on the list?