Trump indicates security, foreign policy, domestic agenda with new administration picks

FRANCE 24

12 November 2024 at 3:12 pm·1-min read

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced new members of his incoming administration including loyalist Representative Mike Waltz, who will serve as national security adviser, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who will take the role of ambassador to Israel. Billionaire Elon Musk will help lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

Donald Trump has begun the process of choosing a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration officials following his presidential election victory.

Here are the early picks and top contenders for some of the key posts overseeing defence, diplomacy, immigration, intelligence and the environment.

Tulsi Gabbard, national intelligence director

Trump on Wednesday chose Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman and an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's foreign policy, to become his director of national intelligence.

Gabbard, 43, left the Democratic party in 2022 and was considered a possible candidate to become Trump's Republican running mate. She would take over from Avril Haines as top official in the sprawling US intelligence community after Trump starts his second term in January.

She is not expected to face difficulty being confirmed in the Senate, where Trump's fellow Republicans will hold at least a 52-to-48-seat majority starting early next year.

Malay Mail
PAS MP Siti Mastura, sued for defamation over Chin Peng and Kuan Yew link, told to pay RM825,000 to Kit Siang, Guan Eng and Teresa Kok
GEORGE TOWN, Dec 4 — The High Court today ruled that remarks made by Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad linking promi...
The Telegraph
Two hours and 48 minutes of chaos: How martial law rose and fell in South Korea
Jung Su-yeon crawled on her hands and knees through the frantic legs of South Korea’s security forces to save democracy.
Malay Mail
Singapore PM Lawrence Wong tests positive for Covid-19
SINGAPORE, Dec 4 — Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has tested positive for Covid-19 for the first time, following...
INSIDER
Trump ramped up his trade threats against a group of nations that are skeptical of the dollar. Here's what the US buys from the 9 countries at risk.
Donald Trump threatened a 100% tariff on nine nations that make up BRICS, including Brazil, China, and India. It'd affect many goods the US imports.
The Telegraph
Trump trolls Trudeau with flag picture after ‘telling him Canada could become the 51st state’
Donald Trump appeared to troll Justin Trudeau with a picture of himself posing with the Canadian flag after reportedly suggesting Canada could become a US state.
The Telegraph
China’s new trade war blow could be fatal for US’s ability to arm itself
In the not so distant future, both China and the United States could be at war, triggering the most significant global crisis since World War Two.
The Telegraph
Watch: Biden appears to fall asleep at meeting with African presidents
Joe Biden appeared to fall asleep during a meeting with African leaders, closing his eyes for more than a minute.
Reuters
China bans export of critical minerals to US as trade tensions escalate
China on Tuesday banned exports to the United States of the critical minerals gallium, germanium and antimony that have widespread military applications, escalating trade tensions the day after Washington's latest crackdown on China's chip sector. The curbs strengthen enforcement of existing limits on critical minerals exports that Beijing began rolling out last year, but apply only to the U.S. market, in the latest escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month.
The Hill
McConnell cries foul after 2 Democratic judges cancel retirement after Trump victory
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vented his displeasure Monday after two Democratic-appointed federal judges reversed their decisions to retire in what appear to be efforts to stop President-elect Trump from nominating their successors. McConnell called the unusual decisions to forgo retirement following Trump’s sweeping victory last month a “partisan” gambit that would undermine the…
Reuters
Explainer-After China's mineral export ban, how else could it respond to U.S. chip curbs?
BEIJING (Reuters) -China has banned exports to the U.S. of some goods containing critical minerals while tightening exports on others, after U.S. curbs a day earlier on the Chinese chip industry. Following is background on export controls and other steps that analysts say Chinese authorities might take to safeguard China and its companies' interests. On Dec. 3 China banned exports to the U.S. of items related to gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials, the latest escalation of trade tensions between the countries ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office.
Malay Mail
Declassified Pulau Batu Puteh RCI suggests criminal charges for Dr M, rejects civil suit
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — A police report should be filed against former two-time prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for...
Malay Mail
Former corporate bigwig Halim Saad claims cleared by MACC in RM2.3b embezzlement report
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Tan Sri Halim Saad asserted that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the Malaysian Anti-Corru...
CNN
‘Unlimited’ enemy troops, no sleep: Ukrainian soldiers fight to hold on to Russia’s Kursk region
“I have this impression that (the Russians) have unlimited people,” said Oleksandr, a Ukrainian unit commander. “The next Russians, it seems, do not know what happened to the previous Russians. They go there, into the unknown. No one tells them anything about it, and no one comes back.”
AFP News
Gunman held after failed attack on Sikh leader in India
A gunman who attempted to shoot a Sikh political leader at the faith's holiest shrine in India was arrested Wednesday after the thwarted attack, police said.The assailant entered the Golden Temple in northwestern Amritsar city as a visitor and attempted to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of a Sikh political party.
Associated Press
Vietnam court may commute tycoon's death sentences if she repays $11 billion
A court in Vietnam on Tuesday upheld the death sentence for real estate tycoon Truong My Lan but said it could be commuted to life if she reimburses some $11 billion, or three-fourths of what she defrauded in the country’s biggest financial crime. It has also dampened Vietnam’s economic outlook and made foreign investors jittery at a time when Vietnam has been trying to position itself as a home for businesses pivoting their supply chains away from China. Lan, 67, was convicted in April of embezzlement and bribery amounting to $12.5 billion, equivalent to 3% of the country’s GDP.
Malay Mail
PM Anwar pledges to address concerns over rumoured changes to media laws
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has today assured the press that his administration is wil...
Reuters
Israeli leaders applaud Trump pledge on hostages, Gazans fear the worst
Israeli leaders hailed on Tuesday a pledge by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East unless hostages held in the Gaza Strip were released ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration. The reaction in Gaza was less enthusiastic. Writing on Truth Social, and without naming any group, Trump said the hostages had to be freed by the time he was sworn in.
Malay Mail
As bribery allegations shake Sabah, CM Hajiji insists no mineral licences approved, will not succumb to political games
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 5 — Rocked by allegations of bribery involving Sabah’s mineral prospecting licences, Chief Minister D...
USA TODAY
Sharon Stone reflects on brain hemorrhage in emotional message to younger self
Sharon Stone got emotional about her health struggles while reflecting on her younger self in a recent interview.
INSIDER
National security advisor Jake Sullivan says Biden told him to oversee a 'massive surge' of weapons deliveries to Ukraine before his term ends
National security advisor Jake Sullivan said President Biden was doing what he could to "strengthen" the position of Ukraine before he leaves office.

Tulsi Gabbard, national intelligence director

Latest stories