Trump to nominate Pruitt to head of EPA
Sources report that Trump will nominate Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Trump nominates McMahon to lead SBA
Trump nominates WWE co-founder McMahon to run the Small Business Administration. Trump said McMahon had helped the WWE grow from a 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees worldwide. Trump:
Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe.
McMahon:
Our small businesses are the largest source of job creation in our country. I am honored to join the incredibly impressive economic team that President-elect Trump has assembled to ensure that we promote our country’s small businesses and help them grow and thrive.
Trump appoints Carson head of HUD
Trump appoints Carson as Secretary for the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Trump:
I am thrilled to nominate Dr. Ben Carson as our next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities. We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda and our message of economic revival, very much including our inner cities. Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a Presidency representing all Americans. He is a tough competitor and never gives up.
Carson:
I am honored to accept the opportunity to serve our country in the Trump administration. I feel that I can make a significant contribution particularly by strengthening communities that are most in need. We have much work to do in enhancing every aspect of our nation and ensuring that our nation’s housing needs are met.
Trump appoints Mattis as Secretary of Defense
A source in Trump’s transition team says Trump has appointed Mattis as Secretary of Defense. Mattis joins a Trump national security team that already includes retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as national security adviser and Rep. Mike Pompeo as CIA director. The official announcement is expected early next week. Mattis will need a waiver from Congress in order to be confirmed, as a legal statute bars service members from quickly entering civilian positions.
Appoints Mnuchin as treasury secretary
Trump selects Mnuchin as his treasury secretary. The treasury secretary is responsible for sanctions, including those for Cuba, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Syria.
Appoints Chao as Transportation secretary
Trump’s transition team says it plans to name Chao as his Transportation secretary. Please come back to this story for updates.
Michigan certified as Trump win
Nearly three weeks after the election, Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers certifies Trump’s 10,704-vote victory. He wins the state’s 16 electoral votes, the first Republican presidential nominee to win the state since 1988. The two-tenths of a percentage point margin out of nearly 4.8 million votes is the closest presidential race in Michigan in more than 75 years. Trump’s win in Michigan gives him 306 electoral votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 232.
The Great State of Michigan was just certified as a Trump WIN giving all of our MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN supporters another victory – 306!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016
Appoints McFarland as Deputy National Security Advisor
Trump selects McFarland to be his deputy national security, working for retired Gen. Michael Flynn. Trump:
McFarland has [tremendous experience and innate talent.]
McFarland:
[Donald Trump] has the courage, brilliance and energy to Make America Great Again, and nobody has called foreign policy right more than President-elect Trump, and he gets no credit for it. I’m honored and humbled that he has asked me to be part of his team.
So proud & honored to have KT McFarland as part of our National Security team. She will help us #MAGA
— LTG (R) Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 25, 2016
Wins Michigan by 10,704, gets 306 EV
Two weeks after election day, The Michigan Secretary of State posts reviewed and certified results from the state’s 83 county clerks, showing that Trump wins Michigan by 10,704 votes. In a previous count Trump had led by 13,107 votes, with the biggest change coming from Wayne County, which showed that Hillary Clinton received 565 more votes than originally tallied by the county. With this final count Trump wins 306 electoral votes — including Michigan’s 16 — to 232 for Clinton.
Appoints DeVos Education Secretary
Four days after meeting with Trump and Pence at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump appoints DeVos as Education secretary. Trump:
Betsy DeVos is a brilliant and passionate education advocate. Under her leadership we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families.
I am honored to work with the President-elect on his vision to make American education great again. The status quo in ed is not acceptable.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) November 23, 2016
Appoints Haley as UN ambassador
Trump appoints Haley as United Nations Ambassador, despite her criticism of him during his election campaign. Haley had supported Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz in the primary before saying last month she would vote for Trump despite reservations about his character. Transition team:
Governor Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country. She is also a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals. She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.
Denies Ambassador to Israel appointment
An official serving with Trump’s transition team says Huckabee will be appointed as America’s ambassador to Israel. The official also says, his first order of business will be to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Official:
That’s going to happen. Governor Huckabee is going to see it through.
However, Huckabee denies the appointment:
Media buzz that I was named Amb to Israel is NOT true. Was never discussed with PE Trump; slot probably not picked until State Dept in place
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) November 18, 2016
Appointed to Attorney General
Trump’s transition officials say that Sessions has been appointed to be Attorney General. No official statement has come from Trump at this time. Transition official:
Until Donald Trump says it, it’s not official.
Named as CIA chief
Trump officials say Pompeo has been offered and has accepted the job of CIA director.
Protest denied referendum
Citizens hold protests after President Maduro and his council suppress their right to a referendum on his presidency. The wives of two jailed opposition leaders headed the marchers who were dressed in white and waved national flags.
There’s no obstacle that can defeat Venezuelan mothers, fighting for the future of their children.
Parliament bans alcohol
The Iraqi parliament issues a ban on the sale of alcohol, which many deem unconstitutional. Opponents argue that the vote infringes constitutional guarantees of freedom of religious belief for minority groups such as Christians. They say they will appeal against the surprise decision in the courts. An official said that the ban was a last-minute move by conservatives.
Visits Belgrade amid protest
Biden arrives in Belgrade for a one-day visit. He expresses his condolences for NATO military action, before walking with Prime Minister Vucic in a picturesque borough of Belgrade, under high security.
I’d like to express my condolences to the families of those whose lives were lost in the wars of the 1990s, including those killed as a consequence of the NATO air strikes.
Hundreds of Serbian ultra-nationalists protest the visit by chanting their support for Donald Trump, as they gather near the Serbian presidency building. Protestor:
Trump is the alternative to globalisation. He will destroy old centres of power in the United States and he is a supporter of Russia.
After visiting Serbia, Biden will travel to Kosovo to encourage both countries to do more to normalize their relations.
Quits presidential race
In Indiana, Cruz announces he is quitting the presidential race, after losing the state’s primary to Donald Trump. Trump and John Kasich are the two remaining candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination.
From the beginning I’ve said that I would continue on, as long as there was a viable path to victory. I’m sorry to say, it appears that path has been foreclosed. Together we left it all on the field in Indiana. We gave it everything we’ve got, but the voters chose another path. And so, with a heavy heart, but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign. But hear me now, I am not suspending our fight for liberty. I am not suspending our fight to defend the Constitution; to defend the Judeo-Christian values that built America. Our movement will continue, and I give you my word that I will continue this fight with all of my strength and all of my ability.
Endorses Trump
During a joint appearance at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club resort Palm Beach, Florida, Carson formally endorses the GOP frontrunner.
We buried the hatchet. That was political stuff…I have found in talking with him, that there’s a lot more alignment, philosophically and spiritually, than I ever thought that there was.
Trump says Carson has not asked for any formal role, and praises his former rival’s ideas on education.
Ben’s going to have a big, big part.
Carson to endorse Trump
Carson says he will endorse Trump on Fri 11 March. In an interview with Fox Radio:
Well, you know there are two Donald Trumps. There’s the Donald Trump that you see on television and who gets out in front of big audiences, and there’s the Donald Trump behind the scenes. They’re not the same person. One’s very much an entertainer, and one is actually a thinking individual.