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Trump To Nominate New Commerce Secretary

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump is expected to announce his nomination for Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick.

Lutnick is the chair and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and is also currently serving as co-chair of the Trump transition. He has notably publicly embraced Trump’s tariff plans, which will be a major part of the job leading Commerce.

The CEO was considered a front-runner to serve as Trump’s Treasury secretary along with Scott Bessent, who served as economic adviser on the Trump campaign.

Trump just released a statement:

I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. 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.

Lutnick beat out Linda McMahon for the role leading Commerce who was considered a front runner and previously led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.

McMahon is also a co-chair of his transition effort.

This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

Report: Trump Hush Money Sentencing Adjourned

By
Madeleine Jackson
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1

It’s always been political…

On Tuesday, as President-elect Donald Trump was set to be sentenced in his hush-money conviction New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan adjourned the highly-anticipated Nov. 26 meeting.

No explanation was given by the Court.

Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts for business fraud in connection with hiding hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump’s attorney Emil Bove argued last week that the case should be stayed or dismissed to “avoid unconstitutional impediments” to Trump’s ability to act as president.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case has also maintained that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to back Trump’s claims of broad presidential immunity should not apply to this case. Presidential immunity is meant to shield a president from being prosecuted for carrying out his roles as president. The charges against Trump stem from acts undertaken while he was first campaigning for president in 2016 and continuing into his first term.

This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

Trump Calls For Investigation Into Iowa Pollster

By
Madeleine Jackson
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Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

President-elect Donald Trump called for an investigation into retired Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer as he accused her of undermining trust in the 2024 election.

Selzer’s (inaccurate) Iowa reporting threatened to upend the state’s results, however Trump went on toe decisively win the Buckeye State.

“A totally Fake poll that caused great distrust and uncertainty at a very critical time. She knew exactly what she was doing,” Trump posted to his Truth Social site.

In the post, Trump thanked the “GREAT PEOPLE OF IOWA” for their votes, despite alleged possible “ELECTION FRAUD” by Selzer and the newspaper that published the poll, The Des Moines Register.

“An investigation is fully called for!” Trump added.

Just days before the election, Selzer’s survey, which found Vice President Harris leading Trump in Iowa, sent shockwaves nationwide. Trump went on to win the state by more than 20,000 votes.

Selzer announced in a column on Sunday that she will retire from the Register’s Iowa Poll.

Selzer, who has worked on a contract basis for the Register since 1997, said she would have liked to have made the announcement after polling lined up with the election results and admitted “it’s ironic” that it’s the opposite.

Selzer’s poll was widely cited during the final days of the campaign, raising questions about whether its projections shaped voter sentiment or campaign strategies.

Elon Musk Accuses Trump Ally Of ‘Leaking’ Info To The Media

By
Madeleine Jackson
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3
UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Tensions are running high within Trump’s inner circle…

Billionaire Elon Musk clashed publicly with Boris Epshteyn, one of Trump’s closest allies in what sources called a “massive blowout” over key Cabinet appointments.

According to three sources cited by Axios, the dispute reached a boiling point during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club last week during which Musk accused Epshteyn of leaking sensitive details about the transition process, including potential personnel picks.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Epshteyn reportedly fired back during the heated exchange.

The altercation highlights a power struggle as Musk, a newcomer to Trump’s inner circle, increasingly advocates for his preferred candidates. Musk has reportedly criticized Epshteyn’s influence in selecting Justice Department nominees, including Matt Gaetz for attorney general.

Musk is lobbying for Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, as Treasury secretary, over Wall Street veteran Scott Bessent.

Despite the friction, Musk maintains considerable support among Trump’s family and allies. 

However, the tech billionaire’s growing role in the transition has rankled longtime Trump loyalists, who view him as overstepping boundaries. 

Musk has been among the president-elect’s most vocal and influential supporters since he endorsed Trump immediately after a July assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally but some in Trump’s inner circle say the Tesla CEO is being to overstay his welcome.

“Elon won’t go home. I can’t get rid of him. Until I don’t like him,” Trump quipped, according to a source in the room when Trump met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill last Wednesday.

some Republicans have questioned how long Trump and Musk can happily co-exist, particularly given Trump’s past frustration with those who take up too much of the spotlight.

“Trump is not going to have another alpha. I think Trump is going to tire of him,” one source close to the transition told The Hill.

One Republican lobbyist with ties to Trump said there are some in the president-elect’s orbit who think Musk is “a little big for his britches.”

Trump transition team spokesperson Karoline Leavitt did not respond to requests for comment from The Hill, but in a statement on Wednesday to NBC News described Musk and Trump as “great friends and brilliant leaders working together to Make America Great Again.”

“Elon Musk is a once in a generation business leader and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency,” Leavitt said.

Sylvester Stallone Introduces Trump As ‘Second George Washington’ In Surprise Appearance

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Academy Award nominated actor Sylvester Stallone introduced President-elect Donald Trump at a gala held at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, likening Trump to a “second George Washington” in a series of dramatic remarks.

    Stallone, 78, addressed attendees at the America First Policy Institute gala, praising Trump’s impact and resilience. “We are in the presence of a really mythical character,” said the actor, famed for his roles in the Rocky and Rambo franchises. “I love mythology. This individual does not exist on this planet. Nobody in the world could have pulled off what he pulled off.”

    Drawing a historical comparison, Stallone continued: “When George Washington defended his country, he had no idea that he was going to change the world. ‘Cause without him, you could imagine what the world would look like. Guess what? We got the second George Washington.”

    Stone also compared Trump’s comeback to the transformation Rocky underwent to prepare for his climactic fight against Apollo Creed.

    As Fox News reports:

    After a brief pause, Trump walked onto the stage to Stallone’s introduction and shook his hand while saying a few words to the actor.

    While Stallone has stayed pretty quiet about his personal politics over the years and admitted to not voting in the 2016 and 2020 elections, he did tell Variety magazine in 2016 that he liked Trump.

    “I love Donald Trump,” he said at the time. “There are certain people like Arnold [Schwarzenegger], Babe Ruth, that are bigger than life. But I don’t know how that translates to running the world.”

    Stallone did not publicly endorse Trump during the 2024 election cycle, but he did answer a FaceTime call from Fox News’ Brett Baier in October and encouraged Pennsylvania voters to “keep punching.”

    Stone’s latest remarks are the first to make his political support for Trump explicit.

    The evening also featured remarks from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been tapped as a nominee for the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk hinted at sweeping changes during Trump’s upcoming administration, stating: “It’s not going to be business as usual. It’s going to be a revolution!”

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News.

    Trump Announces New Communications Director

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    2
    Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump announced additional picks for his cabinet.

    Read his statement below:

    STEVEN CHEUNG will return to the White House as Assistant to the President and Director of Communications. Cheung was Director of Communications on the Trump-Vance 2024 Presidential Campaign and previously served in the Trump White House as Director of Strategic Response.

    SERGIO GOR will serve as Assistant to the President and Director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Previously, Gor was CEO of Winning Team Publishing, while also running the pro-Trump Super PAC, Right For America. 

    “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,” President Trump said. “I am thrilled to have them join my White House as we, Make America Great Again!”

    Report: Melania Unlikely To Live In White House Full Time

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2

    “This time is different.”

    In a shift from historical norms, Melania Trump is not expected to reside full-time at the White House as first lady when Donald Trump resumes the presidency.

    Sources close to Mrs. Trump indicate that she is unlikely to relocate to Washington, D.C., on a permanent basis, a decision that would break with the traditional role of the first lady living in the White House. The arrangement is still under discussion, according to CNN, but signs point to her preferring to remain in Florida or New York.

    Mrs. Trump was notably absent from today’s meeting at the White House, where President-elect Trump began transition discussions. A statement from her office described the start of his transition process as “encouraging” and extended her wishes for his “great success.”

    The Daily Beast has additional details:

    Melania won’t be entirely absent in Washington, the network reported. She’s still expected to turn up to major events like state dinners and have her own “platform and priorities as first lady.”

    Rumors about Melania’s living situation have swirled for months. A handful of insiders told Axios in June that she’d live elsewhere in a second Trump term—perhaps at Mar-a-Lago, where the president-elect is expected to spend large swaths of time, or in Manhattan, where her 18-year-old son Barron is a student at New York University.

    …

    If reports are true, Melania will soon become quite the first lady outlier. All of her predecessors—aside from Anna Symmes Harrison, whose husband died a month into his term, and Bess Truman, who lived across the street during renovations—have lived predominantly in the White House since it was built in 1800.

    Focus on Family

    One factor influencing Mrs. Trump’s potential decision to remain elsewhere is the presence of her son, Barron Trump, who recently began his studies at New York University’s Stern School of Business. The 18-year-old is reportedly adjusting well to college life, with his mother describing him as “thriving” in his new environment. Barron commutes from Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan to NYU’s Greenwich Village campus.

    Article Published With The Permission of American Liberty News

    Democrat Presidential Challenger Signals He Would Accept Trump Cabinet Bid

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) signaled Thursday that he’d be willing to serve under President-elect Trump when he returns to the White House.

    “If there is a job that could help the country and that my skillset would be useful for. Anybody should consider that,” Phillips told NewsNation’s “On Balance.” 

    “And if we come to a point where no Democrat will want to serve in a Republican administration, and conversely, we are limiting 50 percent of the universe of potential appointees and that’s what I am trying to overcome,” he added. 

    Phillips, mounted a long shot bid against President Biden before dropping out in March.

    The Minnesota Democrat consistently warned his party about not having a competitive primary process and urged both parties to try to better understand the needs of the American people. 

    Phillips said last week that Trump has “become a significant historical figure in American politics” and that he built a movement “that, frankly, snuck up on most Democrats.” 

    “I am not a big fan of the President himself, but I understand the MAGA movement,” Phillips said Thursday. “I understand why people are angry. I understand why this federal government needs to be reformed. But then do it with people with competency and integrity to do it.” 

    Trump has announced a a number of candidates for his Cabinet and other administration posts since being declared the winner of the presidential race, including picking two ex-Democrats, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be his director of national intelligence and head the Department of Health and Human Services

    ESPN’s Sage Steele Responds To White House Position Speculation

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    Jeff Kern, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

    Who will be Donald Trump’s next Press Secretary?

    Former ESPN host Sage Steele is firing back at rumors she may be in line for the coveted position.

    Axios reported Wednesday that Steele along with CNN contributor and Bush White House official Scott Jennings, as well as Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko are all “vying” for the much-coveted role. Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley are also “in the mix,” according to Axios.

    Trump attorney Alina Habba said Thursday that she is not considering the role of press secretary.

    Steele, 51, has been a public supporter of the president-elect and stumped for him on the campaign trail, appearing at an event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last month. 

    However, she took to X on Thursday to deny she was interested in the press secretary role. 

    “Not sure how these rumors began about me ‘vying’ to be Press Secretary, but it’s definitely fake news! I haven’t had a single conversation with anyone about that job, and have no desire to do so!” Steele wrote.

    “Honestly, it was the honor of a lifetime to be a small part of @TeamTrump during the campaign – something I NEVER imagined – but I wholeheartedly believe in @realDonaldTrump @JDVance & am excited to find ways to continue to serve. It took me years to not be afraid to speak up. That fear is gone forever, and I hope others are beginning to feel the same. LFG!”

    In 2023, Steele left ESPN after 15 years at the network where she hosted its flagship program “SportsCenter as well as “NBA Countdown,” among other roles. 6p-[ m0

    Nikki Haley Hits Back At Trump Cabinet Snub

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    6
    The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley responded President-elect Donald Trump’s social media post over the weekend…

    Haley replied on X by highlighting her previous service, saying, “I was proud to work with President Trump defending America at the United Nations. I wish him, and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years.” The reply received harsh criticism from Trump critics, which Haley noted as she said her family was frustrated that she didn’t make clear at the time she had told Trump aides she was not interested in a job.

    “I had no interest in being in his cabinet. He knew that,” Haley said on her SiriusXM show, Nikki Haley Live, adding:

    But to go a little further, his best friend, Steve Witkoff, came to our house in South Carolina, spoke to me and my husband, and basically wanted a truce between me and Donald Trump. And I told him at the time, there was no truce needed, that I had, that Trump had my support, there was no issue on my end.

    And at that point he was like, ‘What do you want? Tell me what you want. Is there anything you want?’ And I said, ‘There’s nothing I want.’ And there wasn’t anything I wanted. And then several weeks back I talked to Howard Lutnick, his transition director, and he asked, you know, if I knew of people that would be good in the cabinet, if there was any insight. And what I said is, I think it’s really important that Trump surround himself with people that are going to tell him the truth.

    And I, you know, mentioned someone that I thought would be good for Commerce Secretary and mentioned that I thought the UN Ambassador should be a cabinet pick. But I did not ask anything for me. And I have made it clear to everyone that I was not interested in the administration. So my husband and son were upset and said, ‘Why didn’t you say that in the tweet? Instead of just wishing him well?’

    Haley concluded by noting Trump’s social media post was nothing new to her, “And the truth is, I know the game he was playing. I don’t need to play that game.”

    “But more importantly, we have to look at the bigger picture. It is time to move on. It is time for us to focus on what America needs to do to be strong again, what America needs to do to be safe. The American people have spoken and spoken very loudly, and at this point, we should pray that President Trump does well. We should pray that everyone that he appoints does well. We should hope for the sake of our kids and generations to follow us, that all of this goes forward. So, you know, do I take it personally? No. That’s who he is. He can be shallow at times and I think he showed that. But I don’t have to be shallow. And at the end of the day, I’m very comfortable with where I am, and I’m comfortable with what happened,” she added.

    Watch:

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