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!”
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.”
NEW: Donald Trump and Joe Biden speak from the Oval Office.
The men were seen chuckling together after reporters started shouting at them. pic.twitter.com/Ix8AgExwTW
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
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
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
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.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America,
Trump lawyer Alina Habba passed on the opportunity to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s White House Press Secretary, days after she emerged as a front-runner for the job.
Reports emerged earlier this week that Trump’s senior advisor and attorney was the favorite for the position, according to four sources. Habba traveled to Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday for discussions about a role, before announcing Thursday morning that she would not serve as press secretary.
“While I am flattered by the support and speculation, the role of Press Secretary is not a role I am considering,” Habba wrote. “Although I love screaming from a podium I will be better served in other capacities. This administration is going to be epic! So proud of the Trump team, the latest appointments and 47!”
While I am flattered by the support and speculation, the role of Press Secretary is not a role I am considering. Although I love screaming from a podium I will be better served in other capacities.
This adminstration is going to be epic! So proud of the Trump team, the latest…
A source said the Trump team lobbied Habba to take the job but she turned it down for reasons related to her family — Habba has three children and is based in New Jersey — and her law practice.
Sean Hannity pressed Habba on his Fox News show on Tuesday over whether she would take on the position. Habba said, “I am very loyal to President Trump. I would think about it very seriously.”
I hear Alina Habba is being considered for White House Press Secretary. STOP all considerations and give it to her immediately.
On Wednesday, president-elect Donald Trump officially nominated Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to be the next Attorney General.
Read the full statement:
It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States. Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice. Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department. On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution. We must have Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency at DOJ. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Former CNN host Chris Cuomo left podcaster Patrick Bet-David stunned on Tuesday when he revealed his unusual pick for president in the 2024 election.
Cuomo and conservative star Charlie Kirk joined Bet-David on The PBD Podcast recently for some post-election analysis, and Bet-David got Cuomo to reveal who he voted for.
“Would we be surprised if we could see who you voted for?” Bet-David said.
“I probably shouldn’t tell, but I can tell you who I voted for,” Cuomo said. “You want to know?”
“Yeah,” Bet-David said.
“I voted for my brother,” Cuomo said, revealing he wrote in ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) name in on his ballot. “I wrote him in.”
“Are you joking?!” Bet-David asked twice in shock as Cuomo pulled up a picture as proof.
“He didn’t win by the way,” Cuomo joked.
“Did you really vote for your brother?” Bet-David asked, noting his brother voted for Harris.
“He’s a Democrat, so he does what he does,” Cuomo said. “My feeling is this: America can do better than these two candidates.”
Watch:
Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor of New York in 2021 amid multiple sexual harassment allegations.
Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
On Wednesday, Republicans elected a fresh slate of leaders ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) took home the Senate GOP conference chair position, defeating Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) for the coveted spot.
Cotton defeated the Iowa Republican in what was the only contested race for a GOP leadership position that was not to become the new leader of the conference.
He will replace John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who will take over as No. 2 leader in the conference as whip after Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was term-limited.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) won an uncontested race to become the No. 4 Senate Republican, keeping her hold on a post in GOP leadership.
Capito served the previous two years as the No. 5 Senate Republican and was vice chairwoman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee. She will now be chairwoman of the committee.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) formally joined the Senate Republican leadership team on Wednesday, having won an uncontested bid to become the vice chairman of the Senate GOP Policy Committee.
Lankford ran unchallenged for the position and will replace Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who moved up to become chairwoman of the committee.
As vice chair, Lankford is chiefly tasked with keeping the minutes at the weekly Tuesday policy luncheon.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will take over as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) and helm the campaign efforts for the 2026 cycle.
Scott won the chairmanship on Wednesday and ran uncontested for the post. He replaces Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who steered the party to a potential 53-seat majority and four flipped seats during the 2024 cycle.
“I am honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me to protect and grow our Republican majority,” Scott said. “With President Trump in the White House and Republican leadership in Congress, help is on the way for the American people. Donald J. Trump proved that when we fight everywhere with the TRUTH, we win. That is why we must secure a Republican Senate for all four years of the Trump administration, and that work starts today!”
Ted Eytan from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
On Wednesday, Republicans voted to elect Sen. John Thune to succeed Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader.
Sources told Fox News Digital that no candidate reached a majority on the first secret ballot. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) received the least amount of votes and was knocked out of the race. The second secret ballot was between only Thune and Cornyn.
The senator received at least 27 votes from the 53-member conference during a secret ballot in the old Senate chamber on Wednesday morning.
John Thune is Senate Majority Leader.
He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda.
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) won the election to become Senate majority whip on Wednesday, cementing him as the No. 2 leader in the Republican conference for the foreseeable future.
Barrasso was uncontested for the post, having served for six years as Senate GOP conference chairman and in control of the Republican message. He won the role by acclamation, according to a source with knowledge.
He can serve upwards of six years in the role.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
