Politics
President-Elect Trump Picks Matt Gaetz to Be Attorney General
President-elect Donald Trump has named Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, 42, his attorney general. This position doubles as the country’s top prosecutor and the director of the Department of Justice.
Trump announced the nominee in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, noting Matt Gaetz’s experience as a lawyer and member of the House Judiciary Committee.
He also stated that Gaetz’s nomination would be part of his strategy to rid the government of perceived opponents. Trump has frequently accused Democrats of “weaponizing” the Justice Department against him, a charge he reiterated in Wednesday’s statement.
Matt will halt weaponized government, secure our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ severely eroded faith and confidence in the Justice Department, Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Donald Trump has sent shockwaves across Washington by appointing former Democratic congressman Tulsi Gabbard as the new director of national intelligence.
The moves sparked quick criticism that the president-elect ignores qualifications to put his most fervent followers in charge of the country’s most important government agencies.
Even before Gaetz and Gabbard were named, Trump aroused eyebrows by naming Pete Hegseth, an army veteran and Fox News commentator, as his contender for defense secretary.
Trump has also made more conventional picks for prominent jobs, such as choosing Florida Senator Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State.
Gaetz’s planned appointment as attorney general comes as President Trump threatens to restructure the US Department of Justice in retaliation for criminal investigations and indictments initiated against him by federal prosecutors in recent years.
Tulsi Gabbard was the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Vice-Chair from 2013 to 2016 when she resigned to support Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential candidacy.
Tulsi is an Iraq War veteran and Army reservist. Three years ago, she received the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve.
“As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!” According to Trump’s remarks.
“I am confident that Tulsi will bring the courageous attitude that has distinguished her remarkable career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength. “Tulsi will make us all proud!”
Once confirmed, Tulsi Gabbard will advise Trump, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on national security issues.
Politics
Concerned About Matt Gaetz’s Campaign, Senate Republicans Call for a House Ethics Investigation.
(VOR News) – Given that a growing number of Republican senators are seeking access to the investigation of Matt Gaetz conducted by the House Ethics Committee, Gaetz’s nomination for the position of attorney general may encounter significant opposition in the Senate.
On Thursday, Matt Gaetz submitted his resignation from the House of Representatives, one day after President-elect Trump announced his acceptance of these positions.
The House Ethics Committee has completed its investigation into allegations that Matt Gaetz was involved in drug use and sex trafficking.
Similar allegations were levied against Matt Gaetz.
The investigation commenced in 2021. Dick Durbin, a Democratic senator and current chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement on Thursday requesting that the House ethics panel “preserve and share” their report along with any additional evidence collected regarding Gaetz.
Durbin’s statement was made in relation to his ongoing tenure in his current role. Durbin’s remark was made public on Thursday.
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee who recently lost the Senate Majority Leader race, informed reporters on Thursday that the Senate “should obtain all pertinent information by any means necessary,” potentially including a subpoena for the ethics report.
Cornyn is a prominent member of the Judiciary Committee. Cornyn is a senior member of the committee that supervises the Judiciary. Cornyn is hired by the organization tasked with overseeing the Judiciary.
“None of us desire to operate without guidance,” he stated to the reporters in the Capitol, and his assertion was entirely accurate. It was an entirely accurate assertion. “This serves to safeguard the president from unforeseen information or revelations that he and his team may not have anticipated.”
While other senators are inquiring about the particulars of the investigation undertaken by the Ethics Committee during the confirmation hearings, Cornyn is aligning with those senators who are insisting on this information.
Cornyn has conceded that he lacks definitive clarification over the Senate’s ability to request data from the House; still, this is the current situation.
A source familiar with the process, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential deliberations, indicated that the House Ethics Committee’s meeting was scheduled for Friday. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether the meeting will occur without additional clarification.
That meeting may have been the committee’s vote on Matt Gaetz’s disclosure.
This may have been the committee’s plan. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, stated that Matt Gaetz’s candidacy “will be one of those that will be well-scrutinized.”
According to Tuberville’s account on Thursday, his response to the press was: “It will be a fine-tooth comb, and they were aware of that beforehand.” “It will be a meticulously crafted product.”
Tuberville remarked, “I have known Matt Gaetz for an extended period and have consistently admired him.”
In reaction to the inquiries directed at Matt Gaetz, other Republican senators chose to abstain from commenting. Representative Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, delivered a clear statement declaring, “no comment.”
When queried about Gaetz, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa responded by commending Elise Stefanik, a congresswoman from New York and a nominee for the Trump administration. Stefanik is a candidate for the role of Secretary of State. Ernst made the statement to National Public Radio while commuting on the Senate subway.
He characterized the situation as “highly intriguing.” “Elise is exceptional!” She remarked about Gaetz as the metro vehicle departed the station: “He faces a formidable challenge.” She stated this while the vehicle was leaving the station.
Cornyn stated to the reporters, “I am unfamiliar with the individual.” That was his observation. In response to the inquiry on any worries about Matt Gaetz candidacy, this reply was made.
SOURCE: NPR
SEE ALSO:
The Main US Inflation Tracker Increased For The First Time Since March.
President-Elect Trump Picks Matt Gaetz to Be Attorney General
Trump Shakes Up Pentagon Names Pete Hegseth Defence Secretary
Politics
Trump Shakes Up Pentagon Names Pete Hegseth Defence Secretary
US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Pete Hegseth, a decorated Army veteran and Fox News broadcaster, as his defense secretary. The announcement sent shockwaves across the Pentagon and defense industry.
Many in Washington expected the nominee to be a seasoned legislator or someone with defense policy experience. Trump’s choice of Hegseth caught them completely off guard.
In his first political post, 44-year-old Pete Hegseth will be in charge of the world’s most powerful military. He previously served in Afghanistan and Iraq.
When he announced his decision on Tuesday, Trump praised it as “tough, smart, and a true believer in America First.” He also emphasized the former soldier’s schooling at Princeton and Harvard institutions and his combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” the president wrote on Facebook.
The president-elect also highlighted Hegseth’s work as a published novelist. He stated that The War on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors and how we must return our military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence.”
Hegseth was a major in the Minnesota National Guard who worked as a prison guard in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and Iraq and Afghanistan and has been an outspoken critic of what he calls “woke” policies inside the US military and its leadership.
“The dumbest phrase on planet earth in the military is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth stated on a webcast last month.
One of his responsibilities as defense secretary could be to carry out Trump’s campaign vows to remove US generals accused of supporting progressive agendas within the military.
Trump stated that entrepreneur Elon Musk, another political novice, would help the administration decrease costs.
Trump’s government is taking shape following his victory in last week’s presidential election. Hegseth was part of a flurry of security appointments, including Trump’s selection of John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Hegseth will arrive at the Pentagon with decisions to make on topics such as military aid to Israel during its fight in Gaza and backing for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion.
Trump wants the United States to distance itself from foreign conflicts in general. During the election campaign, he criticized the Biden administration’s spending to aid Ukraine.
Also on Tuesday, Trump stated that he wanted South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to play a key role as homeland security secretary. Trump appointed another military veteran, Michael Waltz, as national security advisor, which means he will counsel the president on international dangers.
According to sources at the BBC’s US partner CBS News, Senator Marco Rubio, who shares Waltz’s strong views on China, is anticipated to be Trump’s future secretary of state. However, the selection has not yet been verified.
Republicans have regained control of the Senate and the upper chamber of Congress and are closing in on a majority in the House and the lower chamber as vote counting continues.
Related News:
Hamas Calls for Peace After Trump Wins Election
Politics
Trudeau Insists Trump Isn’t a Threat Despite His Past Rhetoric
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed optimism Tuesday about working with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, ramping up his rhetoric again by saying Canada has dealt with his trade threats before and can do so again.
Trudeau tried to play down possible retaliations by Trump over his past rhetoric, saying Trump’s trade threats are mostly aimed at China, and Canada has previously demonstrated a willingness to align with the United States against the Chinese if required.
Trudeau said that a concerted approach to Chinese trade and actions to address the country’s oppressive trade practices could help Canada win Trump’s favor.
For years, Trump has accused China of purposely weakening its currency and flooding the world with cheap items manufactured by low-wage workers, replacing American-made products and forcing jobs away.
The Trump administration is concerned about international pressures, particularly China’s overcapacity and unfair trade tactics. Canada is already aligned with the United States, and we can accomplish great things together,” Trudeau stated.
Trudeau’s allusion
Canada and the United States collaborated as “friends and partners” during Trump’s first term, “and we’re going to do that again,” Trudeau stated.
Trudeau’s allusion to being “aligned” with the Americans refers to Canada’s decision in August to join the US in imposing punishing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles to preserve the country’s young EV industry.
As of October 1, Canada imposed a 100% surtax on Chinese-made EVs, doubling the cost of those imported vehicles and making them significantly less appealing to Canadian buyers.
According to a readout of Trudeau’s first contact with Trump since the election, the two discussed “addressing unfair trading practices in the global economy. While Canada and the United States agree on EVs, there may be difficulty with Mexico, the third member in the continental free trade agreement.
Trump has threatened to impose heavy tariffs on Mexico, with up to 200 percent levies on vehicles imported from the nation, to make it less appealing for automakers to build operations there.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in automotive manufacturing in Mexico; most of that product is bound for the United States. Chinese EV manufacturer BYD has been seeking areas for a Mexican facility that may supply the US market.
“All I’m doing is saying… I’ll put a number where they can’t sell one car,” Trump said of Mexico in October about promised tariffs.
“I don’t want them hurting our car companies.”
Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement
He has also threatened Mexico with high tariffs if it does not do more to stem the flow of migrants entering the United States. Kelly Craft, Trump’s former ambassador to Canada, has claimed the president-elect is also concerned about transshipments.
That is the practice of countries such as China shipping goods to Mexico so that they may be sold tariff-free in Canada and the United States under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement, which Trump renegotiated during his administration.
“There are manufacturers producing products for the U.S. and Canada in Mexico, and he wants to reduce that, he wants us to have indigenous manufacturing capability,” Craft said of Trump in an interview with Radio-Canada before last week’s presidential election.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed similar concerns Tuesday, suggesting that Canada and the United States should negotiate a future free trade agreement alone and exclude Mexico.
“Since signing on to the new NAFTA, Mexico has allowed itself to become a backdoor for Chinese cars, auto parts and other products into Canadian and American markets,” Ford told reporters.
“If Mexico won’t fight transshipment by, at the very least, matching Canadian and American tariffs on Chinese imports, they shouldn’t have a seat at the table or enjoy access to the largest economy in the world.”
Regarding Trump’s pledge to impose a minimum 10% tariff on all imports — a policy that could be applied to Canada — Trudeau said Tuesday that he is working to persuade the incoming president that the approach would be terrible for businesses and the workers they employ on both sides of the border.
During Trump’s first term, Canada was subjected to tariffs on steel and aluminum from the United States, which was an economically destructive policy. Canada replied with dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs, forcing the United States to back down.
Trudeau stated that if necessary, Canada may undertake this strategy again.
“We responded to tariffs he brought in with a demonstration that the interdependence of our economies means there are great jobs on both sides of the border that rely on the smooth flow of goods,” he told reporters. “That’s going to continue to be the case.”
However, trade experts believe that even the possibility of tariffs might be detrimental to Canada since it may cause corporations to reconsider investing here.
Related News:
Former NDP Leader Says Trudeau is Top on Trumps Hit List
-
Tech3 weeks ago
Apple Unveiled A Fresh Glimpse Of Their AI Featuring ChatGPT Integration.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Connection Problems With The App Store Are Stopping Customers From Downloading Apps.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
The Meta Foundation Launches a New Anti-Sextortion Campaign on Instagram.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Adobe Commences The Implementation Of AI Video Tools, Which Poses A Challenge To OpenAI And Meta.
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Appeals Court Delays Order For Google To Open Its App Store In Antitrust Case
-
Business4 weeks ago
Arthur Hayes Predicts Bitcoin Will “Rise Stupendously” When Middle East Conflict Escalates.