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 at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida.

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.

Geoff Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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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.

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Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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According to Canada’s former NDP leader, Thomas Mulcair, Trump’s strained relationship with Justin Trudeau has the potential to exacerbate the country’s already challenging social, economic, and environmental situation.

When Trump was last in office, he began making it much more difficult for asylum seekers in the United States. Justin Trudeau saw a political advantage in the contrast and memorably tweeted #WelcometoCanada.

What followed was a tremendous inflow of asylum seekers, most of whom arrived via an unlawful border crossing on Roxham Road south of Montreal. It immediately became a political flashpoint, escalating tensions between the Quebec provincial administration and Ottawa.

After years of refusing to acknowledge the problem, Trudeau was eventually obliged to respond, but the unplanned enormous rise in new arrivals, especially those now arriving from the United States, became a key cause of his electoral fortunes deteriorating across our country.

Trudeau believed that Canada should aim for a population of 100 million by the end of the century. The problem was that this massive increase in our population (from 36 million when Trudeau took office in 2015 to nearly 42 million today) occurred without any planning for health and educational services, especially without considering the impact on the availability and affordability of housing in Canada.

That surge into Canada, sparked by Trump and amplified by Trudeau, could become a tsunami of new arrivals during Trump’s second term. If Trump, as promised, closes his southern border and begins deporting illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, Canada may witness an increase in the number of people crossing our borders.

Trump has also pledged to raise tariffs on manufactured products entering the US. This could harm all provinces, but Quebec and Ontario could be especially badly struck. This is not good news for Trudeau, who keeps saying he’ll run in the next election.

The Beauce region of Quebec, south of Quebec City, extends to the United States border. It has traditionally voted more conservatively than the rest of the province. This region’s peculiarity stems partly from its proximity to the United States and a strong entrepreneurial mindset.

Several Liberals believe Canadians would prefer to keep Trudeau as prime minister because he strongly contrasts Trump. That is wishful thinking. When Trump made his one-and-only trip to Canada for a G-7 conference in Charlevoix, Quebec, Trudeau took potshots at him shortly after he left, according to Thomas Mulcair.

The problem for Trudeau was that Trump was still on Air Force One and could hear his words. He mocked Trudeau (opens in a new tab) for being kind to him in person but then complaining about him behind his back.

Trump has many opponents, and Trudeau has always been on it. Stephen Maher, Trudeau’s biographer, accurately defined Trudeau’s predilection for “pious scolding.” The notion that Trudeau’s ongoing criticism of Trump and his actions could benefit Canada is naive.

Canada and the United States have unique, highly close histories and geographies. Our economies are also very interconnected.

Trump’s disregard for environmental protection would, naturally, clash with Trudeau’s meager efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. Trump will see our fossil fuel resources as his own, and Trudeau will be woefully unable to address the situation.

Mulcair believes that the coming months will provide crucial indicators of what is to come in Canada-United States ties.

Meanwhile, pressure will mount for Trudeau to step down and allow a new Liberal leader to try to build a more trusting relationship with the new American administration.

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Geoff Thomas

Geoffrey Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

See Full Bio