Donald Trump has named Brooke Rollins, the founder of Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute, as his pick for secretary of agriculture, completing his nominees for his main White House cabinet in 2025.
The president-elect wasted little time after Matt Gaetz said he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the next attorney general. Hours later, the president-elect named Pam Bondi, former attorney general of Florida, as his choice to lead the Department of Justice.
Bondi is a long-time Trump ally who represented the former president in his first impeachment trial.
Trump also announces hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his choice for secretary of treasury.
In a flurry of announcements on Friday night, Trump also named Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought for the White House budget chief, after Vought wrote the chapter on transforming the executive branch for the massive right-wing document for Trump’s incoming administration.
Trump also has named his picks for the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and surgon general — rounding out his nominees to joing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in radically transforming the nation’s healthcare and disease preparedness agencies.
Key Points
- Trump names Brooke Rollins as his pick for secretary of agriculture
- Who is Pam Bondi? Trump’s new pick to be attorney general
- Trump announces Scott Bessent as nominee for Treasury secretary
ICYMI: Melania Trump announces first big hire
08:00
Oliver O'Connell
Incoming First Lady Melania Trump has announced her first big hire for her new East Wing office in the White House, appointing longtime aide Hayley Harrison to be her chief of staff.
In a statement, Trump’s office said Harrison “has maintained an integral role and exceptional leadership on the First Lady’s team over the past seven years.”
Read on...
ANALYSIS: What next for Gaetz?
06:00
Oliver O'Connell
Matt Gaetz’s brief stint as Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department has Washington reeling after a whirlwind week.
The congressman from Florida resigned abruptly from the House days after winning another term, and stated that he wouldn’t serve in the upcoming Congress set to take shape in January. His departure — and his nomination to the post of attorney general — were a shock to Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill.
The drip-drip quickly began, as John Bowden reports.
Ric Grenell under consideration to take on role of special envoy to Russia-Ukraine war
05:00
Gustaf Kilander
Trump’s former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence in his first administration Ric Grenell is under consideration to be the special envoy for the war between Russia and Ukraine.
There’s currently no special envoy for the conflict, but Trump is seriously considering whether to create the role, according to Reuters, pointing to four sources with knowledge of the president-elect’s thinking.
If the position is indeed created, Grenell is reportedly a top contender, but Trump may still choose another candidate, the news agency noted. The sources reportedly said that there’s no guarantee that Grenell would take the job if offered.
Grenell was reported to be one of the candidates to be secretary of state, a nomination that eventually went to Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio.
While Trump hasn’t outlined a specific plan on how to end the war, he has promised to do so quickly once in office.
Grenell has made statements previously that may concern the Ukrainians, telling Bloomberg in July that he would back the creation of “autonomous zones” to end the war. He has also said that he would not back NATO membership for Ukraine in the near future.
The 58-year-old has also served as a special presidential envoy for the Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations and as a spokesperson to the UN during the presidency of George W Bush. He was also the foreign policy spokesperson during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign for the White House.
Report: Trump will fire Jack Smith’s lawyers and use the DoJ to investigate the 2020 election
04:00
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to attempt to fire the attorneys who worked with Special Counsel Jack Smith investigating the former president for his alleged mishandling of classified documents and for his connection to the Capitol riot.
Those affected are likely to include career professionals usually shielded from such revenge efforts, , according to The Washington Post.
Trump is also set to put together groups to look for evidence that the 2020 election was riddled with fraud.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Initial meeting held between Trump and Biden national security advisors
03:28
Gustaf Kilander
The outgoing and incoming national security advisors for the Biden and Trump administrations met earlier this week, two people familiar with the meeting told Axios.
It was the first meeting between Biden National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Trump’s appointee to the role, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz.
Waltz is set to take over the White House advisory role amidst several global crises. The meeting occurred despite the Trump transition team not having signed a memorandum of understanding to allow the transition process to start.
The meeting went ahead after Sullivan returned from Biden’s trip to South America, and several global issues were discussed, such as the war in Gaza and the hostages still being held by Hamas, according to Axios.
Sullivan noted last week that he had met Waltz previously during his time as a member of the House.
"He and I obviously don’t see eye to eye on every issue, but I am very much looking forward to engaging him over these next 60 days, as I said, so that we can have this smooth handoff," Sullivan noted.
Who’s who among the White House appointments so far
03:00
Oliver O’Connell
President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, rewarding longtime loyalists, aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign and in his legal battles.
In the weeks since winning the election, Trump has named dozens of appointments to major government roles including some highly controversial picks. A week after he was nominated, Trump’s first pick for attorney general — now-former congressman Matt Gaetz — withdrew his name from consideration amid a looming congressional report into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Here’s a look at who Trump has selected for Cabinet positions and key roles so far.
Pam Bondi, Hurricane Katrina and a rescued a dog — here’s what happened...
02:00
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump moved quickly to replace Matt Gaetz as his nominee for United States attorney general, tapping Pam Bondi for the job within hours of the former Florida lawmaker’s withdrawal.
Gaetz dropped out of the process on Thursday saying his candidacy was “becoming a distraction” after the House Ethics Committee came under pressure to release the findings of its investigation into allegations he had sex with a minor – accusations he has consistently denied.
Bondi, 59, served as the Sunshine State’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented Trump in his first impeachment trial before the Senate.
But she is not entirely free from controversy herself.
Joe Sommerlad reports.
ICYMI: Trump delivers flurry of nominations
01:00
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump announced a flurry of nominations on Friday night, revealing his choices to lead the Treasury Department, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the FDA, the CDC, the Office of the Surgeon General, and the Department of Labor.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Trump’s counter terror pick Sebastian Gorka is a ‘conman’ who needs FBI background check, Bolton says
00:30
Gustaf Kilander
When Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton appeared on CNN Friday night, he didn’t hold back when commenting on Trump’s pick for his counterterrorism director.
“Sebastian Gorka is a con man,” Bolton told host Kaitlan Collins.
“He needs a full-field FBI background investigation about his educational claims and things like that,” he added. “I think he is a perfect example of somebody who owes his position purely to Donald Trump, he doesn’t display loyalty, he displays fealty, and that’s what Trump wants.”
Read more:
Seth Meyers skewers Gaetz over 8-day run for AG
00:00
Oliver O'Connell
Seth Meyers roasted Matt Gaetz for his failed eight-day run to become Donald Trump’s attorney general, marking one of the quickest withdrawals from a cabinet nomination in US history.
On Thursday’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, the comedian skewered the former Florida congressman after he dropped out of the confirmation process to head up the Justice Department following resurfaced sexual misconduct claims.
One allegation, which Gaetz denies, is that he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl on more than one occasion.
“Matt Gaetz is out? But his nomination was only eight days old,’ Meyers said.
“Once again, he can’t even make it to 18,” he quipped.
Rhian Lubin has the story.
Profile: Pam Bondi — Trump’s new pick for attorney general
Saturday 23 November 2024 23:00
Josh Marcus and Joe Sommerlad
The incoming Trump administration didn’t waste any time on Thursday after Matt Gaetz said that he was dropping his bid to become attorney general. Soon afterwards it announced that Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, would seek the top position at the Justice Department instead.
Bondi, 59, who served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented the president-elect at his first impeachment trial in the Senate, is both an experienced public official and a long-time Trump ally.
Gaetz reacted to the choice on X by calling her “a stellar selection” as well as “a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans”.
South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham was even more effusive, posting: “Well done, Mr President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly.”
Here’s what you need to know about her.
Former Trump surgeon general sounds alarm on infectious diseases
Saturday 23 November 2024 22:36
Oliver O'Connell
Jerome Adams, who served as surgeon general in the first Trump administration is sounding the alarm about alarming trends in infectious diseases.
He says he hopes the incoming administration has a strong response plan and can ensure vaccine confidence stays high “or they’ll be distracted with outbreaks for 4 years this time instead of 1.”
Whooping cough cases up 5x this year
— Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) November 23, 2024
100,000 global measles deaths - mostly in kids
H5N1 steamrolling towards pandemic status. Egg prices skyrocketing.
The new administration had better have a strong infectious disease response plan- and had better ensure public health and…
Election workers defamed by Giuliani pen scathing letter accusing him of an ‘obvious attempt to intimidate’
Saturday 23 November 2024 22:25
Oliver O'Connell
Attorneys for election workers that Rudy Giuliani defamed wrote a scathing letter accusing the former New York City mayor of launching a crusade meant to “to obstruct and intimidate” them as they try to recover his assets.
In a Friday letter to a federal judge, Michael Gottlieb, a lawyer representing election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, accused Giuliani of orchestrating a “public relations campaign” meant to stop the women from collecting the belongings they are owed.
Kelly Rissman reports.
Sen. Ernst of the ‘DOG caucus’ met with Trump and Musk at Mar-a-Lago today
Saturday 23 November 2024 22:10
Oliver O'Connell
Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who is leading the newly formed Senate DOGE Caucus in support of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency, today met with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
They were joined at lunch by Musk and Howard Lutnick, who is nominated to be secretary of commerce.
Met with @realDonaldTrump about his cabinet nominees today!@howardlutnick @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/yR72sRbyyC
— Joni Ernst (@joniernst) November 23, 2024
Delta CEO: Trump as a ‘breath of fresh air’
Saturday 23 November 2024 22:00
Oliver O'Connell
The chief executive of Delta Air Lines says the incoming Trump administration will be a “breath of fresh air” for airlines after what he called government “overreach” under President Joe Biden.
The airline industry has chafed under consumer-protection regulations imposed by the Biden administration. And Delta is facing a federal investigation into its slow recovery from a global technology outage this summer.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian made the comment as he and fellow Delta executives prepared to host Wall Street analysts at an investor day Wednesday in Atlanta.
Continue reading...
Trump has now named all 15 heads of executive departments
Saturday 23 November 2024 21:35
Oliver O'Connell
- Agriculture - Brooke Rollins
- Commerce - Howard Lutnick
- Defense - Pete Hegseth
- Education - Linda McMahon
- Energy - Chris Wright
- HHS - RFK Jr.
- Homeland Security - Kristi Noem
- HUD - Scott Turner
- Interior - Doug Burgum
- Labor - Lori Chavez-DeReme
- State - Marco Rubio
- Transportation - Sean Duffy
- Treasury - Scott Bessent
- Veterans Affairs - Doug Collins
- Attorney General - Pam Bondi
NEW - Trump appoints Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture. Meaning, Trump has now named all 15 heads of the executive departments.
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) November 23, 2024
Agriculture - Brooke Rollins
Commerce - Howard Lutnick
Defense - Pete Hegseth
Education - Linda McMahon
Energy - Chris Wright
HHS - RFK Jr.…
Hegseth threatens ‘educational insurgency’ in schools
Saturday 23 November 2024 21:30
Oliver O'Connell
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick to be secretary of defense, has called for an “educational insurgency” to take over American schools in an appearance on a right-wing podcast.
During a CrossPolitic discussion about religiously affiliated schools, Hegseth explained his idea for a system of “classical Christian schools” to provide “recruits” for an underground army that could eventually launch an “educational insurgency”.
Read on...
Trump names Brooke Rollins as his pick for secretary of agriculture
Saturday 23 November 2024 21:17
Oliver O'Connell
As first reported by The Wall Street Journal earlier today, Donald Trump has picked Founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute Brooke Rollins as his choice to be secretary of agriculture.
The president-elect released the following statement:
It is my Great Honor to nominate Brooke L. Rollins, from the Great State of Texas, to serve as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture.
Brooke was on my 2016 Economic Advisory Council, and did an incredible job during my First Term as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Director of the Office of American Innovation, and Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives. In these roles, she helped develop and manage the transformational Domestic Policy Agenda of my Administration. Brooke has spent the past four years as the Founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), building a team of loyal Patriots, and championing the Policies of our America First Agenda.
Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none. A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors. From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.
As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country. Congratulations Brooke!
Earlier reporting indicated that Trump might pick former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler.
Gaetz appears to hint at Florida gubernatorial run
Saturday 23 November 2024 21:15
Oliver O'Connell
Responding to a post on X that he will be the next governor of the state of Florida with a gif of the state flag, former congressman Matt Gaetz appeared to confirm he is considering a gubernatorial run in 2026.
The current governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited and cannot seek reelection.
https://t.co/yDMNvCAGJm pic.twitter.com/Z8mPniNUeS
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 23, 2024
ANALYSIS: What do Republican doctors really think of RFK Jr? I asked them
Saturday 23 November 2024 21:00
Oliver O'Connell
Eric Garcia writes:
Senator Bill Cassidy stood up to Donald Trump in 2021 after the January 6 riot — he was one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump. And in January, he will become chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, making the Republican gastroenterologist from Louisana one of the most influential doctors in America.
But when it comes to Trump’s nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has for years spread lies and misinformation about vaccines, Cassidy wants a second opinion.
Continue reading...
Trump endorses Randy Fine for Florida congressional run
Saturday 23 November 2024 20:56
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump has endorsed Florida State Senate member Randy Fine as he considers a run for Congress representing the state’s 6th District.
Current congressman Mike Waltz is joining the Trump administration as national security adviser. The district was also represented by current Florida Governor Ron De Santis from 2013 to 2018.
In a post on Truth Social, the president-elect wrote:
I am hearing that America First Patriot Randy Fine is considering launching his Campaign for Congress in Florida's 6th Congressional District!
A Harvard Educated, Successful Businessman, and Highly Respected State Legislator, Randy has been an incredible Voice for MAGA, and the Great People of Florida. In Congress, Randy will be an INCREDIBLE Fighter who will work tirelessly with me to Stop Inflation, Grow our Economy, Secure the Border, Champion our Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, and Restore PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.
Should he decide to enter this Race, Randy Fine has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, RANDY, RUN!
Fine was a champion of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and the conflict with Disney.
Despite Trump saying he has ‘no idea’ what it is, his cabinet is filling up with Project 2025 authors
Saturday 23 November 2024 20:45
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump said he has “no idea” who’s behind it. His presidential transition chair and the man he picked to be the secretary of commerce said he wouldn’t touch it. “They made themselves nuclear,” he said.
But the authors of Project 2025 — a 900-page playbook from a right-wing think tank for the next Republican president’s agenda — are all over Trump’s incoming administration.
Alex Woodward reports.
Democrats warn of ‘massive harm’ on millions of Americans if Russell Vought leads OMB
Saturday 23 November 2024 20:33
Oliver O'Connell
Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, issued the following statement following Donald Trump’s selection of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
“After vehemently denying his links to Project 2025 through the campaign, the President-elect just tapped its lead architect, Russell Vought, to run his coming all-of-government purge as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“Vought wants to dismantle the expert federal workforce, replacing qualified, nonpartisan federal employees with sycophants selected not for their merit but for their willingness to place party and personal loyalty over their constitutional oaths of office. Vought’s agenda would inflict massive harm on the tens of millions of Americans who rely on federal workers to provide health care at the VA, Social Security checks to their parents, infrastructure aid to local governments, and financial assistance to small businesses. In his own words, Vought wants our federal workers to be ‘traumatically affected,’ no matter the costs added to our economy or the problems imposed on the American people. Pain is itself the agenda.
“As Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Vought oversaw the largest government shutdown in our nation’s history, carried out a Trump executive order to halt diversity initiatives in federal government, and tried to implement Trump’s assault on the expert, non-partisan civil service through an executive order called ‘Schedule F’—which he said he would revive on ‘day one’ in the next administration. And he is now urging the incoming president to move aggressively and with little regard for the law under a ‘radical constitutional perspective’ to dismantle and replace the federal workforce.
“As Democratic Members of the House Oversight Committee, the headquarters of resistance to this plan, we will fight Vought’s radical agenda, act to protect vital government services the American people depend on, and stand up to defend our fellow citizens who are honorable federal workers every step of the way.”
Trump did a complete 180 on transgender bathroom controversy
Saturday 23 November 2024 20:24
Oliver O'Connell
“Kamala is for they/them. Trump is for you,” was the message of a widely aired ad for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign.
But a resurfaced 2016 clip shows how much the president-elect’s view on transgender rights has shifted in eight years.
Kelly Rissman reports.
ICYMI: Trump’s hush money sentencing indefinitely postponed as judge considers tossing conviction
Saturday 23 November 2024 20:00
Oliver O'Connell
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial has postponed his sentencing indefinitely as he considers arguments from the president-elect’s legal team to toss the case altogether.
New York Justice Juan Merchan will hear legal briefs from Trump’s attorneys who claim that the conviction and sentencing of the president-elect will disrupt the “orderly transition of executive power” and be “uniquely destabilizing” to the country.
Trump’s sentencing date was postponed to November 26. That date is now off the calendar.
Instead, Judge Merchan has asked Trump’s attorneys to file their arguments by December 2, according to a filing in Manhattan criminal court on Friday.
Prosecutors will have until December 9 to reply.
Alex Woodward, who closely followed the case for The Independent, filed this report on Friday.
Scott Turner (contd.)
Saturday 23 November 2024 19:35
AP
Headed council in Trump’s first term
Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.”
The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones,” which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives.
The role of HUD
HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs.
The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market.
During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction.
What to know about Scott Turner, Trump’s pick for housing secretary
Saturday 23 November 2024 19:30
AP
Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term.
Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican’s Cabinet.
Here are some things to know about Turner:
From professional football to politics
Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.
During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District.
Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term.
Motivational speaker and pastor
Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker.
He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term.
Continued...
Trump ally warns UK PM over any Netanyahu arrest
Saturday 23 November 2024 19:00
Oliver O'Connell
A staunch ally of Donald Trump has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the UK will face severe economic consequences if it helps to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.
Senator Lindsey Graham said the US should “crush” the economies of all those who comply with the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Israeli prime minister faces arrest if he enters Britain, Downing Street has said.
Kate Devlin reports from London.
Watch: Trump treasury pick like ‘beauty pageant’ of Wall St players
Saturday 23 November 2024 18:40
Oliver O'Connell
Trump named Scott Bessent his Treasury Secretary last night. It was his last major cabinet pick and one of the most coveted jobs among the titans of Wall Street so of course there was high stakes drama during the selection process. Here's my latest reporting on @kaitlancollins'… pic.twitter.com/zEGeuKRym9
— Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) November 23, 2024
Who’s who in Trump’s cabinet picks so far
Saturday 23 November 2024 18:30
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, rewarding longtime loyalists, aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign and in his legal battles.
A week after he was nominated, Trump’s first pick for attorney general — now-former congressman Matt Gaetz — withdrew his name from consideration amid a looming congressional report into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Here’s a look at who he’s selected so far.
Revealed: How Donald Trump’s alleged assassin tapped up UK-trained Afghan commandos to fight in Ukraine
Saturday 23 November 2024 18:00
Oliver O'Connell
Holly Bancroft and May Bulman report on the extraordinary story of how Ryan Wesley Routh apparently messaged Afghan special forces hiding in Iran just three days before being arrested with an AK-47 at Trump’s Florida golf club.
The UK is still dragging its feet over offering safe haven to these desperate men — paid and trained by the British — now being enticed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Trump expected to pick former adviser Brooke Rollins for agriculture, report says
Saturday 23 November 2024 17:40
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump is expected to select Brooke Rollins, a former Trump administration policy adviser, to lead the Agriculture Department, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.
Per the Journal:
Rollins is the president of the America First Policy Institute, a group led by former Trump administration officials that spent months planning for a potential second term. An ally of Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, Rollins was once considered a contender to be White House chief of staff. But Susie Wiles, who helped run Trump’s campaign, was chosen for that role.
During Trump’s first term, Rollins led the Domestic Policy Council. A Texas native, she previously ran the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank.
If confirmed, Rollins would likely play a role in discussions about Trump’s plans for sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports, which could affect American farmers.
There was earlier speculation that the department could be led by former Georgia senator and businesswoman Kelly Loeffler.
Rollins has a degree in agriculture development and grew up on a farm.
If confirmed, Rollins would lead a 100,000-person agency with offices in every county in the country, whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, home and farm lending, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, trade and more. It had a budget of $437.2 billion in 2024.
With reporting from Reuters
Hegseth’s odds of being confirmed almost halved after Gaetz withdrawal
Saturday 23 November 2024 17:30