Trump won’t disclose ‘secret’ transition money as Don Jr’s influence looms over cabinet picks: Live updates
President-elect made flurry of nominations on Friday night to form his new administration but has not signed transition agreement requiring disclosure of donor names
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Your support makes all the difference.As Donald Trump builds the most controversial cabinet in modern US history, Donald Trump Jr has emerged as the most influential Trump family member in the transition, according to reporting by Reuters.
The president-elect’s eldest son is playing a key role in elevating inexperienced loyalists over more qualified candidates for top positions in the administration.
Meanwhile it’s not just the cabinet picks attracting scrutiny, it’s now also Trump’s transition funding as he’s keeping the identities of donors a secret having not signed the traditional agreement for federal funds as part of the Presidential Transition Act.
In a flurry of nominations over the weekend, Trump has named Brooke Rollins to agriculture; Pam Bondi as attorney general, following the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz; Scott Bessent to treasury; and Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought as the White House budget chief.
On Sunday morning’s political talk shows, Republican lawmakers stepped up to defend some of Trump’s choices, including defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth who has been mired in scandal all week because of sexual assault allegations and views on women in combat roles.
Democratic senator Tammy Duckworth, a veteran, called him “unqualified and dangerous”.
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ANALYSIS: What next for Gaetz?
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.
Where Matt Gaetz will go next
Ex-congressman could return to Washington, run for governor, or seek another path. But we can probably work out where he’s headed next if we read between the lines, John Bowden reports
Ric Grenell under consideration to take on role of special envoy to Russia-Ukraine war
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
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.
Trump will fire Jack Smith’s lawyers and use the DoJ to investigate the 2020 election
Those affected are likely to include career professionals usually shielded from political revenge efforts, which may take years to enact
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