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Donald Trump has announced a series of nominations for his new administration as he continues to value loyalty over experience, including several new hires who are critical of the agencies they are tasked with leading.

On Tuesday, Trump picked Jamieson Greer as US Trade Representative, Jim O’Neill as deputy secretary of Health and Human Services, Jay Bhattacharya as director of the National Institutes of Health, Kevin Hassett as director of the National Economic Council, and Vince Haley as head of Domestic Policy Council and John Phelan as Secretary of the Navy.

Bhattacharya, a Covid-19 lockdown skeptic, called for limiting the powers of the 27 institutes and centers that make up the NIH. Phelan, a businessman and major Republican donor, has no military experience.

Grier has been accused of “containing the country’s huge trade deficit” as Trump has promised to impose massive tariffs on “all products imported from China, Canada and Mexico” – with growing fears that this will set the stage for acrimonious global trade could be war.

The threatened double-digit tariffs from the three countries — which account for about 40 percent of goods imported into the U.S. — would likely have a significant impact on the economy, including the automotive industry, crude oil and agriculture.

Harris campaign aides reveal YouTube show “Hot Ones” declined an interview

Kamala Harris’ campaign aides have revealed that the hit YouTube show “Hot Ones” declined their offer to interview the vice president during her presidential campaign.

Speaking about what went wrong for Harris for the first time since her loss to Donald Trump, campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon and senior campaign adviser Stephanie Cutter told the Pod Save America podcast that the Democrat fought for it, but for some she didn’t -democratic parties to take a break. political podcasts.

“I understand that you wanted to do a series of bigger, more popular, non-political podcasts. Can you talk a little bit about why that might not have happened?” asked host Dan Pfeiffer.

Rhian Lubin has the whole story.

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 1:45 p.m

Steve Bannon reveals ‘brutally frank’ reasons for Trump’s re-election

Steve Bannon said he believes Elon Musk is the real “reason” for Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House.

Trump’s former chief White House strategist, who oversaw the president-elect’s victory in his first term, praised the MAGA megadonor whom the president-elect recently tapped to run the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

“Elon and I disagree on some things, but Elon deserves his seat at the table,” Bannon said puck Magazine. “He wrote a $150 million check for the game on the ground, which is not sexy, at the exact moment we needed it. He came with the money and the professionals.”

He added: “To be honest, that’s why we won.”

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 1:24 p.m

GOP senator attacks anti-Trump Hollywood mafia in wild tirade about ‘Mr. “Potato Head” and kale

Republican Senator John Kennedy has a way with words.

Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday, the Louisiana lawmaker railed against left-leaning Hollywood stars — like Sharon Stone, who recently called Donald Trump supporters passless and “uneducated.”

Watch the exchange below:

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 1:02 p.m

Trump appoints Republican megadonor with no military experience to head US Navy

Donald Trump has picked a Republican megadonor with no military experience to head the U.S. Navy in his latest round of Cabinet appointments.

On Tuesday evening, President-elect John Phelan announced his choice to lead the Navy Department under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth if the controversial nominee is confirmed by the Senate.

In the announcement, Trump said Phelan’s “track record” would “speak for itself.”

Rhian Lubin has the details.

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 12:42 p.m

Watch: GOP strategist gets into heated debate over Trump’s tariff plans

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 12:20 p.m

The Trump team claims the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah hours after Biden announced it

Donald Trump’s team has sought to take credit for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, just hours after President Joe Biden announced it at the White House.

The Biden administration reportedly briefed the president-elect’s national security team to inform them of the agreement and commitments made, but Trump officials were not directly involved in the negotiations, according to a senior Biden administration official.

The deal, which marks a major breakthrough in the devastating Middle East conflict, was actually negotiated by Biden, who called it a “historic” moment for the world.

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 12:00

RFK Jr hails Jay Bhattacharya as ‘ideal leader’ to restore NIH

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 11:39 am

ICYMI: How Washington is reacting to Trump’s massive tariff threat

Democrats reacted with dismay to Donald Trump’s promise to impose massive tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, saying the president-elect failed to recognize the potential consequences of his promises and was heading for a “real horror show.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal told CNN on Tuesday that Trump will face an “extremely negative reaction” from US citizens to the tariffs once the impact is felt at home and that he will be “held accountable.”

On Monday, the president-elect threatened to unilaterally impose high excise taxes on Americans who buy imported goods from three of the country’s top trading partners on Inauguration Day, ostensibly aimed at stopping drug smuggling.

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 11:17 am

Kamala Harris sends a “haunting” reminder to fans

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 10:56 am

All of Trump’s current recommendations for his second term

Donald Trump announced a flood of nominations for his new administration on Tuesday. The full list can be found below:

US Trade Representative – Jamieson Greer

Jamieson Greer, the protégé of the Trump administration’s first trade chief, Robert Lighthizer, will be his U.S. trade representative.

If Grier is approved by the Senate in January, he will be accused of “containing the country’s massive trade deficit,” the president-elect said.

Director of the National Institutes of Health – Jay Bhattacharya

Trump appointed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, currently a professor of health policy at Stanford University, to lead the National Institutes of Health and oversee its $47 billion in funding.

Bhattacharya once advocated allowing young and healthy people to contract Covid-19 long before there was a vaccine, and later fought against mandating vaccination against the novel coronavirus.

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services – Jim O’Neill

Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s subordinate at HHS: Jim O’Neill.

O’Neill, an investor and close confidant of billionaire Peter Thiel, will join RFK JR in “fighting together to protect every American,” the president-elect said.

Director of the National Economic Council – Kevin Hassett

Trump moved one step closer to completing this economic team when he named Kevin Hassett to head the National Economic Council.

This role puts Hassett at the center of the government’s policy discussions, ranging from trade and taxes to deregulation.

Domestic Policy Council Chairman – Vince Haley

Trump has named his campaign speechwriter Vince Haley to head his Domestic Policy Council.

Before joining Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Haley worked for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for over a decade.

Secretary of the Navy – John Phelan

Businessman and major Republican donor John Phelan was named head of the Navy.

Phelan, who has no military experience, will deliver “real results for the Navy” and the United States and will be a “tremendous force” for Marines, Trump said.

James LiddellNovember 27, 2024 10:36 am

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