November 23rd 2024.
President-elect Donald Trump made a significant announcement on Friday, revealing his selection for the next treasury secretary. He has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, who is known for his stance on reducing the national deficit. This decision shows Trump's efforts to solidify the financial aspect of his upcoming administration. Along with this, Trump also announced his nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought previously held this position during Trump's first presidency and was heavily involved in Project 2025, a conservative plan for Trump's second term that he distanced himself from during his campaign. Bessent and Vought were just two of several personnel decisions that Trump shared with the public on Friday evening.
In addition to these nominations, Trump also revealed his choices for other important roles in his administration. He has chosen Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican from Oregon, to serve as his labor secretary. Alongside her, Trump has selected Scott Turner, a former football player who previously worked in his first administration, as his housing secretary. These individuals bring a diverse range of experiences and perspectives to the table.
Trump also completed his health team by announcing his nominations for surgeon general, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Food and Drug Administration. He has chosen Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a general practitioner and Fox News contributor, as surgeon general, and Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Republican congressman from Florida, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the Food and Drug Administration, Trump has chosen Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon. Previously, he had stated his intention to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known spreader of conspiracy theories about vaccines, as health secretary.
Trump also announced the names of individuals who will serve as principal deputy national security adviser and senior director for counterterrorism. Alex Wong, who worked on issues related to Asia during Trump's first term, will serve as the principal deputy national security adviser, while conservative commentator Sebastian Gorka will serve as the senior director for counterterrorism. Both bring unique skills and insights to their respective roles.
As for Bessent, he is no stranger to the world of finance. At 62 years old, he is the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management and has been working in the industry since 1991, with experience at Soros Fund Management. If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent will be the first openly gay individual to serve as treasury secretary. He has previously expressed his belief that reducing the national debt should be a priority, which may involve cutting government programs and other spending. In an interview with Bloomberg in August, he stated, "This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy."
Trump's Friday evening announcements showcase his efforts to build a strong and diverse team to lead his administration. Time will tell how these individuals will shape the future of the country.
President-elect Donald Trump made some significant personnel announcements on Friday, as he continues to fill out his administration. Among the notable nominations were hedge fund manager Scott Bessent for treasury secretary and Russell Vought for the Office of Management and Budget. Bessent is known for his advocacy for deficit reduction, while Vought previously held the position during Trump's first term and was involved in Project 2025, a conservative plan that Trump distanced himself from during his campaign.
These appointments shed light on Trump's vision for the financial side of his administration. While Bessent's ties to Wall Street could potentially earn bipartisan support, Vought is known for his hardline Republican views. In a statement, Trump expressed confidence in Bessent's ability to help usher in a "new Golden Age" for the United States, while touting Vought's experience in dismantling the "Deep State" and ending "Weaponized Government."
But these were not the only personnel decisions Trump announced on Friday. He also named Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican from Oregon, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who previously worked in Trump's administration, as his housing secretary. In addition, Trump rounded out his health team with the nominations of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as surgeon general, Dr. Dave Weldon to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Marty Makary as head of the Food and Drug Administration. Trump has previously announced his intention to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, despite Kennedy's history of spreading conspiracy theories about vaccines.
Trump also made two appointments to his national security team on Friday. Alex Wong will serve as principal deputy national security adviser, while Sebastian Gorka will take on the role of senior director for counterterrorism. Wong previously worked on issues related to Asia during Trump's first term, while Gorka is a conservative commentator who spent less than a year in Trump's White House.
One notable aspect of Bessent's nomination is that, if confirmed by the Senate, he would become the first openly gay treasury secretary in U.S. history. In a 2020 interview with Bloomberg, Bessent emphasized the need to address the country's national debt, which he believes should be a top priority. This includes cutting government programs and other spending. "This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy," he said at the time.
As Trump continues to make personnel decisions for his second term, his former national security adviser, John Vance, is taking on a more visible role in the transition process. Meanwhile, the messy custody battle between Elon Musk and his ex-girlfriend Grimes has taken a new turn, with Grimes claiming that Musk became "unrecognizable" while fighting for custody of their child. In other news, Rep. Matt Gaetz has announced that he will not be returning to Congress next year after withdrawing his name for consideration as attorney general. And Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain, revealed that she voted for her father in the 2024 presidential election.
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