Trump Administration

Federal Aviation head to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, who has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a jetliner in January, said Thursday that he will step down next month, clearing the way for President-elect Donald Trump to name his choice to lead the agency. Mike Whitaker announced his pending resignation in a message to employees of the FAA, which regulates airlines and aircraft manufacturers and manages the nation's airspace. He became the agency's administrator in October 2023. Since then, the challenges confronting Whitaker have included a surge in close calls between planes, a need for stricter oversight of Boeing. antiquated equipment and a shortage of air traffic controllers at a time of high consumer demand for air travel. The United States is the safest and most complex airspace in the world, and that is because of your commitment to the safety of the flying public, Whitaker said in the message to employees. This has been the best and most ...

Trump names immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America

President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he's picking Kari Lake as director of Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world. Lake, an immigration hard-liner, was a television news anchor in Phoenix for nearly three decades until she left in 2021 after making a series of controversial statements on social media, including sharing COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic. She launched her political career a short time later, quickly building a loyal following and national profile as she sparred with journalists and echoed Trump in her sharp criticism of what she called the fake news. She endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud. She has never acknowledged her defeat in the 2022 gubernatorial race and lost her Senate

Trump names Andrew Ferguson head of FTC, Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece

President-elect Donald Trump has named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars' worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behaviour. It was one of several evening announcements Trump made on Tuesday via his social media platform, including that he was naming Kimberly Guilfoyle as Ambassador to Greece, a longtime supporter who was engaged to his son Don Jr., and ally and former inaugural chairman Tom Barrack as Ambassador to Turkey. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country, Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country'

Trump taps attorney Alina Habba to serve as counsellor to president

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he is appointing one of his defence attorneys in the New York hush money case as counsellor to the president. Alina Habba, 40, defended Trump earlier this year, also serving as his legal spokesperson. Habba has been spending time with the president-elect since the election at his Florida club Mar-a-Lago. She has been unwavering in her loyalty and unmatched in her resolve standing with me through numerous trials, battles and countless days in Court," Trump posted on his social network Truth Social. Few understand the Weaponisation of the Injustice System better than Alina. Trump became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes when a New York jury in May found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. In Trump's first term, the position of counsellor was held by Republican strategist Kellyanne Conwa

Big cheques, big roles: Major Trump donors bag key federal positions

The biggest donor by far for the entire election cycle, Elon Mus, poured $75 million into the pro, Trump super political action committee

Trump team allows justice dept to conduct background checks on nominees

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after t

Donald Trump, Republican senators plan potential agenda for first 30 days

President-elect Donald Trump dialed in to what was described as a love fest Tuesday with Senate Republicans as they begin laying the groundwork for control of government in the new year, and a potential first-30-days agenda. Trump's brief call was more celebratory than a prescriptive policy agenda, according to those attending the private GOP retreat, encouraging the senators to confirm his Cabinet nominees as they launch an agenda of tax cuts, deportations and other priorities. "It was a love fest," said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. There was a real sense of unity in the room. The virtual visit comes as Congress is finishing up the final weeks of what, by most measures, has been among the more chaotic sessions in modern times. With the full sweep of party control, Republicans are eager to do better next year with Trump's return to the White House. Republicans want to notch an early accomplishment in the first 30 days after Trump's inauguration Jan. 20. Incoming Senate Republican lead

China's Nov factory activity expands for second month as Trump threats loom

Earlier this month, China unveiled a 10 trillion yuan ($1.38 trillion) debt package to ease municipal financing strains

Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be US attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial when he was accused but not convicted of abusing his power as he tried to condition US military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. She has been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Bondi is from Tampa and spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor. She was Florida's first female attorney general.

Donald Trump to interview Kevin Warsh, Marc Rowan for Treasury job today

Trump's search for a Treasury Secretary was widening after it was stalled over the weekend

Here's what Trump's calls for dismantling education department means

Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump heaped scorn on the federal Department of Education, describing it as being infiltrated by radicals, zealots and Marxists. He has picked Linda McMahon, a former wrestling executive, to lead the department. But like many conservative politicians before him, Trump has called for dismantling the department altogether a cumbersome task that likely would require action from Congress. The agency's main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with disabilities to low-income and homeless kids. Indeed, federal education money is central to Trump's plans for colleges and schools. Trump has vowed to cut off federal money for schools and college

Trump widens treasury secretary search with Warsh and Rowan in the list

Bloomberg reported on Monday that Bessent was being considered for the White House's National Economic Council, but holding off accepting until a decision is made on the Treasury secretary

Trump adds Kevin Warsh, Marc Rowan to list of Treasury secretary candidates

Trump has not announced his nominee for the role, but Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, and investor Scott Bessent have been considered as top candidates

Elon Musk meets Iran's UN envoy as Trump prepares for January takeover

US-Iran relations: Iranian diplomats described the discussions with the tech entrepreneur as 'positive' and 'good news'

The road to inauguration: Key steps before Donald Trump takes office

As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, here's a breakdown of the official steps leading to his swearing-in on January 20, 2025

US President-elect Trump names Susie Wiles as first woman Chief of Staff

Her appointment was confirmed by US Vice President-elect JD Vance who said that Wiles would serve as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in the history of the US

California Guv calls session to protect liberal policies from Trump admin

California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fierce critic of former President Donald Trump, on Thursday called for lawmakers to convene a special session later this year to safeguard the state's progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration ahead of another Trump presidency. The move a day after the former president resoundingly defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race effectively reignited California's resistance campaign against conservative policies that state Democratic leaders started during the first Trump administration. The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack and we won't sit idle, Newsom, who reportedly has ambitions on the national stage, said in a statement. California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared to fight in the courts, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive. Newsom and lawmakers sa

Indian rupee drops to all-time low of 84.28 on bullish dollar outlook

Traders expect the Reserve Bank of India to continue intervening to prevent sharp moves in the rupee, which is evident in the currency's muted implied volatility compared to its regional peers

Indian-Americans laud Trump's victory; show optimism for peace, economy

Avinash Gupta, President of the Foreign Indian Association, believes Trump's good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will strengthen India-US relations

Donald Trump addresses civil fraud trial after judge receives bomb threat

Barred from giving a formal closing argument, Donald Trump still got a brief chance to speak in court at the conclusion of his New York civil trial on Thursday, calling the proceedings a fraud on me" before the judge cut him off. We have a situation where I am an innocent man, the former president said. I'm being persecuted by someone running for office and I think you have to go outside the bounds. After about six minutes, Judge Arthur Engoron who had denied Trump permission earlier to give a closing statement at the trial cut him off and recessed for lunch. The exchange took place hours after authorities responded to a bomb threat at the judge's house. Police checked out the threat at Engoron's Long Island home, which came a day after he denied the former president's extraordinary request to deliver his own courtroom close, officials said. The proceedings were not delayed. Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, has repeatedly disparaged Engoro