Trump transition live: Pete Hegseth says no alcohol if confirmed after meeting with Republican lawmakers
President-elect’s pick for defense secretary dogged by allegations of sexual assault, drunkenness, Islamophobia and mismanagement of a non-profit, as Ron DeSantis floated as possible alternative
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, former Fox News weekend anchor Pete Hegseth, continues to be dogged by allegations about his past, potentially making his confirmation less likely. On Wednesday his candidacy faced an “absolutely critical day.”
Hegseth took questions from the House Republican Study Committee, met with senators, and promised incoming Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker that if confirmed he wouldn’t drink.
His mother Penelope appeared on his former network earlier to defend him, having previously criticized her son’s behavior towards women in a letter.
The Trump transition team is reportedly considering alternatives to lead the Pentagon — reportedly including Senator Joni Ernst, and surprisingly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Trump’s pick to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew from consideration, although Trump has since said he pulled the nomination over comments he made to pastors.
In another flurry of appointments, the president-elect asked his former trade adviser Peter Navarro to return in a similar role for his new administration. Trump also picked a NASA administrator, a secretary of the army, and a chair of the SEC.
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Trump’s DEA nominee backs out after Covid and immigration criticisms
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Nato chief warns Trump not to push Ukraine deal that would see Putin ‘high-fiving’ Iran
Navarro, who served a four-month prison stint for contempt of Congress, hired as Trump’s senior tradecounselor
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is bringing a convicted criminal who helped plan his futile attempt to overturn the 2020 election to the White House as a senior member of his administration working on trade issues.
In a statement first posted to Truth Social, Trump said he was bringing on Peter Navarro, the former head of the National Trade Council during his first term, as a “Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing.”
Andrew Feinberg reports.
Trump hires Peter Navarro as ‘senior counselor’ months after prison release
Navarro served four months in a federal prison for refusing to give evidence before the House January 6 committee
California farmer hopeful Trump administration will deliver more water to fields
Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about immigration, border security and government efficiency.
But in California farm country, his comments about water are also getting top attention.
The Golden State grows three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts and more than a third of its vegetables, largely thanks to a complex network of dams and canals that funnel water to the state’s fertile Central Valley.
In recent years, farmers have faced more limits on how much water they can access from this network because of environmental concerns, as well as on how much groundwater they can pump after years of overuse and drought.
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California farmers are hopeful Trump administration will deliver more water to fields
Since winning election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about immigration, border security and government efficiency
Trump admits he ‘pulled’ his own DEA nominee
President-elect Donald Trump admitted that he un-nominated Chad Chronister from Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) administrator after learning the sheriff publicly scolded and arrested a Florida pastor for hosting large church services during the pandemic.
Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, announced on Tuesday he was backing out of the nomination process citing the “gravity” of the “responsibility” of heading the agency in charge of coordinating and pursuing drug investigations domestically and internationally.
But Trump disputed that in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, saying Chronsiter “didn’t pull out.”
Ariana Baio has the story.
Trump admits he ‘pulled’ DEA nominee over comments he made to Florida pastor
President-elect asserted he removed Chronister from DEA Administrator nomination for comments he made to a Florida pastor
GOP pollster dismisses allegations against Pete Hegseth
Republican pollster and strategist Lee Carter said on Wednesday that she found it “offensive and wrong” that so much attention has been paid to the allegations of Pete Hegseth’s excessive drinking and sexual impropriety, describing the startling accusations as merely “extracurricular activities.”
Shortly after Hegseth’s mother appeared on Fox & Friends to vociferously defend her embattled son as his appointment to lead the Pentagon hangs perilously in the balance, Carter told CNN that she had known the former Fox News star for years and enjoyed working with him in the past.
Jason Barnagoa reports.
GOP pollster dismisses allegations against Pete Hegseth: ‘Extracurricular activities’
Strategic communications expert Lee Carter told CNN on Wednesday that “what happened in his private life, all of that is off the table” when it comes to Hegseth’s confirmation.
Because of Trump, Bill Maher threatens to quit HBO talk show
Bill Maher has suggested he could quit his HBO talk show Real Time with Bill Maher after the re-election of Donald Trump.
The comedian, 68, has hosted the political chat show since 2003.
Speaking to guest Jane Fonda on his podcast Club Random, Maher said he already felt exhausted by the prospect of having to cover the Trump administration for another four years.
“I mean I may quit,” said Maher.
Kevin E G Perry reports from Los Angeles.
Bill Maher threatens to quit HBO talk show due to Donald Trump
‘I called him a con man before anybody,’ claimed Maher
ICYMI: California Democrat flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final U.S. House contest to be decided this year.
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat that cuts through five counties means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted.
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California Democrat Adam Gray flips Republican seat as final 2024 House race called
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats
Second Democrat joins House DOGE caucus
Rep Greg Landsman of Ohio has become the second Democrat to join the House Department of Government Efficient (DOGE) caucus. Rep Jerd Moskowitz of Florida was the first.
Sen Schmidt says Hegseth not drinking
Senator Eric Schmidt, who met with Pete Hegseth yesterday, says Trump’s defense secretary nominee is promising senators he has stopped drinking and won’t drink if confirmed.
Profile: Jared Isaacman — Billionaire SpaceX astronaut picked to lead Trump’s NASA
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead the nation’s top space agency.
The former president cited Isaacman’s accomplishments in business, philanthropy, and space, saying his passion and dedication made him “ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”
Julia Musto reports.
Who is Jared Isaacman? Billionaire SpaceX astronaut picked to lead Trump’s NASA
Isaacman, a billionaire tech entrepreneur, funded and led two private missions to orbit on SpaceX rockets
Trump to give first network interview since election on Sunday
President-elect Donald Trump will give his first network interview since winning the 2024 election.
He will sit down with Kristen Welker moderator of NBC News for this weekend’s edition of Meet the Press this Sunday.
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