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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Watch: Hegseth directs reporters' questions to Megyn Kelly interview
Hegseth cancels Thursday meeting with Sen Hawley
Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth has canceled a meeting with Senator Josh Hawley tomorrow, according to reporting by Lisa Dejardins of PBS Newshour.
Former Treasury spox and Fox News contributor nominated as chief of protocol
Another comeback from the first Trump administration, and another Fox News connection, as Monica Crowley is nominated by Donald Trump to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol. This could be high profile role in the coming four years with the 250th Anniversary of US independence, the FIFA World Cup, and the Los Angeles Olympics all lined up.
The president-elect wrote:
I am honored to nominate Monica Elizabeth Crowley, Ph.D. to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America. Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department. Monica is a New York Times bestselling author, and has been a popular anchor, and political and foreign affairs analyst, for the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, among others. A graduate of Colgate University, she holds two Master's degrees, and a Doctorate in International Relations, from Columbia University.
She will be an extraordinary Representative of our Country. Congratulations Monica!
Trump nominates for anti-trust role to take on big tech
Donald Trump has named Gail Slater as his nominee for assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department to take on Big Tech and ensure competition laws are enforced.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
I am pleased to nominate Gail Slater as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice. Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech! I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice’s antitrust team will continue that work under Gail’s leadership.
Gail previously served at the FTC, in my National Economic Council and, most recently, advising Vice President-Elect JD Vance in his Senate office. Gail has also worked in the private sector, in Media at FOX, and in the Tech sector at Roku. In her new role, Gail will help ensure that our competition laws are enforced, both vigorously and FAIRLY, with clear rules that facilitate, rather than stifle, the ingenuity of our greatest companies. Congratulations Gail - Together, we will Make America Competitive Again!
US military takes pride in religious diversity. Would that change under Hegseth?
It was a history-making event: In a chapel at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, 2nd Lt. Khady Ndiaye stood proudly -- wearing a hijab – as she became the first Muslim woman commissioned by the U.S. Army as a chaplain candidate.
Presiding over the ceremony in June was Maj. Gen. Bill Green, the Army’s chief of chaplains. He said the chaplains serve more than 200 faith groups, “while caring for the entire Army family ... regardless of their personal beliefs.”
That ethos — a commitment to religious diversity throughout a U.S. military with 1.3 million active-duty troops — could be strained if Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, is confirmed as the next Pentagon leader.
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US military takes pride in religious diversity. Would things change if Pete Hegseth takes charge?
The U.S. military has strived over recent decades to present itself as religiously diverse, welcoming personnel of all faiths – or no faith – as it seeks cohesion and mutual respect in the ranks
Trump names chair of Securities & Exchange Commission and deputy at Treasury
The nominations keep coming today, with Donald Trump picking his chair of the Securities & Exchange Commission as well as the deputy secretary of the treasury — Paul Atking and Michael Faulkender, respectively.
Atkins contributed to Project 2025's chapter on financial regulatory agencies.
The president-elect wrote on Truth Social:
I am delighted to announce the nomination of Paul Atkins to be the next Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Paul is a proven leader for common sense regulations. He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.
Paul is the CEO & Founder of Patomak Global Partners, a risk management consultancy. As Co-Chairman of the Digital Chamber’s Token Alliance since 2017, he has worked on & studied the digital assets industry. A former SEC Commissioner from 2002-2008, Paul strongly advocated for transparency & protecting investors. He earned a J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law, & his A.B. from Wofford College, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Congratulations to Paul, his wonderful wife, Sarah, & sons, Stewart, Peter, & Henry.
Atkins is a pro-business conservative who is expected to take a lighter regulatory approach than the present chair, Gary Gensler. Crypto-currency companies and advocates will likely be enthused by this choice.
And at the Treasury, it’s another returning face from the first Trump administration.
I am pleased to nominate Dr. Michael William Faulkender, of the Great State of Maryland, to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury. Mike is a distinguished Economist and Policy practitioner who will drive our America First Agenda. He will help Treasury Secretary Nominee Scott Bessent usher in a new Golden Age for the United States by delivering a Great Economic Boom for all Americans.
Mike previously served as the Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Department during my First Administration. In that role, he advised the Secretary on domestic and international issues that impacted the Economy. Mike is currently the Dean’s Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, and is the Chief Economist and Vice Chair for the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Prosperity. Congratulations to Mike, and his two wonderful daughters, Lauren and Catherine!
Trump — who tried to overthrow 2020 US election — to get Fox Patriot of the Year award
President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will attend the Fox News Patriot Awards event in New York on Thursday to receive the Fox Patriot of the Year honor just a few years after he tried to overturn the results of of the 2020 election.
“I look greatly forward to attending the Fox News Patriot Awards, hosted by Sean Hannity in New York on Thursday evening. I will be receiving the Fox Patriot of the Year Award — so nice! See you there,” Trump preened on Truth Social on Tuesday night.
Guess who the original host of the event was supposed to be...
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump to get Fox Patriot of the Year award
Sean Hannity to host sixth annual awards following departure of secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth
Jared Isaacman ‘honored’ to be picked as next NASA administrator
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire SpaceX pilot picked to lead NASA by President-elect Donald Trump, says he is honored to be chosen, promising that Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars.
Here’s his full statement:
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission to space, my crew and I traveled farther from Earth than anyone in over half a century. I can confidently say this second space age has only just begun. Space holds unparalleled potential for breakthroughs in manufacturing, biotechnology, mining, and perhaps even pathways to new sources of energy. There will inevitably be a thriving space economy—one that will create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space. At NASA, we will passionately pursue these possibilities and usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization.
I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place. We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.
It is the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role and to work alongside NASA’s extraordinary team to realize our shared dreams of exploration and discovery.
Grateful to serve,
Jared
'Amtrak Joe' Biden uses his visit to Angola to promote a major African rail project
Even in the waning days of his presidency and thousands of miles from home, U.S. President Joe Biden is finding ways to celebrate trains.
Biden is using his third and final day in Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway, where the U.S. and key allies are investing heavily to refurbish 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola.
The project aims to advance the U.S. presence in a region rich in cobalt, copper and other critical minerals used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies. By the end of the decade, the rail line could even go a long way toward linking southern Africa’s western coast with the continent’s eastern edge.
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'Amtrak Joe' Biden uses his visit to Angola to promote a major African rail project
President Joe Biden is finding ways to celebrate trains in the waning days of his presidency thousands of miles from home
Trump says he withdrew DEA pick in rant at Wall Street Journal
It’s a busy morning on Truth Social for the president-elect.
Donald Trump has now lashed out at The Wall Street Journal over its coverage of Sheriff Chad Chronister’s decision to step back as the pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The president-elect says that it was he who pulled Chronister from consideration for the role “because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters”.
This appears to be a reference to the Hillsborough County sheriff’s enforcement of Covid-19 restrictions during the pandemic — including the arrest of Ronald Howard-Browne, the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for holding church services in violation of state and local public health orders, The New York Post reports.
Trump also took issue with the Journal’s characterization of the news as his “latest setback” following the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz as nominee for attorney general, and the increasingly difficult battle faced by Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
Here’s what the president-elect had to say in full:
The Wall Street Journal is becoming more and more obnoxious and unreadable. Today’s main headline is: “Trump’s DEA Pick Pulls Out In Latest Setback.” With all that’s happening in the World, this is their Number One story of the day. Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters. But, more importantly, what’s my “latest” setback??? I just won the Presidency of the United States! They haven’t written a good story about me in YEARS. Somebody over there ought to look at what they’re doing. The only one worse than them is stupid, China-centric Forbes Magazine!
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