Trump delivers Mar-a-Lago speech with Elon Musk and new HHS RFK Jr in attendance: Live updates
Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were in attendance for Donald Trump’s first public speech since winning the White House
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Your support makes all the difference.President-elect Donald Trump spoke publicly for the first time since winning the White House at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday night.
Those in attendance included billionaire Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were recently named co-chairs of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. While speaking, Trump announced that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will be his nominee to lead the Department of the Interior.
Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick for attorney general, was also in attendance. Gaetz resigned from his seat representing Florida in the House in light of the news on Wednesday. This will effectively end the House Ethics probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use made against him.
“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for the attorney general,” Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said.
Members of both parties have called for the House Ethics report to be released.
Trump also nominated former independent presidential candidate and anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in statement.
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What is DOGE? Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk and Ramaswamy
Donald Trump has announced that Elon Musk will head up the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency in his second administration alongside venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy.
Under Musk, the new office – which will operate “outside of government” – will advise on gutting federal departments and which staff should be fired if it deems they are a “massive waste.”
Trump vowed that Musk and Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”
What is DOGE? Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk and Ramaswamy
Elon Musk’s DOGE will advise on gutting federal departments and which staff should be fired if it deems they are a ‘massive waste’
Sylvester Stallone calls Trump ‘the second George Washington’ in Mar-a-Lago warm-up speech
Sylvester Stallone has described Donald Trump as the “second George Washington” in a warm up speech for the President-elect at Mar-a-Lago.
The Hollywood heavyweight attended a black tie gala on Thursday to celebrate Trump’s election victory that was attended by many of his cabinet picks, including RFK Jr and Matt Gaetz.
“We’re in the presence of a really mythical character,” Stallone said, before adding that “nobody could have pulled off what Trump did”.
Continue reading:
Sylvester Stallone calls Trump ‘the second George Washington’ in Mar-a-Lago speech
Rocky star Stallone was full of praise for the President-elect at Mar-a-Lago event to celebrate Trump’s win
Trump reflects on election in first post-victory public appearance
Donald Trump reflected on the presidential election on Thursday night during his first public appearance since securing the White House last week.
“Nobody knew we were going to win it the way we won it,” Trump told attendees at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
“Also, Speaker Mike Johnson, wherever you may be, Mike, in this very big and crowded room, thank you, Mike,” Trump added. “I went yesterday, just in case, I said, ‘Look, I want to tell you, I'm behind this man 100%’ and he got 100% of the vote from Republicans.”
Johnson won the GOP nomination to remain speaker on Wednesday after Republicans officially secured their majority in the House.
Trump jokes about Elon Musk: ‘I can’t get him out of here'
Donald Trump made a light jab at billionaire Elon Musk during a speech at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night.
Musk, who Trump recently appointed to co-chair the new Department of Government Efficiency, has reportedly been a constant presence at his Mar-a-Lago estate over the last week.
“Elon, what a job, what a job he does,” Trump said. “He's great, he happens to be a really good guy. You know, he likes this place. I can't get him out of here. He just likes this place.”
Trump announces North Dakota governor will head Department of Interior
President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior.
The announcement came during Trump’s first post-victory speech at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Sylvester Stallone introduces Donald Trump for his first post-election speech
Actor Sylvester Stallone introduced Donald Trump for his first post-victory speech on Thursday night.
Trump thanked the Rambo actor as he took the stage: “He did a beautiful job.”
The president-elect also thanked actor John Voight, who was in attendance.
VOICES: Trump’s nomination of Maga firebrand Matt Gaetz puts US justice on trial
During months of ferocious campaigning, Donald Trump’s friends and enemies agreed on one thing. That his second term, if it happened, would be more professional than the bruising chaos of his first.
But the nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general has left even some Trumpian loyalists open-mouthed. One senior Republican said she was shocked; “reckless” was another word used, with yet another suggesting that the nomination could not be serious.
So why is this such a controversial appointment, and what constraints might there be on the power of a president who has won not only the White House, but control – it is now confirmed – of both Houses of Congress? Where are those famed US constitutional checks and balances when you have a president like Trump?
Trump’s appointment of Maga firebrand Matt Gaetz puts US justice on trial
By choosing as his chief law enforcer an ally who faced a sex-trafficking investigation and spread falsehoods about the January 6 Capitol riots, will the incoming president use him to gun for those who have dared cross him, asks Mary Dejevsky
Who is attending Donald Trump’s first post-victory speech?
Donald Trump is speaking for the first time since winning the White House last week at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were recently named co-chairs of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, both are in attendance.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is also in the crowd cheering on his ally.
Other GOP allies, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and actor Sylvester Stallone, are also at tonight’s event.
Trump to speak in first post-election appearance
Donald Trump is set to speak for the first time since winning the White House last week at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Those in attendance include billionaire Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were recently named co-chairs of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency.
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