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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
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.
Sylvester Stallone calls Trump ‘the second George Washington’ in Mar-a-Lago warm-up speech
Trump picks RFK Jr to lead Health and Human Services as they vow to make America healthy
RFK Jr picked to lead health agencies. Doctors warned it could trigger disease outbreaks
Trump’s made up DOGE agency is recruiting ‘super high-IQ’ people to work 80-hour weeks finding ways to cut spending
Trump’s Cabinet tracker: Who has been tapped to carry out his agenda
Jesse Watters brags about Trump administration connections
Fox News host Jesse Watters appeared to say the quiet part out loud as he admitted that he will be asking the Trump administration for “special favors.”
On Jesse Watters Primetime on Wednesday night, the conservative media pundit and staunch Donald Trump supporter celebrated the president-elect’s latest picks for jobs in his second term, including the controversial choices of Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Matt Gaetz for attorney general.
Watters boasted of his ties to some of those headed for the most powerful jobs in government, with his former Fox News colleague Pete Hegseth tapped to become Trump’s future defense secretary.
James Liddell reports.
Fox News’s Jesse Watters says the quiet part out loud about Trump’s administration
Jesse Watters Primetime host boasted of his ties to some of those headed for the most powerful jobs in government
More Republican reaction to Matt Gaetz AG nomination
A number of Republicans have spoken of their shock at Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz for AG.
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she doesn’t think Gaetz is “a serious nomination for the attorney general,” while Senator Susan Collins of Maine told reporters she was “shocked” by the choice.
Ohio Representative Max Miller went as far as to say that Gaetz “has a zero percent shot of getting through the Senate,” Politico reports.
Another Republican representative told the outlet that the choice is “an obvious throwaway nomination that has no chance in the Senate.”
And North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis said Gaetz has “probably got some work cut out for him.”
ICYMI: Rudy Giuliani’s lawyers abruptly quit defamation case
Meanwhile, things aren’t looking so good for Trump’s former attorney Rudy Giuliani, whose lawyers have abruptly quit representing him in his defamation case.
They have withdrawn after attorneys for the women Giuliani defamed accused the disgraced former New York City mayor of hiding property he has been ordered to turn over.
Giuliani’s lead counsel Kenneth Caruso and attorney David Labkowski filed a motion in federal court in New York on Wednesday citing several reasons for their withdrawal, pointing to a “fundamental disagreement” with Donald Trump’s former attorney.
Alex Woodward has the story.
Rudy Giuliani’s lawyers abruptly quit defamation case
Lawyers for Trump’s former attorney want to quit after a court hearing on his failure to surrender property
Congresswoman and former CIA case officer slams Tulsi Gabbard intelligence nomination
Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger of Virginia has weighed in on Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
The Democrat said she is “deeply concerned” about what the appointment means for national security.
Senator Tommy Tuberville threatens Republicans who might vote against Gaetz for Trump’s attorney general
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville has already fired warning shots at any Republicans who might vote against Matt Gaetz becoming Donald Trump’s incoming attorney general.
Speaking to Fox Business on Wednesday after the president-elect announced his controversial decision, the Alabama senator threatened to boot party members from the upper chamber if they oppose the former Florida representative’s nomination.
Alarm bells rang for a swathe of congressional Republicans on Wednesday when Trump announced he had picked Gaetz to become the nation’s top law enforcement officer and head up the Department of Justice.
James Liddell and Alex Woodward report.
Tuberville threatens Republicans who might vote against Gaetz for Trump’s AG
‘If you wanna get in the way, fine. But we’re gonna try to get you out of the Senate,’ the GOP Alabama senator warned
RECAP: Who is in Trump’s Cabinet so far?
So far there is the MAGA ally, the Fox News host, and the ex-Democrat.
President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.
Thomas Beaumont and Ariana Baio have the rundown of all the nominees so far.
Who’s in Trump’s Cabinet so far? The MAGA ally, the ice maiden and the Fox News host
The President-elect has wasted no time in building his top team including Tom Homan and Mike Waltz - with more announcements to come
Senator Tammy Duckworth, who served in Iraq, slams Pete Hegseth as defense secretary
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois has slammed Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth as his next defense secretary and called out his comments that women shouldn’t serve in combat roles.
Duckworth, who lost both her legs in Iraq in 2004, shared her views with CNN’s Kaitlin Collins.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments