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Rudy Giuliani reportedly favorite to be Trump's secretary of state – politics live Rudy Giuliani reportedly favorite to be Trump's secretary of state – politics live
(35 minutes later)
5.33pm GMT
17:33
Last night: President Barack Obama said that Donald Trump will continue America’s commitment to the Nato alliance.
Speaking in the White House on Monday, after his conversation with president-elect Trump, Obama says he will aim to reassure Nato partners during his trip to Europe.
5.13pm GMT
17:13
Bernie Sanders swept into New York City last night and urged his supporters to continue mobilising against Donald Trump, at a book signing just 10 blocks south of the president-elect’s home, Adam Gabbatt reports.
Sanders’ appearance, after days of protests against Trump in several cities, came as the Vermont senator’s supporters outlined plans for a “Tea Party of the left”, aimed at combating Trump’s presidency and sweeping progressive Democrats to power in the 2018 midterm elections.
Hundreds of Sanders’ supporters – some of whom had spent the night out on the streets – had lined up along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to meet the Vermont senator. Trump Tower, where Trump has been holed up selecting his cabinet, was almost visible in the distance. When Sanders arrived, he urged his supporters to continue to oppose the incoming president’s plans.
“I think what they have to understand is that more than ever it is imperative for the American people to be involved in the political process. Many of the positions that Trump advocated during the campaign are positions not shared by the majority of American people,” Sanders said.
“So our job is to mobilise our people and make sure that Trump listens on issue after issue to what the American people want.”
The Vermont senator was in New York to promote his book Our Revolution, which tells the story of his unlikely presidential bid and sets out his vision for the future of the progressive movement. Our Revolution, which was published on Tuesday, is already the top-selling book on Amazon – an indication of Sanders’ enduring popularity.
Gregory Fritz Jr, 39, had been waiting outside Barnes and Noble, in Midtown Manhattan, since 6.30pm on Sunday night. He had driven from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and slept under “a couple of blankets” in order to be the first in line to meet Sanders.
“He changed my life,” Fritz Jr said. “He made me a better person. He opened my eyes.”
4.52pm GMT4.52pm GMT
16:5216:52
President-elect Donald Trump may not be speaking to reporters, but he is tipping his hand when discussing potential Cabinet nominees with Carl Icahn:President-elect Donald Trump may not be speaking to reporters, but he is tipping his hand when discussing potential Cabinet nominees with Carl Icahn:
1/2 Spoke to @realDonaldTrump. Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross are being considered for Treasury and Commerce. Both would be great choices.1/2 Spoke to @realDonaldTrump. Steve Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross are being considered for Treasury and Commerce. Both would be great choices.
2/2 Both are good friends of mine but, more importantly, they are two of the smartest people I know.2/2 Both are good friends of mine but, more importantly, they are two of the smartest people I know.
Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker and onetime Hillary Clinton backer who oversaw Trump’s finance efforts, has directly given more than $95,000 to political campaigns in the past 20 years: $8,200 directly to Clinton over the course of her campaigns for the Senate, and for the presidency in 2008. Separately, during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, Mnuchin contributed $22,500 to Romney Victory, Inc and more than $23,000 to various other ways to support Romney including the Republican National Committee.Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker and onetime Hillary Clinton backer who oversaw Trump’s finance efforts, has directly given more than $95,000 to political campaigns in the past 20 years: $8,200 directly to Clinton over the course of her campaigns for the Senate, and for the presidency in 2008. Separately, during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, Mnuchin contributed $22,500 to Romney Victory, Inc and more than $23,000 to various other ways to support Romney including the Republican National Committee.
Wilbur Ross is an investor whose main claim to fame is building a billion-dollar financial empire on restructuring failing companies.Wilbur Ross is an investor whose main claim to fame is building a billion-dollar financial empire on restructuring failing companies.
4.38pm GMT4.38pm GMT
16:3816:38
From the long-suffering transition pool:From the long-suffering transition pool:
Mike Pence and his wife just arrived through the Trump Bar in the lobby of Trump Tower. He walked past reporters without saying anything or answering any of the questions shouted at him, despite an aide having said he would make a statement. One reporter shouted out a question about Ben Carson, another asked about reports of disarray in the transition team. Pence got into an elevator with aides and vanished from view.Mike Pence and his wife just arrived through the Trump Bar in the lobby of Trump Tower. He walked past reporters without saying anything or answering any of the questions shouted at him, despite an aide having said he would make a statement. One reporter shouted out a question about Ben Carson, another asked about reports of disarray in the transition team. Pence got into an elevator with aides and vanished from view.
4.34pm GMT4.34pm GMT
16:3416:34
Dr. Ben Carson turns down unspecified role in Trump administrationDr. Ben Carson turns down unspecified role in Trump administration
Retired neurosurgeon and political surrogate of questionable utility Dr. Ben Carson has officially turned down a chance to serve in president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to his business manager and close advisor.Retired neurosurgeon and political surrogate of questionable utility Dr. Ben Carson has officially turned down a chance to serve in president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to his business manager and close advisor.
“Dr. Carson was never offered a specific position, but everything was open to him,” Armstrong Williams told The Hill today. “Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”“Dr. Carson was never offered a specific position, but everything was open to him,” Armstrong Williams told The Hill today. “Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he’s never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency.”
Carson was one of the first of Trump’s vanquished opponents in the Republican presidential primary to endorse the New York real estate tycoon’s candidacy, and had been a rumored candidate to serve as the head of the departments of education or health and human services.Carson was one of the first of Trump’s vanquished opponents in the Republican presidential primary to endorse the New York real estate tycoon’s candidacy, and had been a rumored candidate to serve as the head of the departments of education or health and human services.
4.17pm GMT4.17pm GMT
16:1716:17
Samantha Bee has criticized Donald Trump’s first confirmed cabinet choices and rumored candidates as a “parade of misfits, deplorables, zealots and extremists,” Benjamin Lee reports.Samantha Bee has criticized Donald Trump’s first confirmed cabinet choices and rumored candidates as a “parade of misfits, deplorables, zealots and extremists,” Benjamin Lee reports.
On the latest episode of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, the comedian joked that “Donald Trump is assembling a White House staff after Barack Obama has told him that’s a thing presidents have to do.”On the latest episode of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, the comedian joked that “Donald Trump is assembling a White House staff after Barack Obama has told him that’s a thing presidents have to do.”
She spoke about the reality TV star’s controversial choice to hire “white nationalist” Steve Bannon as his top adviser, referring to him as “the milkshake that brings all the deplorables to the yard”.She spoke about the reality TV star’s controversial choice to hire “white nationalist” Steve Bannon as his top adviser, referring to him as “the milkshake that brings all the deplorables to the yard”.
Bee went on to criticize Paul Ryan for refusing to denounce Bannon, after he claimed he couldn’t speak on his extreme views because he didn’t know him.Bee went on to criticize Paul Ryan for refusing to denounce Bannon, after he claimed he couldn’t speak on his extreme views because he didn’t know him.
“I guess Paul Ryan’s vigorous vetting process for determining whether someone is bad consists of two questions: have I met them and do they have a private email server?” she said.“I guess Paul Ryan’s vigorous vetting process for determining whether someone is bad consists of two questions: have I met them and do they have a private email server?” she said.
4.00pm GMT4.00pm GMT
16:0016:00
House speaker Paul Ryan, at his weekly press conference:House speaker Paul Ryan, at his weekly press conference:
Welcome to the dawn of a new unified Republican government.Welcome to the dawn of a new unified Republican government.
When asked about some of Steve Bannon’s most aggressive past statements and those of his website, including those targeting women, Jews and Catholics, Ryan was dismissive.When asked about some of Steve Bannon’s most aggressive past statements and those of his website, including those targeting women, Jews and Catholics, Ryan was dismissive.
“This is a person who helped him win an incredible victory on an incredible campaign,” Ryan said. “I’m not looking backwards; I’m looking forwards.”“This is a person who helped him win an incredible victory on an incredible campaign,” Ryan said. “I’m not looking backwards; I’m looking forwards.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 4.03pm GMTat 4.03pm GMT
3.48pm GMT3.48pm GMT
15:4815:48
From the long-suffering transition pool:From the long-suffering transition pool:
Trump spokeswoman Jessica Ditto tells reporters that Mike Pence should arrive in about 15 minutes or so. Also: We are told the campaign is working on getting some sort of briefing room set up in New York but unknown when that might happen.Trump spokeswoman Jessica Ditto tells reporters that Mike Pence should arrive in about 15 minutes or so. Also: We are told the campaign is working on getting some sort of briefing room set up in New York but unknown when that might happen.
Other notes:Other notes:
-- A member of Trump’s security team asked reporters not to rush at staff members as they arrive, saying that if we continue to do so, they will install barriers. We are still shouting out questions. At 10:30am, a velvet rope went up, presumably for Pence’s arrival.-- A member of Trump’s security team asked reporters not to rush at staff members as they arrive, saying that if we continue to do so, they will install barriers. We are still shouting out questions. At 10:30am, a velvet rope went up, presumably for Pence’s arrival.
-- Another arrival just before 10am: Don McGahn, Trump’s lawyer. And at 10:14am: Bryan Lanza, who oversees surrogates.-- Another arrival just before 10am: Don McGahn, Trump’s lawyer. And at 10:14am: Bryan Lanza, who oversees surrogates.
-- Charlie Kirk left at 9:40am, according to eagle-eyed Francesca Chambers.-- Charlie Kirk left at 9:40am, according to eagle-eyed Francesca Chambers.
3.36pm GMT3.36pm GMT
15:3615:36
Nomination watch: The New York Times reports that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a loyal backer of president-elect Donald Trump during even the darkest days of the campaign, is the frontrunner to head the state department under Trump’s administration.Nomination watch: The New York Times reports that former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a loyal backer of president-elect Donald Trump during even the darkest days of the campaign, is the frontrunner to head the state department under Trump’s administration.
Giuliani, who has no foreign policy experience beyond strong advocacy for the War on Terror, has highlighted his role after the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks as a foreign-policy qualification in the past.Giuliani, who has no foreign policy experience beyond strong advocacy for the War on Terror, has highlighted his role after the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks as a foreign-policy qualification in the past.
“I am the only one here who actually has had to face an Islamic terrorist attack,” Giuliani said in a Republican presidential debate in 2008, when he briefly sought the party’s nomination. “With regard to foreign policy, I’ve negotiated with governments when I was in the Justice Department. I worked on a task force on terrorism in the 1970s.”“I am the only one here who actually has had to face an Islamic terrorist attack,” Giuliani said in a Republican presidential debate in 2008, when he briefly sought the party’s nomination. “With regard to foreign policy, I’ve negotiated with governments when I was in the Justice Department. I worked on a task force on terrorism in the 1970s.”
Although former UN ambassador John Bolton is also seen as a contender for the role, Giuliani has reportedly been lobbying aggressively for the position, and Trump is inclined to reward the only major backer who advocated on his behalf after the release of video fro 2005 showed the now-president-elect bragging about sexually assaulting women.Although former UN ambassador John Bolton is also seen as a contender for the role, Giuliani has reportedly been lobbying aggressively for the position, and Trump is inclined to reward the only major backer who advocated on his behalf after the release of video fro 2005 showed the now-president-elect bragging about sexually assaulting women.
3.26pm GMT3.26pm GMT
15:2615:26
President Obama reaffirms US commitment to Nato ahead of Trump administrationPresident Obama reaffirms US commitment to Nato ahead of Trump administration
Speaking at a press conference in Athens at the beginning of his final international tour as president of the United States, Barack Obama told reporters that the United States was committed to its Nato allies, an attempt to alleviate the concerns of Nato members who have taken seriously president-elect Donald Trump’s threats to abandon members of the treaty organization if they don’t “pay their fair share.”Speaking at a press conference in Athens at the beginning of his final international tour as president of the United States, Barack Obama told reporters that the United States was committed to its Nato allies, an attempt to alleviate the concerns of Nato members who have taken seriously president-elect Donald Trump’s threats to abandon members of the treaty organization if they don’t “pay their fair share.”
Standing with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, Obama commended Greece “for being one of the five Nato allies that spends 2% of GDP on defense, a goal that we have consistently set but not everybody has met.”Standing with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, Obama commended Greece “for being one of the five Nato allies that spends 2% of GDP on defense, a goal that we have consistently set but not everybody has met.”
“Greece has done this even during difficult economic times,” Obama continued. “If Greece can meet this Nato commitment, all our Nato allies should be able to do so.”“Greece has done this even during difficult economic times,” Obama continued. “If Greece can meet this Nato commitment, all our Nato allies should be able to do so.”
During his most recent discussions with Trump, the future president “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships,” Obama said at a press conference on Monday. “And so, one of the messages I will be able to deliver is his commitment to Nato and the transatlantic alliance.”During his most recent discussions with Trump, the future president “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships,” Obama said at a press conference on Monday. “And so, one of the messages I will be able to deliver is his commitment to Nato and the transatlantic alliance.”
3.16pm GMT
15:16
Los Angeles 2024 Olympic bid leaders sought to allay concerns within the Olympic movement following Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory, saying the candidacy would continue to “celebrate our diversity,” Reuter reports.
Los Angeles, bidding to host the summer Games for a third time after 1932 and 1984, was seen as the front-runner in the race with Paris and Budapest until Trump’s election this month. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat, had warned that victory for Republican Trump would not help the bid given the makeup of the 98 voting members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership.
Trump courted controversy in the run-up to the election with campaign proposals including a call to ban Muslims from entering the United States and building a wall along the US-Mexican border.
“We just finished our presidential election and some of you may question our commitment to our founding principles,” Los Angeles bid official Allyson Felix, a six-times Olympic track and field champion, told a meeting of national Olympic committees in Doha. “I have one message for you. Please do not doubt us. America’s diversity is our greatest strength.”
The audience included the IOC president, Thomas Bach, as well as international sports federation presidents and IOC members as the three cities made the first of three official presentations ahead of the vote next year.
Felix said Los Angeles needed the Games “now more than ever” to help make the United States better. “We are a nation of people whose descendants came from all over the world for a better life,” she said. “We are also a nation with individuals like me, descendants of people who came to America, not of their own free will but against it,” she added.
“But we’re not a nation that clings to our past, no matter how glorious – or how painful. Americans rush toward the future.”
3.08pm GMT
15:08
From President Barack Obama’s presser in Athens:
"Did I recognize tt there was anger & frustration in the American people? Of course I did," #obama says in #Athens when asked about #trump
"We have 2 deal with inequality, dislocation, the more we deal w those issues, the less [they] will pit ppl against each other." @POTUS
2.55pm GMT
14:55
Another day, another shakeup in the nascent Trump administration’s transition operation. This time, the man sending the president-elect’s transition planning into chaos is Mike Rogers, who had been in charge of national security matters until he abruptly resigned from the position today.
Rogers, a former Michigan congressman and onetime chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement to the New York Times that he was “proud of the team that we assembled at Trump for America to produce meaningful policy, personnel and agency action guidance on the complex national security challenges facing our great country,” and that he was “pleased” to hand off the work to the new head of the transition, vice president-elect Mike Pence.
Pence had taken over the transition efforts last week, after Trump shuffled the transition deck to remove scandal-plagued New Jersey governor Chris Christie from his post at the top of the campaign’s transition efforts. The transition within the transition, however, has been hampered because Pence “has yet to sign legally required paperwork to allow his team to begin collaborating with President Obama’s aides on the handover,” according to the New York Times.
2.44pm GMT
14:44
President Barack Obama holds press conference with Greek prime minister
Watch it live here:
2.43pm GMT
14:43
Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned.
Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic.
While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal.
“Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA.
Begun under George W Bush, drone strikes were vastly accelerated and codified by Obama beyond officially declared war zones. Official estimates claim they have killed nearly 2,600 “terrorists”, though human rights activists consider that to be an undercount.
The footprint of the drones has become increasingly widespread, situated in airfields from Tunisia to Niger to Cameroon, they represent the outgrowth of a legal theory which was embraced by both presidents Bush and Obama, who considered the war on terrorism’s battlefield to be global.
For Obama, the drone has been a calibrated, restrained instrument of death, an alternative to grueling all-out war. Trump will now be the one capable of harnessing its power.
2.30pm GMT
14:30
Members of the House GOP has been gifted with “Make America Great Again” hats this morning, which seems normal.
@HouseGOP ready to Make America Great Again. @cathymcmorris giving hats to members this AM. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/6AQmSjdgba
2.18pm GMT
14:18
Video: The Guardian explains the battle over president-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Breitbart boss Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel – and why many liberals fear his appointment will encourage antisemites, racists and misogynists.
2.11pm GMT
14:11
From the long-suffering transition pool:
Good morning from Trump Tower, where transition staffers are slowly filtering into work in the rain. At about 8:45am, Jeff DeWit - Arizona’s treasurer and Trump’s campaign COO - arrived, carrying what looked like rolled up posters in a FedEx bag. About five minutes later, my co-pooler Francesca Chambers of the Daily Mail spotted Charlie Kirkof Turning Point USA, who wouldn’t say why he’s in Trump Tower this morning.
At 8:57am, Donald Trump Jr arrived, carrying athletic shoes in hand and keeping his back to reporters. But when someone asked if we can expect any announcements today, he turned, smiled and said: ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ When asked what his role in the transition team is, he turned back around and didn’t answer.
Also spotted before 9am: Deputy campaign manager Michael Glassner, pulling a suitcase and declining to answer questions.
2.09pm GMT
14:09
“The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.” – Donald J. Trump, November 7, 2012
The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!
1.38pm GMT
13:38
Obama will not restrict drone strike 'playbook' before Trump takes office
Good morning, and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the transition between the two-term Obama administration and the nascent Trump administration. It’s 66 days until president-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as president.
First, some news: Barack Obama will not tighten the rules governing US drone strikes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the Guardian has learned. Trump will inherit the apparatus for what Obama calls “targeted killing” – the so-called drones “playbook” formally known as the 22 May 2013 Presidential Policy Guidance or PPG – that has turned drone strikes into Obama’s signature counter-terrorism tactic.
While the White House considers its standards for drone strikes to be scrupulous, much of the rest of the world considers them to represent an arbitrary, secret and dangerous apparatus of secret killing that Trump will soon have at his disposal. “Maybe on the left no one would believe that Trump has a steady hand, but Obama has normalized the idea that presidents get to have secret large-scale killing programs at their disposal,” said Naureen Shah of Amnesty International USA.
In other news, Trump’s selection of Breitbart chair and former campaign CEO Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior counsel has infuriated Washington’s left, who have swiftly pointed to Breitbart’s reputation for antisemitic, misogynistic and white-nationalist coverage of American and international politics.
Breitbart headlines have included Would You Rather Your Child had Feminism or Cancer?, Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy and “Hoist it high and proud: The Confederate flag proclaims a glorious heritage.”
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi said of Bannon’s appointment: “There must be no sugarcoating the reality that a white nationalist has been named chief strategist for the Trump administration.”
Unlike a cabinet nomination, however, there’s no mechanism to stop Trump from appointing Bannon to a position in the White House, so barring overwhelming public criticism of Bannon – a relatively unknown figure outside of the Acela corridor – he’s likely baked in the cake.
The day ahead: Trump is still holed up in the Trump Tower triplex that he calls home, with periodic visits from senior campaign staff and members of the Trump family (for whom Trump is reportedly attempting to secure security clearances, according to the latest pool report).
Obama is in Athens, Greece, on the first leg of his final foreign tour as president.
Updated
at 1.55pm GMT