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| Trump cabinet picks: president-elect looks to make decisions on posts – politics live | Trump cabinet picks: president-elect looks to make decisions on posts – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.01pm GMT | |
| 20:01 | |
| David Petraeus – the former US army general and CIA director who was prosecuted for mishandling classified information – has entered the race to become Donald Trump’s secretary of state, diplomatic sources said on Thursday. Julian Borger and David Smith in Washington have more: | |
| Petraeus resigned in November 2012 after the FBI discovered he had had an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, and had shared classified information with her. He eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for mishandling the information. People who have seen him recently say he is anxious to return to public life and has privately refused to rule out serving in a Trump administration. | |
| Petraeus, who was also a US commander in Afghanistan and Iraq, has made flattering remarks about Trump since the election. “He’s right to criticise Washington over its partisanship and its inability to forge compromises,” he told the German cable news channel Deutsche Welle this week. “He’s a dealmaker. Let’s see if he can make some deals in Washington.” | |
| He added: “This is an individual who is a political outsider. Perhaps he can do something in Washington that the political insiders, who he rightly criticises, have been unable to do, which is to come together to give a little, to gain a lot for our country.” | |
| Read the full piece: | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.07pm GMT | |
| 7.58pm GMT | |
| 19:58 | |
| Gingrich says he won't be in cabinet | |
| McClatchy has a scoop: “Mentioned as a possible pick to head the departments of State or Defense, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won’t serve in the Trump administration, he confirmed to McClatchy on Thursday”: | |
| “I will not be in the Cabinet,” Gingrich said, adding that “I intend to be focused on strategic planning.” | |
| Gingrich did not say whether the decision was his or whether his long ties to official Washington effectively disqualified him from joining President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. | |
| 7.54pm GMT | |
| 19:54 | |
| Pelosi asked Pence to ask Trump to reconsider the appointment of “Bill Kristol: Renegade Jew” publisher Steve Bannon as senior White House adviser, the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui reports: | |
| Aide says Nancy Pelosi told Mike Pence in meeting today to urge Trump to reconsider Steve Bannon appointment. | |
| 7.34pm GMT | 7.34pm GMT |
| 19:34 | 19:34 |
| Trump is planning 'victory tour,' aide says | Trump is planning 'victory tour,' aide says |
| George Gigicos, the campaign’s advance team director, briefly talked about Trump’s first trip with the press pool at Trump tower. | George Gigicos, the campaign’s advance team director, briefly talked about Trump’s first trip with the press pool at Trump tower. |
| “We’re working on a victory tour now, it will happen in the next couple of weeks,” Gigicos said. “After Thanksgiving.” | “We’re working on a victory tour now, it will happen in the next couple of weeks,” Gigicos said. “After Thanksgiving.” |
| Gigicos said the tour would go “obviously to the states that we won and the swing states we flipped over.” | Gigicos said the tour would go “obviously to the states that we won and the swing states we flipped over.” |
| 7.18pm GMT | 7.18pm GMT |
| 19:18 | 19:18 |
| Here’s some Pelosi-Pence footage, via Politico: | Here’s some Pelosi-Pence footage, via Politico: |
| .@NancyPelosi welcomes Vice President-elect @mike_pence: "We had a respectful conversation." pic.twitter.com/7yXeOoknhv | .@NancyPelosi welcomes Vice President-elect @mike_pence: "We had a respectful conversation." pic.twitter.com/7yXeOoknhv |
| 7.14pm GMT | 7.14pm GMT |
| 19:14 | 19:14 |
| CSPAN is periscoping from Trump tower: | CSPAN is periscoping from Trump tower: |
| LIVE on #Periscope: WATCH: #Trump Tower Live Stream https://t.co/olwCO5h34K | LIVE on #Periscope: WATCH: #Trump Tower Live Stream https://t.co/olwCO5h34K |
| 7.11pm GMT | 7.11pm GMT |
| 19:11 | 19:11 |
| Cheese. | Cheese. |
| Pelosi and Pence meeting pic.twitter.com/WBq1YDkFib | Pelosi and Pence meeting pic.twitter.com/WBq1YDkFib |
| 7.05pm GMT | 7.05pm GMT |
| 19:05 | 19:05 |
| Trump 'unbelievably impressed' with senator Sessions | Trump 'unbelievably impressed' with senator Sessions |
| Team Trump releases a statement saying the president-elect is “unbelievably impressed” with senator Jeff Sessions, who endorsed Trump back in February (the first senator and nearly the first member of congress to do so) and has spent much of the last nine months campaigning with him. | Team Trump releases a statement saying the president-elect is “unbelievably impressed” with senator Jeff Sessions, who endorsed Trump back in February (the first senator and nearly the first member of congress to do so) and has spent much of the last nine months campaigning with him. |
| "Unbelievably impressed" and "phenomenal" - hint hint? pic.twitter.com/pFghmAfUuV | "Unbelievably impressed" and "phenomenal" - hint hint? pic.twitter.com/pFghmAfUuV |
| Sessions may be up for a cabinet post. Let’s call it: after all that work, Sessions is up for something juicy. | Sessions may be up for a cabinet post. Let’s call it: after all that work, Sessions is up for something juicy. |
| Past accusations of racism against Sessions, who’s from Alabama, could potentially complicate any senate confirmation hearing, but on the other had Jeff Sessions has a lot of friends in the senate and he would seem to be quite confirmable. | Past accusations of racism against Sessions, who’s from Alabama, could potentially complicate any senate confirmation hearing, but on the other had Jeff Sessions has a lot of friends in the senate and he would seem to be quite confirmable. |
| Read more about Sessions’ skeletons: | Read more about Sessions’ skeletons: |
| Jeff Sessions is known as one of most anti-immigration members of the Senate. | Jeff Sessions is known as one of most anti-immigration members of the Senate. |
| In a rare move, his nomination by Ronald Reagan to be a federal judge was rejected by Congress in 1986 after several attorneys testified that he had made racist comments. | In a rare move, his nomination by Ronald Reagan to be a federal judge was rejected by Congress in 1986 after several attorneys testified that he had made racist comments. |
| Justice department official Gerald Hebert claimed Sessions had described the respected civil rights campaigns as “un-American”. Hebert also said Sessions had described the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union as “Communist inspired”. [...] | Justice department official Gerald Hebert claimed Sessions had described the respected civil rights campaigns as “un-American”. Hebert also said Sessions had described the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union as “Communist inspired”. [...] |
| A prosecutor, Thomas H Figures, told congress Sessions had thought the Ku Klux Klan was “OK until I found they smoked pot”. Sessions said he had been joking and that the comment was so ludicrous he could not think anyone would take him seriously. | A prosecutor, Thomas H Figures, told congress Sessions had thought the Ku Klux Klan was “OK until I found they smoked pot”. Sessions said he had been joking and that the comment was so ludicrous he could not think anyone would take him seriously. |
| Figures, an African-American, also testified that Sessions had called him “boy”. Sessions denied the claim. | Figures, an African-American, also testified that Sessions had called him “boy”. Sessions denied the claim. |
| Read further: | Read further: |
| 6.25pm GMT | 6.25pm GMT |
| 18:25 | 18:25 |
| Texas congressman Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House financial services committee, which could assist in the dismantling of Dodd-Frank financial regulations – or not – has just spoken with president-elect Trump about financial reform, he tells the transition pool: | Texas congressman Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House financial services committee, which could assist in the dismantling of Dodd-Frank financial regulations – or not – has just spoken with president-elect Trump about financial reform, he tells the transition pool: |
| Hensarling exited the elevators shortly after 1pm and briefly addressed the press. | Hensarling exited the elevators shortly after 1pm and briefly addressed the press. |
| Question: how was the meeting? Did you talk about financial reform? | Question: how was the meeting? Did you talk about financial reform? |
| Jeb Hensarling: “Obviously we talked about financial reform. I just wanted to tell the President-elect I’m on his team. Very excited to help drain the swamp, very excited to help get this economy working for working Americans again. We were talking tax policy, we were talking Dodd Frank, we were talking trade, this was a wonderful conversation, and I stand ready to help the President in any capacity possible. I’ve got a great position in public policy today, if he wants to talk to me obviously, about serving somewhere else, we’ll look at serving somewhere else. But regardless, I’m on his team, I’m excited for what he can do for America, it was just a real honor to be here. | Jeb Hensarling: “Obviously we talked about financial reform. I just wanted to tell the President-elect I’m on his team. Very excited to help drain the swamp, very excited to help get this economy working for working Americans again. We were talking tax policy, we were talking Dodd Frank, we were talking trade, this was a wonderful conversation, and I stand ready to help the President in any capacity possible. I’ve got a great position in public policy today, if he wants to talk to me obviously, about serving somewhere else, we’ll look at serving somewhere else. But regardless, I’m on his team, I’m excited for what he can do for America, it was just a real honor to be here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.26pm GMT | at 6.26pm GMT |
| 6.16pm GMT | 6.16pm GMT |
| 18:16 | 18:16 |
| After a meeting just then with Henry Kissinger, Trump releases a statement saying he appreciates “him sharing his thoughts with me.” Via BuzzFeed’s Rosie Gray: | After a meeting just then with Henry Kissinger, Trump releases a statement saying he appreciates “him sharing his thoughts with me.” Via BuzzFeed’s Rosie Gray: |
| transition team readout of Trump-Kissinger meeting: pic.twitter.com/ubK29IMVEg | transition team readout of Trump-Kissinger meeting: pic.twitter.com/ubK29IMVEg |
| Read further on potential Trump cabinet picks: | Read further on potential Trump cabinet picks: |
| 5.41pm GMT | 5.41pm GMT |
| 17:41 | 17:41 |
| On that Telegraph story we linked to in the intro quoting Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski as saying that Comey called him to tell him about the new email inquiry: the quote has disappeared from the story: | On that Telegraph story we linked to in the intro quoting Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski as saying that Comey called him to tell him about the new email inquiry: the quote has disappeared from the story: |
| Update: The Telegraph has changed this story without explanation and removed he quote. I don't know why. https://t.co/jAtzHKTeh8 | Update: The Telegraph has changed this story without explanation and removed he quote. I don't know why. https://t.co/jAtzHKTeh8 |
| 5.40pm GMT | 5.40pm GMT |
| 17:40 | 17:40 |
| Obama says presidency will make Trump a fit president | Obama says presidency will make Trump a fit president |
| Obama: “Although history does not travel in a straight line, it moves in the direction of justice and freedom... but we have to fight for it.” | Obama: “Although history does not travel in a straight line, it moves in the direction of justice and freedom... but we have to fight for it.” |
| Then he argues that the presidency itself will make Trump a fit president: | Then he argues that the presidency itself will make Trump a fit president: |
| What makes me cautiously optimistic about my successor and the shift from campaign to governance is there is something about the solemn responsibilities of that office, the extraordinary demands that are placed on the United States not just by its own people but by people around the world, that forces you to focus. That demands seriousness. And if you’re not serious about the job, then you probably won’t be there very long because it will expose problems, even when you’re doing a good job, even when you are attentive, there’s so many things that come across your desk... you figure that out... and I think the president-elect is going to see fairly quickly that the demands and responsibilities of a US president are not ones that you can treat casually. In such a big and diverse country, the only way that you can be successful is by listening and reaching out and working with a wide variety of people. | What makes me cautiously optimistic about my successor and the shift from campaign to governance is there is something about the solemn responsibilities of that office, the extraordinary demands that are placed on the United States not just by its own people but by people around the world, that forces you to focus. That demands seriousness. And if you’re not serious about the job, then you probably won’t be there very long because it will expose problems, even when you’re doing a good job, even when you are attentive, there’s so many things that come across your desk... you figure that out... and I think the president-elect is going to see fairly quickly that the demands and responsibilities of a US president are not ones that you can treat casually. In such a big and diverse country, the only way that you can be successful is by listening and reaching out and working with a wide variety of people. |
| On Merkel: “I wish I should be there to lighten her burdens somewhat, but she’s tough.” | On Merkel: “I wish I should be there to lighten her burdens somewhat, but she’s tough.” |
| 5.26pm GMT | 5.26pm GMT |
| 17:26 | 17:26 |
| Obama on Trump: | Obama on Trump: |
| He ran an extraordinarily unconventional campaign, and it resulted in perhaps the biggest political upset in modern American political history. He now has to transition... | He ran an extraordinarily unconventional campaign, and it resulted in perhaps the biggest political upset in modern American political history. He now has to transition... |
| I said to him that what may work in generating enthusiasm and passions... may be different than what will work in terms of unifying the country. He’s indicated his understanding of that... my hope is that that’s something that he is thinking about, because not only is the president of the United States somebody that the entire country looks to for direction, but sets the agenda internationally, in a lot of ways. | I said to him that what may work in generating enthusiasm and passions... may be different than what will work in terms of unifying the country. He’s indicated his understanding of that... my hope is that that’s something that he is thinking about, because not only is the president of the United States somebody that the entire country looks to for direction, but sets the agenda internationally, in a lot of ways. |
| 5.24pm GMT | 5.24pm GMT |
| 17:24 | 17:24 |
| Obama says sometimes when he listens to the rhetoric in Europe, there’s sometimes a failure to make distinction between the USA and what it stands for and oppressive regimes elsewhere. He says “The United States has been good for Germany.” Across Europe, he says, “many principles that have been taken for granted here, free speech.... fighting corruption” – USA stood up for those. “And that should be remembered,” Obama says. | Obama says sometimes when he listens to the rhetoric in Europe, there’s sometimes a failure to make distinction between the USA and what it stands for and oppressive regimes elsewhere. He says “The United States has been good for Germany.” Across Europe, he says, “many principles that have been taken for granted here, free speech.... fighting corruption” – USA stood up for those. “And that should be remembered,” Obama says. |
| 5.20pm GMT | 5.20pm GMT |
| 17:20 | 17:20 |
| Obama warns not to take democracy for granted | Obama warns not to take democracy for granted |
| Obama: | Obama: |
| “One of the great things about our democracy is it expresses itself in all sorts of ways, and that includes people protesting... I would not advise people who feel strongly or are concerned about some of the issues... I wouldn’t advise them to be silent. What I would advise... is that elections matter, voting matters, organizing matters, being informed on the issues matters... | “One of the great things about our democracy is it expresses itself in all sorts of ways, and that includes people protesting... I would not advise people who feel strongly or are concerned about some of the issues... I wouldn’t advise them to be silent. What I would advise... is that elections matter, voting matters, organizing matters, being informed on the issues matters... |
| “Do not take for granted our systems of government and our way of life. I think there’s a tendency, because we live in an era that’s been largely stable and peaceful... there’s a tendency to assume that that’s always the case. And it’s not. Democracy is hard work. In the United States, if 43% don’t vote, then democracy is weakened. If we are not concerned about facts, and what’s true and what’s not... if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems.” | “Do not take for granted our systems of government and our way of life. I think there’s a tendency, because we live in an era that’s been largely stable and peaceful... there’s a tendency to assume that that’s always the case. And it’s not. Democracy is hard work. In the United States, if 43% don’t vote, then democracy is weakened. If we are not concerned about facts, and what’s true and what’s not... if we can’t discriminate between serious arguments and propaganda, then we have problems.” |
| 5.16pm GMT | 5.16pm GMT |
| 17:16 | 17:16 |
| The brilliant @darth fixes that Pence selfie (see earlier) with the House Republicans: | The brilliant @darth fixes that Pence selfie (see earlier) with the House Republicans: |
| hey is that paul ryan@SeanMcElwee pic.twitter.com/wYCPJRql3s | hey is that paul ryan@SeanMcElwee pic.twitter.com/wYCPJRql3s |