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Trump presidency: Rick Perry picked as US energy secretary | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Donald Trump has picked ex-Texas Governor Rick Perry as his energy secretary, a department whose name he famously forgot in a TV debate. | |
The nomination puts Mr Perry in charge of an agency he proposed abolishing in a failed 2012 White House bid. | |
Environmental groups called the oil-drilling advocate's selection "an insult to our functioning democracy". | Environmental groups called the oil-drilling advocate's selection "an insult to our functioning democracy". |
In the role, the recent Dancing with the Stars contestant would oversee America's nuclear arsenal. | In the role, the recent Dancing with the Stars contestant would oversee America's nuclear arsenal. |
Mr Trump said in a statement: "As the governor of Texas, Rick Perry created a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as secretary of energy." | |
If confirmed by the Senate, green activists fear Mr Perry will shift the department away from renewable energy and towards fossil fuels. | If confirmed by the Senate, green activists fear Mr Perry will shift the department away from renewable energy and towards fossil fuels. |
During 14 years as governor, he called for lighter regulation of the oil industry, and referred to the science around climate change as "unsettled". | During 14 years as governor, he called for lighter regulation of the oil industry, and referred to the science around climate change as "unsettled". |
Mr Perry is on the board of directors at Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. | Mr Perry is on the board of directors at Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. |
Accepting the nomination, Mr Perry said: "I look forward to engaging in a conversation about the development, stewardship and regulation of our energy resources, safeguarding our nuclear arsenal, and promoting an American energy policy that creates jobs and puts America first." | |
He was briefly frontrunner in a previous Republican White House race until a disastrous brain freeze on live television. | |
During the November 2011 forum, Mr Perry vowed to ditch three cabinet-level departments if elected. | During the November 2011 forum, Mr Perry vowed to ditch three cabinet-level departments if elected. |
After mentioning the departments of Commerce and Education, he said: "I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops." | After mentioning the departments of Commerce and Education, he said: "I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops." |
It was, he later recalled, the Department of Energy. | It was, he later recalled, the Department of Energy. |
Mr Perry, 66, left office in January 2015 and briefly ran again - again unsuccessfully - for this year's presidential election. | Mr Perry, 66, left office in January 2015 and briefly ran again - again unsuccessfully - for this year's presidential election. |
He was a fierce critic of Mr Trump, calling him "a barking carnival act" and "a cancer on conservatism". | He was a fierce critic of Mr Trump, calling him "a barking carnival act" and "a cancer on conservatism". |
Mr Trump had belittled Mr Perry, saying: "He put on glasses so people will think he's smart." | Mr Trump had belittled Mr Perry, saying: "He put on glasses so people will think he's smart." |
Mr Perry was the second contestant eliminated on this season's Dancing with the Stars. | Mr Perry was the second contestant eliminated on this season's Dancing with the Stars. |