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R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor R. Alexander Acosta, Law School Dean, Is Trump’s New Pick for Labor
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump moved quickly on Thursday to replace his first choice for labor secretary, choosing R. Alexander Acosta, a Florida law school dean and former assistant attorney general for civil rights, to become the only Hispanic in his cabinet.WASHINGTON — President Trump moved quickly on Thursday to replace his first choice for labor secretary, choosing R. Alexander Acosta, a Florida law school dean and former assistant attorney general for civil rights, to become the only Hispanic in his cabinet.
Mr. Trump announced the nomination at the White House just a day after Andrew F. Puzder, a fast-food executive, dropped his bid to lead the Labor Department amid attacks on his business record and personal conduct that were eroding support among Republican senators and imperiling his confirmation.Mr. Trump announced the nomination at the White House just a day after Andrew F. Puzder, a fast-food executive, dropped his bid to lead the Labor Department amid attacks on his business record and personal conduct that were eroding support among Republican senators and imperiling his confirmation.
The collapse of Mr. Puzder’s nomination was the latest blow for a president who demanded the resignation of his national security adviser earlier in the week. In naming a new labor nominee right away, Mr. Trump and his team hoped to put the sting of Mr. Puzder’s failure behind them and regain momentum with many of the president’s nominations still at stake.The collapse of Mr. Puzder’s nomination was the latest blow for a president who demanded the resignation of his national security adviser earlier in the week. In naming a new labor nominee right away, Mr. Trump and his team hoped to put the sting of Mr. Puzder’s failure behind them and regain momentum with many of the president’s nominations still at stake.
Mr. Acosta was not on hand for the announcement in the East Room of the White House and the president dispensed with the selection in just a few sentences. “I think he’s going to be a tremendous secretary of labor,” Mr. Trump said. Mr. Acosta was not on hand for the announcement in the East Room of the White House, and the president dispensed with the selection in just a few sentences. “I think he’s going to be a tremendous secretary of labor,” Mr. Trump said.
Instead, he took the opportunity to defend his young administration and accuse the news media of distorting his actions.Instead, he took the opportunity to defend his young administration and accuse the news media of distorting his actions.
In a rambling set of remarks, at times reading from notes, at others seemingly improvising, Mr. Trump reviewed some of his initiatives, boasted again about his election in November, took credit for companies that are adding jobs, lashed out at Democrats in Congress who have slowed his nominations and criticized judges who blocked his partial travel ban.In a rambling set of remarks, at times reading from notes, at others seemingly improvising, Mr. Trump reviewed some of his initiatives, boasted again about his election in November, took credit for companies that are adding jobs, lashed out at Democrats in Congress who have slowed his nominations and criticized judges who blocked his partial travel ban.
In his first explanation of his decision to force out Michael T. Flynn, his national security adviser, on Monday, Mr. Trump said he was not troubled that Mr. Flynn had spoken with Russia’s ambassador in December, when the subject of sanctions against the Russian government was discussed. In his first explanation of his decision to force out Michael T. Flynn, his national security adviser, on Monday, Mr. Trump said he was not troubled that Mr. Flynn had spoken with Russia’s ambassador in December, when the subject of sanctions against Russia was discussed.
“When I looked at the information, I said I don’t think he did anything wrong,” Mr. Trump said. “In fact, I think he did something right.”“When I looked at the information, I said I don’t think he did anything wrong,” Mr. Trump said. “In fact, I think he did something right.”
The problem, he said, was that Mr. Flynn told Vice President Mike Pence that sanctions did not come up during the conversation, an assertion belied by a transcript of the call, which was monitored by American intelligence agencies.The problem, he said, was that Mr. Flynn told Vice President Mike Pence that sanctions did not come up during the conversation, an assertion belied by a transcript of the call, which was monitored by American intelligence agencies.
“The thing is he didn’t tell our vice president properly and then he said he didn’t remember,” Mr. Trump said. “So either way, it wasn’t very satisfactory to me.”“The thing is he didn’t tell our vice president properly and then he said he didn’t remember,” Mr. Trump said. “So either way, it wasn’t very satisfactory to me.”
But reports about contacts between his circle and Russia were “fake news put out by the media,” he said. He said he had called on the Justice Department to investigate leaks regarding Mr. Flynn and other matters.But reports about contacts between his circle and Russia were “fake news put out by the media,” he said. He said he had called on the Justice Department to investigate leaks regarding Mr. Flynn and other matters.
With so many crises in the first four weeks of his presidency, Mr. Trump disputed impressions that his administration was out of control.With so many crises in the first four weeks of his presidency, Mr. Trump disputed impressions that his administration was out of control.
“To be honest, I inherited a mess, a mess, at home and abroad, a mess,” he said. “Jobs are pouring out of the country. See what’s going on with all of the companies leaving the country, going to Mexico and other places.” Overseas, he said he found “disaster” and troubles left behind. “To be honest, I inherited a mess, a mess, at home and abroad, a mess,” he said. “Jobs are pouring out of the country. See what’s going on with all of the companies leaving the country, going to Mexico and other places.” Overseas, he said he found “disaster.”
“We’re going to take care of it all,” he said. “I just want you to know I inherited a mess.”“We’re going to take care of it all,” he said. “I just want you to know I inherited a mess.”
He said he would sign a new executive order next week or perhaps later that will “comprehensively protect our country” while still defending his original travel order in court. Last week he had said he would take action as early as Monday of this week. He said he would sign a new executive order next week or perhaps later that will “comprehensively protect our country” while still defending his original travel ban in court. Last week he had said he would take action as early as Monday of this week.
“There has never been a presidency that has done so much in such a short period of time,” Mr. Trump said. “And we haven’t even started the big work that starts early next week.” He added, “We’re just getting started.”“There has never been a presidency that has done so much in such a short period of time,” Mr. Trump said. “And we haven’t even started the big work that starts early next week.” He added, “We’re just getting started.”
His expansive review of his accomplishments, though, included some misinformation.His expansive review of his accomplishments, though, included some misinformation.
He asserted that his victory in the Electoral College was the largest since Ronald Reagan. But, in fact, he won fewer Electoral College votes than three of the four presidents since Reagan: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton or George Bush. He asserted that his victory in the Electoral College was the largest since Ronald Reagan. But he won fewer Electoral College votes than three of the four presidents since Reagan: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George Bush.
When a reporter pointed that out, Mr. Trump brushed it off. “I was given that information,” he said.When a reporter pointed that out, Mr. Trump brushed it off. “I was given that information,” he said.
In picking Mr. Acosta, dean of Florida International University law school in Miami, Mr. Trump also addresses criticism that his cabinet was the first in many years without any Hispanics. In picking Mr. Acosta, the dean of Florida International University’s law school in Miami, as his labor secretary, Mr. Trump addresses criticism that his cabinet was the first in many years without any Hispanics.
The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hailed the choice. “We are thrilled to work with Acosta on a host of economic and labor issues which directly affect our members and the Hispanic community as a whole,” said Javier Palomarez, the chamber’s president.The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hailed the choice. “We are thrilled to work with Acosta on a host of economic and labor issues which directly affect our members and the Hispanic community as a whole,” said Javier Palomarez, the chamber’s president.
A Miami native, Mr. Acosta earned undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University and was a clerk for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. when he was still an appeals court judge. Mr. Acosta served on the National Labor Relations Board and was an assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush.A Miami native, Mr. Acosta earned undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University and was a clerk for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. when he was still an appeals court judge. Mr. Acosta served on the National Labor Relations Board and was an assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush.
He went on to become the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where his office prosecuted the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the terror suspect Jose Padilla and founders of the Cali cartel. He convicted Charles Taylor Jr., the son of Liberia’s former leader, of torture. His official biography said his office also prosecuted several bank-related cases and targeted health care fraud. He went on to become the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida, where his office prosecuted the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the terrorism suspect Jose Padilla and founders of the Cali cartel. He convicted Charles Taylor Jr., the son of Liberia’s former leader, of torture. His official biography said his office also prosecuted several bank-related cases and targeted health care fraud.