President-elect Donald Trump made his first Cabinet appointment on Thursday following his decisive election victory, while signaling his intent to pivot sharply from the outgoing administration’s policies by initiating discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump appointed Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, making her the first woman in this high-profile role. Wiles’ appointment is his first official selection for the incoming administration.
The Republican’s resounding defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris has already sent ripples through U.S. and global politics, with Trump expected to return to the White House in two-and-a-half months.
Putin praised Trump as “courageous” for his resilience following an attempted assassination at a July rally, expressing his readiness for discussions with the president-elect.
Trump, in an interview with NBC News, confirmed he had not yet spoken with Putin since his victory but said, “I think we’ll speak.”
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This marks a dramatic shift from the tense silence that has characterized U.S.-Russia relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Trump’s criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine contrasts sharply with the outgoing administration.
Although Trump has indicated he may pursue a peace deal in the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke to Trump on Wednesday, warned that calls for a ceasefire could be “dangerous.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the world leaders congratulating Trump, who had faced criticism from Harris for being too friendly with authoritarian leaders during the campaign.
Trump reaffirmed his intention for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, telling NBC he had “no choice” and that “no price tag” was too high for enforcing immigration laws.
While Trump began assembling his transition team at his Florida resort, President Joe Biden, 81, pledged a peaceful and “orderly” transfer of power.
Biden, in a somber televised address, urged Americans to “bring down the temperature,” contrasting with Trump’s own refusal to accept the 2020 election results.
Biden has invited Trump for talks at the White House, but his team reported that Trump’s aides had not yet completed key documents required to initiate the transition.
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In a speech from the White House Rose Garden, Biden urged unity and reminded Democrats, “A defeat does not mean we are defeated.”
However, tensions have already surfaced within the Democratic Party over Biden’s decision to run for a second term before ultimately withdrawing in July, passing the nomination to Vice President Harris.
The White House maintains that Biden has no regrets about his decision, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre affirming, “He believed it was the right decision.”
Trump’s victory, despite a criminal conviction for fraud, two impeachments, and being the oldest person elected at 78, reflects voters’ desire for change. Economic and immigration concerns significantly fueled his win.
Trump’s chief of staff appointee, Susie Wiles, is widely respected within his team and was called on stage during his victory speech. Trump described her as “tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired.”
The frontrunners for Trump’s Cabinet hint at the disruptive nature of his administration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine advocate, is expected to have a significant role in health policy, while emphasizing that he will not push to remove vaccines but supports removing fluoride from public water.
Additionally, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X, who endorsed Trump, may take on a role to audit government waste.
Trump is expected to dismantle much of Biden’s environmental agenda, pledging to ramp up oil production with his “drill, baby, drill” stance.
Some of Biden’s economic legislation, however, could prove challenging to unwind, particularly in districts where it has garnered strong support.
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