WASHINGTON—House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced during a Nov. 13 press conference that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) had resigned his seat in the House of Representatives after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as attorney general.
Though he'll likely face a tough fight to be confirmed by the Senate, Johnson said that Gaetz resigned his seat early so it can be filled as soon as possible. Gaetz said that Florida state law requires the vacancy to be filled within 8 weeks, Johnson said.
Gaetz said he called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier the same day. Johnson said this could mean the seat can be filled by as early as Jan. 3, when the first sitting of the new Congress occurs.
WASHINGTON—Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general on Nov. 13 drew a quick response from members of Congress.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer was positive in his comments to The Epoch Times. “That’ll be great,” he said when asked about Gaetz’s nomination.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican who serves with Gaetz as part of Florida’s congressional delegation, praised the pick on X.
President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 13 said he’s selecting Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to be attorney general in his second administration.
Gaetz, 42, has represented Florida’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017. Since entering politics, Gaetz has aligned himself with Trump’s populist style, often criticizing the political establishment, including within his own party. He often makes common cause with the party’s conservative flank.
President-elect Donald Trump has named former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as his pick for the director of national intelligence role in his incoming administration.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence oversees the U.S. intelligence community.
WASHINGTON—The House GOP conference on Nov. 13 nominated Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) to remain as speaker of the House.
Meanwhile, Republicans are on the verge of retaining the House, just one seat shy of a majority, according to The Associated Press.
This would give the GOP control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, bolstering President-elect Donald Trump’s ability to implement his agenda.
President-elect Donald Trump has picked Florida’s three-term senator Marco Rubio to be his nominee for secretary of state, setting the tone for a more hawkish administration on U.S. foreign policy.
“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!”
WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans on Nov. 13 selected Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) as their new leader in the 119th Congress, succeeding Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who held the post for nearly two decades.
Thune was elected after two rounds of secret ballot voting in a 29–24 vote against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), according to a source familiar with the final ballot count.
The third contender, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), was knocked out after the first ballot.
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden met with President-elect Donald Trump for nearly two hours in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, during which both committed to a smooth transfer of power.
In brief remarks before their meeting, the president congratulated Trump and said his administration will help accommodate the president-elect’s needs in the transition.
“Congratulations and I look forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition,” Biden said. “Welcome. Welcome back.”
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Nov. 13 senior staff hires.
He has also been announcing Cabinet picks, most of whom require Senate confirmation.
Dan Scavino will be assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff. He has been known for operating Trump’s social media accounts and producing viral posts.
President-elect Donald Trump is already beginning to finalize his Cabinet roster less than a week after his decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
The president’s Cabinet usually includes the vice president and the heads of 15 executive departments, including the president’s chief of staff, the secretary of state, and the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).