Making his first move as US President-elect, Donald Trump has named top Republican Reince Priebus as his chief of staff and his campaign CEO Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, two key roles awarded to ‘highly qualified leaders’ who led the billionaire tycoon to a ‘historic victory.’
Trump, who would be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on January 20, made the announcement yesterday which will set the tone for the new White House. Both the positions, which do not require Senate confirmation, would come into effect the day 70-year-old Trump replaces Barack Obama as the President of the US.
“I am thrilled to have my very successful team continue with me in leading our country,” Trump said. “Steve and Reince are highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic
victory. Now I will have them both with me in the White House as we work to make America great again,” he said.
While Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), will serve Trump’s chief of staff, Bannon from the conservative Breitbart News Network will be his chief strategist. They will continue the effective leadership team they formed during the campaign, working as equal partners to transform the federal Government, making it much more efficient, effective and productive, the Trump Transition Team said in a statement. They will also work together with Vice President-elect Mike Pence to help lead the transition process in the run-up to Inauguration Day, it said.
“I want to thank President-elect Trump for the opportunity to work with Reince in driving the agenda of the Trump Administration,” Bannon said.
“We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda,” he added.
“It is truly an honour to join President-elect Trump in the White House as his Chief of Staff. I am very grateful to the President-elect for this opportunity to serve him and this nation as we work to create an economy that works for everyone, secure our borders, repeal and replace Obamacare and destroy radical Islamic terrorism. He will be a great President for all Americans,” Priebus said.
DON says will take $1 as salary with no vacations
Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump has said he would take $1 as his salary a year and not the $400,000 that comes with the US president’s job and will refrain from going on any vacation. Asked whether he was going to the president’s salary, 70-year-old Trump said, “No, I’m not gonna take the salary. I’m not taking it,” confirming a promise he made in a campaign video in September.
Silicon Valley to Trump: Reform H-1B visa system
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US teacher suspended for comparing Trump to Hitler
San Francisco: A veteran history teacher in the US has been suspended for comparing President-elect Donald Trump to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler during a post-election lesson. Frank Navarro, 65, a history and special education teacher at Mountain View High School, Bay Area, California, was asked to leave during school hours after the administration received an email from a parent concerned about statements he made in the class.
Boko Haram leader warns Trump ‘war has just begun’
Kano (Nigeria): The leader of the jehadi group Boko Haram has reacted to the election of Donald Trump to the White House with a warning that “the war has just begun” against the West. “Do not be overwhelmed by people like Donald Trump and the global coalition fighting our brethren in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and everywhere,” Abubakar Shekau said in an audio message posted on YouTube on Sunday.