…to announce Secretary of State today
…also nominates Gen. John Kelly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump Donald has announced his plan to appoint Gary Cohn as Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council.
Trump, in a statement, described Cohn as a renowned business leader who would help to both design and coordinate his America First economic agenda and make sure increasing wages for American workers would be a top priority.
He added that the appointee would also work closely with his economic team at the Treasury and Commerce Departments.
“As my top economic advisor, Gary Cohn is going to put his talents as a highly successful businessman to work for the American people.
“He will help craft economic policies that will grow wages for our workers, stop the exodus of jobs overseas and create many great new opportunities for Americans who have been struggling.
“He fully understands the economy and will use all of his vast knowledge and experience to make sure the American people start winning again,” the president-elect said.
The statement quoted Cohn as accepting to serve in the president-elect’s team.
“Being chosen to serve in the President-elect’s administration is a great honour.
“I share President-elect Trump’s vision of making sure every American worker has a secure place in a thriving economy, and we will be completely committed to building a nation of strength, growth and prosperity,” Cohn said.
The statement said Cohn, in addition to his incredible business history, has an inspiring personal story.
“Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, he was diagnosed at age seven with dyslexia, which made it difficult for him to read and spell.
“After receiving his bachelor’s degree at American University in Washington, D.C., Mr. Cohn worked for U.S. Steel and at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Since 1990, Cohn has worked at Goldman Sachs.
“His legendary toughness and tenacity, which helped him rise over a quarter century at Goldman Sachs to ultimately become the company’s president, will now be put to work on behalf of the American people,” the statement read.
Nominates Gen. John Kelly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Trump also announced his intent to nominate Gen. John Kelly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
“As Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Gen. Kelly oversaw U.S. military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, giving him unique insight into some of the challenges the United States faces at its southern border.
“Just as importantly, he was intimately involved in, and often coordinated, the whole of U.S. Government interagency efforts in the interdiction of drug and human trafficking, counterterrorism, human rights, and working with partners to safeguard southern approaches to the U.S. border.
“Gen. John Kelly’s decades of military service and deep commitment to fighting the threat of terrorism inside our borders makes him the ideal choice to serve as our Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
“He is the right person to spearhead the urgent mission of stopping illegal immigration and securing our borders, streamlining TSA and improving coordination between our intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“With Gen. Kelly at the helm of DHS, the American people will have a leader committed to our safety as well as one who will work hand-in-hand with America’s rank-and-file TSA, ICE and Border Patrol officers,” Trump said.
The statement also quoted Kelly as accepting his nomination to serve in Trump’s presidency.
“I am humbled and grateful to be nominated to serve in President-elect Trump’s cabinet as Homeland Security Secretary.
“The American people voted in this election to stop terrorism, take back sovereignty at our borders, and put a stop to political correctness that for too long has dictated our approach to national security.
“I will tackle those issues with a seriousness of purpose and a deep respect for our laws and Constitution. I am honored for the opportunity to be back in the service to our country, and our people,” Kelly said.
To announce nominee for Secretary of State today
Meanwhile, Trump had also said on Monday evening that he would formally announce his nominee for Secretary of State on Tuesday (today).
The president-elect made the announcement on his Twitter handle on Monday night.
“I will be making my announcement on the next Secretary of State tomorrow morning,” Trump said on Twitter.
However, CBS News said sources confirmed that the president-elect would name Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.
The president-elect reportedly praised Tillerson on Sunday, but some Republicans have expressed doubts due to the Russian connections.
It recalled Trump’s recently pointing to Tillerson’s deep relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a selling point.
As ExxonMobil’s head, Tillerson maintained close ties with Russia and was awarded by Putin with the Order of Friendship in 2013, an honour for a foreign citizen.
Trump’s search for secretary of state had lasted several weeks.
The president-elect initially considered former rival for Republican Party nomination in 2012 and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus was also named as a contender for the office.
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani had also been discussed as a possible pick for secretary of state, but last week, Trump announced that Giuliani had removed his name from consideration for a cabinet position.
He had also considered a one-time vocal critic, Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who leads the Foreign Relations Committee, and Tillerson, the oil industry executive who met twice with Trump during the past week.
“It’s a matter of concern to me that he has such a close personal relationship with Vladimir Putin. And obviously they’ve done enormous deals together. That would colour his approach to Vladimir Putin and the Russian threat,” CBS quoted Senator John McCain as saying of Tillerson in an interview.
