Trump picks attorney general and UN envoy in fresh staff shake-up

By Steve Holland and Phil Stewart

 

FILE PHOTO: Spokesperson Heather Nauert (L) listens while US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks with reporters in his plane while flying from Panama to Mexico October 18, 2018. Brendan Smialowski/Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In another senior staff shake-up inside his often turbulent administration, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he has picked the two people he wants to be the next U.S. attorney general and the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

 

He said he will nominate William Barr, who was attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush in the 1990s, to fill that top job again at the U.S. Justice Department.

 

Barr would replace Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who has been in that position since Trump forced out Jeff Sessions as attorney general a month ago.

 

Trump said he will put forward State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as ambassador to the United Nations. Nauert, a former Fox News Channel host, would replace Nikki Haley, who said in October she would resign at the end of this year.

 

Both are likely to face tough questions at their Senate confirmation hearings. Democrats called Nauert unqualified and said they were concerned about Barr's independence.

 

Republicans said they were pleased with both nominees.

 

Trump also said he would make a personnel announcement concerning the Pentagon on Saturday, telling reporters outside the White House, "It will have to do with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the succession."

 

Trump was expected to name the Army's top general, Mark Milley, as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the country's top military position, U.S. officials told Reuters.

 

Separately, two sources told Reuters that John Kelly is expected to resign in coming days as White House chief of staff after months of speculation.

 

The proposed changes come as the Republican president faces another difficult stretch.

 

Democrats are promising aggressive oversight of Trump's administration and business activities when they take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January following their gains in last month's elections.

 

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is continuing to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, any collusion between Moscow and Trump's campaign and possible obstruction of justice. More details of the inquiry were set to emerge in court filings on Friday.

 

Barr, who was attorney general under Bush from 1991 to 1993 and has worked in the private sector since then, would oversee Mueller's probe if the Senate confirms him in the job again.

 

He is likely to face pressure at his confirmation hearings to show he would protect Mueller from political interference. Critics of Trump have long been concerned that the president wants to end the Mueller probe.

 

Republicans, who control the Senate, said Barr was well qualified. Senator Chuck Grassley called him a "talented, well-respected lawyer."

 

"There is no one more capable or qualified for this role," Trump said at a law-enforcement conference in Kansas City.

 

Trump, who has repeatedly denounced the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt," denies any collusion with Russia or any obstruction of justice. Russia denies U.S. intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the 2016 election campaign to try to tilt the vote in Trump's favor.

 

'STEEP HILL TO CLIMB'

 

Barr also may face scrutiny about past comments questioning the political affiliations of Mueller's team and supporting Trump's decision last year to fire FBI Director James Comey.

 

"Given President Trump’s demonstrated lack of regard for the rule of law and the independence of the American justice system, his nominee for attorney general will have a steep hill to climb in order to be confirmed by the Senate," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

 

Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney who is currently acting head of the Justice Department, has drawn criticism for past business ventures and critical comments about the Mueller investigation before he joined the department.

 

Trump mocked and belittled Sessions for more than a year, angry at Sessions' decision to recuse himself from overseeing the Russia probe because he had worked for Trump's election campaign.

 

If she is confirmed to the U.N. ambassador post, Nauert would bring little diplomatic experience to a highly visible international role.

 

House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, praised Nauert as "one of the United States' strongest voices on the global stage."

 

Democrats were less enthusiastic.

 

"She's clearly not qualified for this job, but these days it seems that the most important qualification is that you show up on Donald Trump's TV screen," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on CNN.

 

Other nations with veto power on the U.N. Security Council are all represented by ambassadors with decades of foreign policy experience.

 

Nauert would succeed Haley, a former South Carolina governor who also had little experience in world affairs before she took the job. Haley insisted that she be made a member of Trump's Cabinet and his National Security Council to bolster her power within the administration.

 

In other staff changes, White House political director Bill Stepien and public liaison director Justin Clark are leaving their jobs to help Trump's 2020 re-election campaign, the campaign said.

 

Trump's White House has had the highest turnover of senior-level staff of the past five presidents, according to figures compiled by the Brookings Institution think tank.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-08

"...She's clearly not qualified for this job, but these days it seems that the most important qualification is that you show up on Donald Trump's TV screen," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on CNN.

 

Other nations with veto power on the U.N. Security Council are all represented by ambassadors with decades of foreign policy experience..."

 

It used to be that the US selected their "Best and Brightest" to represent them around the globe. Now, it seems the main requirement for government service is that one has passed a screen test to appear on FOX "News".

 

It is a terribly sad thing to watch a once great power shoot itself in the crotch.

 

I have said it before and (sadly) need to say it again;

 

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

God help us all.

 

 

37 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

...She's clearly not qualified for this job,

You have to be joking..????

1 hour ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Donald Trump is an ever-expanding cloud of toxic waste that defiles everything it touches.

 

With the newly proven "synergism" between the pussy-grabber-in-chief and Russia, the toxic waste may be getting a real time cleanup. Maybe not in time for Christmas, but soon after.

Edited December 8, 20187 yr by quandow

As can be seen, this party representing the US is running out of qualified candidates to represent anything much at all.

Is it any wonder that smaller nations now see China as a more stable country and economy to look after their interests. 

As for being qualified to be the rep at the UN - well anyone with a mouth could do it, all you need to do is act like you care, try not to fall asleep and then jibber on when it is your turn to talk.

UN is just a costly political forum that achieves nothing.

And I have seen educational and aid programmes they sponser and I have seen the graft and corruption that follows.

UN is a joke, a placebo for the sheep.  

As for Trump's nominee for Attorney General, it's no wonder that Trump likes him. Barr recommended to George H.W. Bush that he pardon 6 people for their involvement in the Iran Contra scandal.

He's also an extremist when it comes to Presidential power.

He even called for an investigation of Hillary Clinton over the Uranium One deal!

What do you expect Fox News for the un and a loyal tody for attorney general no wonder the world is laughing at us.lots of stuff coming from muller rite now of course Donald is trying to get in front of it with a lie claiming it clears him compleaty lol unbelievable 

Edited December 8, 20187 yr by Tug

What do you expect from a circus? Nothing but the best performers!

1 hour ago, mike324 said:

What do you expect from a circus? Nothing but the best performers!

Clowns...

9 minutes ago, Basil B said:

Clowns...

High above the hushed crowd Rex tried to remain poised..but still there was the nagging thought..he was an old dog and this was a new trick.."

 

Gary Larsen.

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He said he will nominate William Barr, who was attorney general under former President George H.W. Bush in the 1990s, to fill that top job again at the U.S. Justice Department.

Well if George had him as his AG! He must be well qualified! Excellent move! I He appears to be loyal to the POTUS!

 "Known for his expansive vision of executive power, Mr. Barr has criticized Mr. Mueller for hiring too many prosecutors who donated to Democrats and has cast doubt on whether Trump campaign associates conspired with Russians. Mr. Barr has also defended Mr. Trump’s calls for a new criminal investigation into his defeated 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, including over a uranium mining deal the Obama administration approved when she was secretary of state".

Mr. Barr is likely to be swiftly confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate".

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/us/politics/william-barr-attorney-general.html

Edited December 8, 20187 yr by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

An off topic baiting post has been removed. 

Remarkable turnaround of senior staff considering Trump boasts of only employing the very best.

12 hours ago, riclag said:

Well if George had him as his AG! He must be well qualified! Excellent move! I He appears to be loyal to the POTUS!

 "Known for his expansive vision of executive power, Mr. Barr has criticized Mr. Mueller for hiring too many prosecutors who donated to Democrats and has cast doubt on whether Trump campaign associates conspired with Russians. Mr. Barr has also defended Mr. Trump’s calls for a new criminal investigation into his defeated 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, including over a uranium mining deal the Obama administration approved when she was secretary of state".

Mr. Barr is likely to be swiftly confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate".

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/07/us/politics/william-barr-attorney-general.html

I sincerely hope that when he is sacked and insulted by Trump ( like so many before him ) , you will not change your opinion that Barr is an excellent choice.

"He is likely to face pressure at his confirmation hearings to show he would protect Mueller from political interference. Critics of Trump have long been concerned that the president wants to end the Mueller probe."

 

Any wonder why Mueller is rolling out his findings in rapid succession now?

The best is yet to come and I expect will be coming soon. Mueller is much more calculating and professional than the few Trumpists on TVF give him credit for.

"No collusion". 555 (in Thai), ROTFL (in plain, simple English).

On 12/8/2018 at 7:09 AM, khwaibah said:

You have to be joking..????

How old is this photo, she is tight, tight, tight. WOW

17 hours ago, joecoolfrog said:

Remarkable turnaround of senior staff considering Trump boasts of only employing the very best.

He is only trying to make sure that all of the vast untapped pool of talent available to the crusade to Make America Great Again is able to experience what getting tired of winning feels like...

On 12/8/2018 at 3:26 PM, riclag said:

Well if George had him as his AG! He must be well qualified! Excellent move! I He appears to be loyal to the POTUS!

 

That's what's desirable in an attorney general. Loyalty to the President. Not to the justice system. Fie on you, James Comey!

Reported flame/troll post has been removed.

On 12/8/2018 at 6:19 AM, rooster59 said:

John Kelly is expected to resign in coming days 

 

DonaId J. Trump (@realDenaldTrump)

12/9/18, 1:42 AM

Gen. John Kelly will be leaving my Administration (which is like a fine machine that is working very SMOOTHLY with fewer and fewer parts) very soon. Thank you for your service, John K! (unless you criticize me in public, in which case you were terrible at your job & a disgrace!)