Trump: No transition turmoil, efforts going 'so smoothly'

By JULIE PACE and KEN THOMAS

 

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump and his team on Wednesday vigorously rejected charges of turmoil and infighting roiling efforts to set up his White House, national security and economic teams. A week after his upset victory, Trump said the enormous endeavor was proceeding "so smoothly."

 

Trump dished out his rebuttal on Twitter, spending yet another day ensconced in his New York skyscraper, beyond the public eye. Aides and allies vouched for the transition efforts on his behalf, suggesting some commotion was to be expected.

 

"The beginning of any transition like this has turmoil because it's just the nature of the process," Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said as he left Trump's transition headquarters in Washington. He said the picture of Trump's administration would become clearer over the next two or three weeks.

 

Others close to the transition process described advisers "fighting for power." Trump has long stoked internal rivalries among his staff — both in his businesses and his campaign — and has created ambiguity in his transition about who has authority to make key decisions.

 

Eric Trump, the president-elect's son, raised expectations of imminent progress Wednesday, telling reporters in the morning that appointments were "likely" to come during the day. Then, other Trump aides suggested a slower pace.

 

"We're not going to rush to put names forward until we're absolutely sure," Trump spokesman Jason Miller said hours later. "We're going to make sure that they're people we're confident will pass confirmation and we think can implement the president-elect's vision."

 

Trump's team noted that President Barack Obama waited until a few weeks after the 2008 election to announce many of his Cabinet appointments.

 

And former Michigan Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who has informally advised members of Trump's national security team, blamed Trump's detractors for the reports of drama.

 

"When you're doing a transition that is trying to push the kind of change that Mr. Trump wants to be doing, it's going to be even harder," Hoekstra, a former House Intelligence Committee chairman, said.

 

The incoming Republican administration also got a boost of support from outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, who met with his successor, Mike Pence, continuing the Obama administration's show of public support for the transition.

 

"No administration is ready on Day One," Biden said following the meeting at the Naval Observatory, which serves as the vice presidential residence. He expressed confidence that by Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, "everything will be in good hands."

 

Trump's team was essentially starting from scratch of some of the preliminary transition New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie conducted during the campaign. After winning the election, Trump demoted Christie and put Pence in charge.

 

The result has been a series of new additions to the transition team and several departures, mainly among those aligned with Christie. Kevin O'Connor, a former senior Justice Department official, joined that group.

 

Trump appeared to be weighing an eclectic mix of individuals for top Cabinet posts, including longtime loyalists, former rivals and even a Democrat. A senior transition official said Trump's team met Wednesday with Eva Moskowitz, a former New York councilwoman and charter school founder who is being considered for education secretary.

 

Others who passed through the marble lobby of Trump Tower included Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., a potential pick for Health and Human Services, and Ray Washburne, a Dallas businessman and top GOP fundraiser in the mix for Commerce secretary. New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft also entered the gilded elevators for meetings.

 

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who arrived Wednesday afternoon, has been angling for secretary of state, though his consulting work for foreign governments has emerged as a potential roadblock. Trump is also said to be seriously considering John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, for the top diplomatic job.

 

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who tangled ferociously with Trump during the Republican primary but ultimately endorsed the businessman, could get a top job such as attorney general. An official said, however, he is not viewed as a top contender. The official, like others, wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the transition talks and spoke on condition of anonymity.

 

Trump aides have released few details about the president-elect's schedule or phone calls since the election. They tried to play catch-up Wednesday, releasing a list of 29 world leaders who have spoken with Trump or Pence in recent days. Most of the calls had previously only been confirmed by those leaders' governments.

 

Trump planned to meet Thursday in New York with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his first get-together with a world leader as president-elect. The State Department has said it had yet to hear from Trump's transition team, raising the prospect of the Republican holding the meeting without any input from career diplomats with deep experience dealing with Japan.

___

Pace reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Jon Lemire and Matthew Pennington contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-11-17

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the prospect of the Republican holding the meeting without any input from career diplomats with deep experience dealing with Japan.

It might be best that Abe meet Trump "in the raw" so to get a clear impression of who and what Trump is without the filtering of any career diplomat. 

Ah! NOW I see what everyone's problem with Steve Bannon is. He's out for justice in a place where no one is ever held accountable.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-wall-street-should-be-worried-about-steve-bannon-2016-11

 

Apparently the public's memory is longer than the Clinton campaign had thought.

 

Quote

“My administration,” the president added, “is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.”

 

Edited November 17, 20169 yr by lannarebirth

Of course the Transition situation is going smoothly.

Its only the Leftie Press that is attempting to slime Trump in any way imaginable...

sounds like trumps 3 children are already all on board, and his daughters jewelry company is already promoting products she wore while she is on TV with daddy the president elect ...definitely a smooth move to take any advantage they can while in the spot light

Well this here may be one of your nee-yo-kons but hardly a lefty:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-told-conservatives-to-work-for-trump-one-talk-with-his-team-changed-my-mind/2016/11/15/f02e1fac-ab7c-11e6-977a-1030f822fc35_story.html

It will be the prettiest and most wonderful transition you have ever seen.  People will look back at it as the best transition in the history of the US.  You will wonder why didn't anybody ever think of making a transition so smooth before. 

 

This guy is such a con man.  He doesn't have a clue about government, other than bribing officials to get casinos approved.

Well, without saying anything about Dr. Cohen, at certain point you do need a few people at the Foggy Bottom State Department HQ who can make it from the parking lot to their office without asking for directions.

25 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

It will be the prettiest and most wonderful transition you have ever seen.  People will look back at it as the best transition in the history of the US.  You will wonder why didn't anybody ever think of making a transition so smooth before. 

 

This guy is such a con man.  He doesn't have a clue about government, other than bribing officials to get casinos approved.

 

And playing the system to his advantage (and at the expense of others) every time his business ventures failed.

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

Ah! NOW I see what everyone's problem with Steve Bannon is. He's out for justice in a place where no one is ever held accountable.

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-wall-street-should-be-worried-about-steve-bannon-2016-11

 

Apparently the public's memory is longer than the Clinton campaign had thought.

 

 

So that's why Trump is proposing to weaken Dodd Frank's restrictions on hedge funds and banks?

Whatever you might say about Mr. Bannon, his is not a position that requires Senate confirmation. These, at the State Department, do (from Wikipedia):

Department of State
Secretary
Deputy Secretary
Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources
Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Affairs
Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights
Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Under Secretary for Management
Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Conflict and Stabilization Operations
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs
Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research
Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs
Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation
Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugee, and Migration
Assistant Secretary for Resource Management
Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs
Assistant Secretary for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation
Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism
Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States
U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Chief Financial Officer
United States Global AIDS Coordinator
Director General of the Foreign Service
Director — Office of Foreign Missions
Inspector General of the Department of State
Legal Adviser of the Department of State
Chief of Protocol
Counselor of the Department of State
188[3] Ambassadors
Foreign Service Officers (commissions and promotions)
United States Mission to the United Nations[edit]
U.S. Permanent Representative and Chief of Mission to the United Nations
U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative – United Nations
U.S. Representative – United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture
U.S. Representative – United Nations Economic and Social Council
U.S. Alternate Representative – Special Political Affairs in the United Nations
U.S. Representative – United Nations Management and Reform
U.S. Representative – European Office of the United Nations (Geneva)
U.S. Representative – United Nations Office at Vienna (also serves as a representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency)
U.S. Representative – International Atomic Energy Agency
U.S. Deputy Representative – International Atomic Energy Agency
U.S. Representative to sessions of the General Assembly and other United Nations Bodies — numerous positions (terms of office depends on length of session)
United States Agency for International Development[edit]
Administrator
Assistant Administrator — Asia and Near East
Assistant Administrator — Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance
Assistant Administrator — Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade
Assistant Administrator — Europe and Eurasia
Assistant Administrator — Global Health
Assistant Administrator — Latin America and Caribbean
Assistant Administrator — Legislative and Public Affairs
Assistant Administrator — Policy and Program Coordination
Assistant Administrator — Sub-Saharan Africa
Deputy Administrator
Inspector General
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[edit]
U.S. Executive Director two-year term of office; full-time
U.S. Alternate Executive Director
Governor
Alternate Governor
International Development Association[edit]
U.S. Executive director for the international Development Association
U.S. Alternate director for the international Development Association
Governor for the international Development Association
Alternate Governor for the international Development Association
International Finance Corporation[edit]
U.S. Executive director for the International Finance Corporation
U.S. Alternate Director for the International finance Corporation
Governor for the International Finance corporation
Alternate Governor for the International Finance Corporation
Other independent agencies[edit]
U.S. Executive Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Director of the International Broadcasting Bureau, Broadcasting Board of Governors
3 Commissioners of the International Joint Commission, United States and Canada
U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (two-year term of office)
U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (two-year term of office)
U.S. Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank (three-year term of office)
U.S. Alternate Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank (three-year term of office)
U.S. Alternate Executive Director for the Inter-American Investment Corporation
Director of the United States Trade and Development Agency
U.S. Executive Director of the African Development Bank (five-year term of office; full-time)
Governor and Alternate Governor of the African Development Bank (five-year terms of office; part-time)
U.S. Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank (full-time)
Governor and Alternate Governor of the Asian Development Bank (part-time
Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (full-time)
4 Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (of 9 total; part-time; three-year terms of office)
President/Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (full-time)
Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (full-time)
8 Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (of 15 total; part-time; three-year terms of office)
Director of the Peace Corps (full-time)
Deputy Director of the Peace Corps (full-time)
15 Members of the Peace Corps National Advisory Council (part-time; political balance required; two-year terms of office)
9 Members of the Advisory Board for Cuba Broadcasting (political balance required; three-year terms of office)
7 Directors of the African Development Foundation (political balance required; six-year terms of office)
Governor of the African Development Fund
Alternate Governor of the African Development Fund
8 Members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (of 9 total; political balance required; three-year terms of office)
9 Directors of the Inter-American Foundation (political balance required; six-year terms of office)
7 Commissioners of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (political balance required; three-year terms of office)

6 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

So that's why Trump is proposing to weaken Dodd Frank's restrictions on hedge funds and banks?

 

Actually, a lot of Dodd-Frank is pretty onerous regulation. Better to weaken it some and bring back Glass-Steagal to complement it.

I am somewhat concerned who is being vetted for cabinet positions. John Bolton for Secretary of State?  He is a neo con who has advocated bombing Iran's nuclear facilities and has a very myopic view of foreign affairs. I don't see a lot of negotiation  in Mr Bolton's modus operandi. I would rather have Newt Gingrich at State due to his more extensive government service and his pragmatic view of the World.

 

I am also surprised Trump is vetting  some CEO's from Wall Street. This tells me his plan for the poor and middle class of America is going to be based on Ronald Reagan's trickle down theory- meaning an increase of income at the top trickles down to the lowest common denominator. It will work for awhile but most business is selfish and greedy so I do not see this as a long term solution. The real long term solution was provided by Bernie Sanders who would redistribute wealth on a permanent basis- a concept anathema to the wealthy. 

 

I also see where they are considering making it mandatory that a person from a country viewed as a possible terrorist nation be required to report their whereabouts at various intervals to the  police/immigration officials. Apparently, this was at one time used after the 9/11 attacks and ended in 2011.  I would hope that the US database had the end date of Visas or extensions so people could be tracked for overstay from these countries. The real issue on the Mexican-US Border is how to stop potential terrorist from the Middle East from entering along with those  who are just looking for employment. They come via South and Central America and go overland and are assisted by the 'cartels' to enter the US illegally. The Canadian border is not a great problem as one has to enter Canada by air and the Canadians have good immigration at their airports.There are so many huge issues within the US that have to sorted out- It's no wonder American Presidents age visibly while in office.

 

The only "Turmoil" is from the sore losers on the Left.  They would rather focus on a fine patriotic supporter of Israel who is being considered for high office (Steve Bannon) and ignore a far left radical such as Keith Elison.

To wit:

 

After news broke that President-elect Donald Trump appointed Stephen K. Bannon as his chief White House strategist, the media unleashed a torrent of attacks calling Bannon an extremist, a “white nationalist,” and a “racist” in order to force Trump to rescind his offer to add Bannon to his White House staff.

According to a new study by the Media Research Center, the big three networks have spent almost no time at all revealing the radical Islamic leanings of Minnesota Democrat Kieth Ellison while repeatedly attacking Bannon with rumor, innuendo, and hearsay.

 

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/11/16/networks-slam-stephen-k-bannon-ignore-democrat-keith-ellisons-radicalism/

 

Get over it cupcakes...

Bannon is nowhere near the extreme views of the potential Democratic pick. If the Democrats pick this man, they are headed for another 4 years of lossess.  Bannon was trying to sell readership so sometimes he used some incendiary headlines just as many other publications do. The whole thrust of why Trump was elected was that he has a brash demeanor about him that indicates he gets things done.  Now the key will be if what he geets done helps drive America forward. Time will tell

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course the Transition situation is going smoothly.

Its only the Leftie Press that is attempting to slime Trump in any way imaginable...

 

Hasn't he just wisely got himself surrounded with his family of cabinet making Trumpeteers to deflect criticisms of his previous unimaginable ideas for now? 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, for the top diplomatic job.

Yes this old hack is back. 

When you get Trump torquing the talk over top of everyone else you know there is a problem. With Fox News behind him and access to untold lies on Twitter he is dangerous plain and simple. I watched his witch campaign manager on the Bill Maher show and she used a classic Republican maneuver. Be ignorant went talking to someone else give them no chance to speak or defend their position and keep talking over top of them. Smile at all times. 

Edited November 17, 20169 yr by elgordo38

Rename the capital Trumpton.

6 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Of course the Transition situation is going smoothly.

Its only the Leftie Press that is attempting to slime Trump in any way imaginable...

 

From the OP:

 

Quote

Trump planned to meet Thursday in New York with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his first get-together with a world leader as president-elect. The State Department has said it had yet to hear from Trump's transition team, raising the prospect of the Republican holding the meeting without any input from career diplomats with deep experience dealing with Japan.

 

5 hours ago, zaphod reborn said:

It will be the prettiest and most wonderful transition you have ever seen.  People will look back at it as the best transition in the history of the US.  You will wonder why didn't anybody ever think of making a transition so smooth before. 

 

This guy is such a con man.  He doesn't have a clue about government, other than bribing officials to get casinos approved.

Yep. Exactly.

 

 

I expect that Trump will be splitting the finalists (only he knows the finalists according to him) into two teams and giving them a series of challenges including wall building and assembling an AK47 whilst being blindfolded and whistling Dixie.  Seems a good way to make the selections and he will have the broadcasting rights as well.

7 hours ago, zaphod reborn said:

It will be the prettiest and most wonderful transition you have ever seen.  People will look back at it as the best transition in the history of the US.  You will wonder why didn't anybody ever think of making a transition so smooth before. 

 

This guy is such a con man.  He doesn't have a clue about government, other than bribing officials to get casinos approved.

Do you have a link that supports that? 

35 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Do you have a link that supports that? 

In return for the right to use his name, SimDag agreed to pay Trump $2 million plus a percentage of condo sales. The document also contained a clause that would later spark outrage:

"Licensor and Licensee covenant and agree that … they will not under any circumstances disclose or permit to be disclosed the existence of this agreement.''    ...

That was the first time most people — including the now-frantic buyers — realized Trump was part of the tower in name only.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/realestate/buyers-still-feel-burned-by-donald-trump-after-tampa-condo-tower-failure/2239499

Edited November 17, 20169 yr by JLCrab

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Do you have a link that supports that? 

 

You don't need a link. Just common sense.

So who is this guy Bannon?

 

 

Quote

 

The focus on Bannon, if not necessarily the description, is right. He’s the man with the idea. If Trumpism is to represent something intellectually and historically coherent, it’s Bannon’s job to make it so. In this, he could not be a less reassuring or more confusing figure for liberals — fiercely intelligent and yet reflexively drawn to the inverse of every liberal assumption and shibboleth.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/steve-bannon-trump-tower-interview-trumps-strategist-plots-new-political-movement-948747?utm_source=twitter

 

 

15 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

So who is this guy Bannon?

 

 

 

 

 

I'd say "economic nationalist" is probably about right.  And I don't think he has many friends on Capitol Hill in those Congressional offices either

3 minutes ago, NovaBlue05 said:

 

 

I'd say "economic nationalist" is probably about right.  And I don't think he has many friends on Capitol Hill in those Congressional offices either

 

Well if he can build a coalition between receptive Dems and Reps, so much the better. Not easy to do. Dems making a big mistake if they don't get there first. 

6 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Well if he can build a coalition between receptive Dems and Reps, so much the better. Not easy to do. Dems making a big mistake if they don't get there first. 

 

There are plenty of moderate Dems and Reps who would work in a more bipartisan way but no chance with the current leadership in place. Fortunately, the most toxic member, Harry Reid... is gone in January which can only help.

 

 

Not only is the transition going smoothly, Trump's interactions with foreign leaders is going swimmingly as well!

To wit:

 

President-Elect Trump Meets With Japanese Leader – Doesn’t Bow

President-Elect Trump met with Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe, on Thursday.

Prime Minister Abe told the media, “I have great confidence in Trump.”

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/11/change-president-elect-trump-meets-japanese-leader-doesnt-bow/