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Donald Trump

R

Twitter Followers: 88.8M

Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • BS, Economics/Real Estate, Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, 1968
  • Attended, Fordham University, 1964-1966

Professional Experience

  • BS, Economics/Real Estate, Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, 1968
  • Attended, Fordham University, 1964-1966
  • Former Owner, Miss Universe Organization
  • Former Owner, New Jersey Generals
  • Former Host, "The Celebrity Apprentice"
  • Former Host, "Trumped!"
  • Chair, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Incorporated
  • Former Owner, Trump Shuttle
  • Co-Founder, Trump University
  • Founder/Chair/President/Chief Executive Officer, The Trump Organization, 1975-2017
  • Producer, "The Apprentice", 2004-2015

Political Experience

  • BS, Economics/Real Estate, Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, 1968
  • Attended, Fordham University, 1964-1966
  • Former Owner, Miss Universe Organization
  • Former Owner, New Jersey Generals
  • Former Host, "The Celebrity Apprentice"
  • Former Host, "Trumped!"
  • Chair, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Incorporated
  • Former Owner, Trump Shuttle
  • Co-Founder, Trump University
  • Founder/Chair/President/Chief Executive Officer, The Trump Organization, 1975-2017
  • Producer, "The Apprentice", 2004-2015
  • President, United States of America, 2017-present
  • Candidate, President of the United States of America, 2020

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • BS, Economics/Real Estate, Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, 1968
  • Attended, Fordham University, 1964-1966
  • Former Owner, Miss Universe Organization
  • Former Owner, New Jersey Generals
  • Former Host, "The Celebrity Apprentice"
  • Former Host, "Trumped!"
  • Chair, Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, Incorporated
  • Former Owner, Trump Shuttle
  • Co-Founder, Trump University
  • Founder/Chair/President/Chief Executive Officer, The Trump Organization, 1975-2017
  • Producer, "The Apprentice", 2004-2015
  • President, United States of America, 2017-present
  • Candidate, President of the United States of America, 2020
  • Member, Benefactors Board of Directors, Historical Society of Palm Beach County
  • Member, Board of Directors, Police Athletic League
  • Former Committee Member, Celebration of Nations
  • Founding Member, Committee to Complete Construction of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
  • Former Chair, Donald J. Trump Foundation
  • Advisory Board Member, Lenox Hill Hospital
  • Co-Chair, New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
  • Member, Presidents Council of New York University
  • Founding Member, The Wharton School Real Estate Center
  • Advisory Board Member, United Cerebral Palsy
  • Grand Marshal, The Nation's Parade, 1995

Other Info

— Awards:

  • Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2007
  • Entrepreneur of the Year, The Wharton School
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, American Cancer Society, 2012
  • Commandant's Leadership Award, Marine Corps--Law Enforcement Foundation, 2015
  • Hotel and Real Estate Visionary of the Century, UJA Federation, 2000
  • Green Space Award, Friends of Westchester County Parks, 2007
  • T. Boone Pickens Award, The American Spectator, Robert L. Bartley Gala

  • 10

— Publications:

  • "Trump: The Art of the Deal" - 1987
  • "Surviving at the Top" - 1990
  • "Trump: The Art of the Comeback" - 1997
  • "Trump: Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life" - 2004
  • "Trump: How to Get Rich" - 2004
  • "Trump: The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received" - 2004
  • "Trump: The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received" - 2005
  • "Why We Want You To Be Rich: Two Men, One Message" - 2006
  • "Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies" - 2006
  • "Trump 101: The Way to Success" - 2006
  • "Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success" - 2008
  • "Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life" -2008
  • "Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education In Business and Life" - 2009
  • "Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich and Why Most Don't" - 2011
  • "Time to Get Tough: Make America Great Again!" - 2011
  • "Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America" -2015

Trump in the news

July 9, 2019: Trump invited Republican lawmakers, political strategists, and conservative social media personalities to the White House to discuss the “opportunities and challenges of today’s online environment.”

July 8, 2019: Trump delivered a speech on his administration’s environmental policies at the White House.

July 3, 2019: The Washington Times reported that the Trump campaign was expected to focus on Joe Biden's (D) record in the Senate, rather than his tenure as vice president, if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

July 2, 2019: The Trump campaign announced that it and joint fundraising committees raised $54 million in the second quarter of 2019.

July 1, 2019: Politico reported that White House director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp was moving to Trump's campaign to work on strategy and Latino outreach.

Policy Positions

2021

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-life

Budget

1. In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

2. Do you support expanding federal funding to support entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare?
- No

Campaign Finance

1. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Unknown Position

Crime

Do you support the protection of government officials, including law enforcement officers, from personal liability in civil lawsuits concerning alleged misconduct?
- Yes

Defense

Do you support increasing defense spending?
- Yes

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19?
- Yes

Education

Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

Energy and Environment

1. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)?
- No

2. Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

Guns

Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

Health Care

1. Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19?
- Yes

Immigration

1. Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
- Yes

2. Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
- Yes

National Security

1. Should the United States use military force to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a weapon of mass destruction (for example: nuclear, biological, chemical)?
- Unknown Position

2. Do you support reducing military intervention in Middle East conflicts?
- Yes

Trade

Do you generally support removing barriers to international trade (for example: tariffs, quotas, etc.)?
- No

2020

Abortion

1. What is your stance on abortion?
- Pro-life, but allow in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother or child

Gun Control

Should there be more restrictions on the current process of purchasing a gun?
- No

Gay Marriage

Do you support the legalization of same sex marriage?
- Yes

LGBT Adoption Rights

Should gay couples have the same adoption rights as straight couples?
- No

Equal Pay

Should employers be required to pay men and women the same salary for the same job?
- No, there are too many other variables such as education, experience, and tenure that determine a fair salary

Stay At Home Order

Should the government enforce a "stay-at-home" order to combat the coronavirus?
- Yes

Climate Change

Should the government increase environmental regulations to prevent climate change?
- No, and global warming is a natural occurrence

Planned Parenthood Funding

Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
- No, and the government should not give funds to any organizations that perform abortions

Trump Impeachment

Do you support the impeachment of President Donald Trump?
- No, this is a partisan show trial

Mandatory Vaccinations

Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?
- No, fund public ad campaigns about the risks and benefits instead

Marital Rape

Should marital rape be classified and punished as severely as non-marital rape?
- Yes

Pre-Existing Conditions

Should health insurers be allowed to deny coverage to individuals who have a pre-existing condition?
- Yes

Police Body Cameras

Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?
- No, it should be a police department’s or officer’s choice to wear one

Gun Buyback

Should the federal government institute a mandatory buyback of assault weapons?
- No

Religious Freedom Act

Should a business be able to deny service to a customer if the request conflicts with the owner’s religious beliefs?
- Yes

Drug Price Regulation

Should the government regulate the prices of life-saving drugs?
- Yes

Gender Identity

Should "gender identity" be added to anti-discrimination laws?
- No

Armed Teachers

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
- Yes

Government Mandates

Should health insurance providers be required to offer free birth control?
- No

Immigrant Children

Should adults that are illegally attempting to cross the U.S. border be separated from their children?
- Yes

Taxes

Should the U.S. raise taxes on the rich?
- No

Mental Health

Should the government increase funding for mental health research and treatment?
- Yes, but only increase funding for personalized care instead of subsidizing pharmaceutical companies

Stay-At-Home Order

When should your state end the "Stay at Home" order and reopen its economy?
- May 1st

Border Wall

Should the U.S. build a wall along the southern border?
- Yes, and Mexico should pay for it

Immigration Ban

Should there be a temporary ban on all immigration into the United States?
- No, but we should spend more to increase our border security

Student Loans

Do you support increasing taxes for the rich in order to reduce interest rates for student loans?
- No

Minimum Wage

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?
- No

Muslim Immigrants

Should Muslim immigrants be banned from entering the country until the government improves its ability to screen out potential terrorists?
- Yes

Muslim Surveillance

Should local police increase surveillance and patrol of Muslim neighborhoods?
- Yes, until the frequency of terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists decrease

Free College for All

Should the federal government pay for tuition at four-year colleges and universities?
- No

Gerrymandering

Should the redrawing of Congressional districts be controlled by an independent, non-partisan commission?
- No

Women in Combat

Should the military allow women to serve in combat roles?
- Yes, as long as they can pass the same physical tests as men

Paid Sick Leave

Should businesses be required to provide paid leave for full-time employees during the birth of a child or sick family member?
- Yes

Iran

Should the U.S. go to war with Iran?
- No

Immigration Healthcare

Should illegal immigrants have access to government-subsidized healthcare?
- No

No-Fly List Gun Control

Should people on the "no-fly list" be banned from purchasing guns and ammunition?
- Yes

Immigration

1. Should children of illegal immigrants be granted legal citizenship?
- No, they must formally apply like every other new citizen

Mandatory Military Service

Should every 18 year old citizen be required to provide at least one year of military service?
- No, service should be a choice instead of an obligation

Deporting Criminal Immigrants

Should immigrants be deported if they commit a serious crime?
- Yes

United Nations

Should the U.S. remain in the United Nations?
- Yes, but scale back our current involvement

Drug Policy

Are you in favor of decriminalizing drug use?
- No

Foreign Lobbying

Should foreign lobbyists be allowed to raise money for American elections?
- No

Medicaid

Should the federal government increase funding of health care for low income individuals (Medicaid)?
- No, and each state should decide their own level of coverage

Obamacare

Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
- No, open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and reduce costs

Term Limits

Should there be term limits set for members of Congress?
- Yes

Marijuana

Do you support the legalization of Marijuana?
- Yes, but only for medical use

Electoral College

Should the electoral college be abolished?
- No

Corporate Tax

Should the U.S. raise or lower the tax rate for corporations?
- Lower

Illegal Immigrant Detainment

Should local law enforcement be allowed to detain illegal immigrants for minor crimes and transfer them to federal immigration authorities?
- Yes, all illegal immigrants should be turned over to federal authorities and deported

Death Penalty

Do you support the death penalty?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Should there be a limit to the amount of money a candidate can receive from a donor?
- No

Fracking

Do you support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources?
- Yes

Foreign Elections

Should the government attempt to influence foreign elections?
- Yes

NSA Domestic Surveillance

Should the NSA (National Security Agency) be allowed to collect basic metadata of citizen’s phone calls such as numbers, timestamps, and call durations?
- Yes, basic data collection is necessary to track suspected terrorists

Single-Payer Healthcare

Do you support a single-payer healthcare system?
- No, the government should not be involved in healthcare

Immigrant Assimilation

Should immigrants be required to learn English?
- Yes

Israel Boycott

Should it be illegal to join a boycott of Israel?
- Yes

Immigrant Laborers

Should working illegal immigrants be given temporary amnesty?
- No, but allow them to stay

Sanctuary Cities

Should sanctuary cities receive federal funding?
- No

Transgender Athletes

Should transgender athletes be allowed to compete in athletic events?
- No, athletes should compete based on the biological sex that is listed on their birth certificate

NATO

1. Should the U.S. remain in NATO?
- No, not until other countries increase their financial contributions

Gun Liability

Should victims of gun violence be allowed to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers?
- No

Alternative Energy

Should the government give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?
- No, and the government should never support unproven technologies

Military Congressional Approval

Should the President be able to authorize military force against Al-Qaeda without Congressional approval?
- Yes

Confederate Flag

Should states be allowed to display the Confederate flag on government property?
- No, it should be put in a museum where it was originally flown

Right of Foreigners to Vote

Should foreigners, currently residing in the United States, have the right to vote?
- No

Soleimani

Do you support the killing of Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani?
- Yes

Torture

Should the military be allowed to use enhanced interrogation techniques, such as waterboarding, to gain information from suspected terrorists?
- Yes, we must use any means necessary to prevent terrorism

In-State Tuition

Should illegal immigrants be offered in-state tuition rates at public colleges within their residing state?
- No, they should pay the same rate as out-of-state students

Social Media Regulation

Should the government regulate social media sites, as a means to prevent fake news and misinformation?
- No, the government should not determine what is fake or real news

Border Security

Should the U.S. increase restrictions on its current border security policy?
- Yes

Voter Fraud

Should a photo ID be required to vote?
- Yes

Gender Workplace Diversity

Should businesses be required to have women on their board of directors?
- No, board members should be the most qualified regardless of gender

Private Prisons

Should the government hire private companies to run prisons?
- Yes

Corporate Mega Mergers

Should the government prevent "mega mergers" of corporations that could potentially control a large percentage of market share within its industry?
- No

Net Neutrality

Should internet service providers be allowed to speed up access to popular websites (that pay higher rates) at the expense of slowing down access to less popular websites (that pay lower rates)?
- Yes

Plastic Product Ban

Should disposable products (such as plastic cups, plates, and cutlery) that contain less than 50% of biodegradable material be banned?
- No

Welfare Drug Testing

Should welfare recipients be tested for drugs?
- Yes

Oil Drilling

Should the U.S. expand offshore oil drilling?
- Yes

Israel

Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?
- Yes

Citizenship Test

Should immigrants be required to pass a citizenship test to demonstrate a basic understanding of our country’s language, history, and government?
- Yes

Euthanasia

Should terminally ill patients be allowed to end their lives via assisted suicide?
- Yes, but only after a psychological examination to show they fully understand this choice

Candidate Transparency

Should political candidates be required to release their recent tax returns to the public?
- No

Paris Climate Agreement

Should the U.S. withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement?
- Yes

Government Spending

Should the government make cuts to public spending in order to reduce the national debt?
- Yes

Campaign Finance

1. Should corporations, unions, and non-profit organizations be allowed to donate to political parties?
- Yes

Skilled Immigrants

Should the US increase or decrease the amount of temporary work visas given to high-skilled immigrant workers?
- Increase

Patriot Act

Do you support the Patriot Act?
- Yes, but limit the scope of the government’s powers

Medicaid Work Requirement

Should people be required to work in order to receive Medicaid?
- Yes

Universal Basic Income

Do you support a universal basic income program?
- No, this will encourage people not to work and harm economic growth

Medicare Drug Prices

Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare?
- Yes

Safe Spaces

Should universities provide "trigger warnings" and "safe spaces" for students?
- No, college is meant to challenge students thoughts and opinions so they are prepared for real life

Flag Burning

Should it be illegal to burn the American flag?
- Yes

Lobbyists

Should there be a 5-year ban on White House and Congressional officials from becoming lobbyists after they leave the government?
- Yes

North Korea Military Strikes

Should the U.S. conduct military strikes against North Korea in order to destroy their long-range missile and nuclear weapons capabilities?
- No, we must use every diplomatic option first

Minimum Voting Age

Should the minimum voting age be lowered?
- No, and voters should be required to pass a basic test demonstrating their understanding of politics in order to vote

Welfare

Should there be fewer or more restrictions on current welfare benefits?
- More

Labor Unions

Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy?
- Hurt

Whistleblower Protection

Should the government pass laws which protect whistleblowers?
- Yes

Yemen

Should the U.S. provide military aid to Saudi Arabia during its conflict with Yemen?
- Yes, this will prevent Iran from gaining too much power in the Middle East

Niqab

Should women be allowed to wear a Niqab, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?
- Yes

Military Spending

Should the government increase or decrease military spending?
- Increase

Supreme Court Reform

Should the Supreme Court be reformed to include more seats and term limits on judges?
- No, reforming the Supreme Court is unconstitutional and would upset the balance of power

Solitary Confinement for Juveniles

Should prisons ban the use of solitary confinement for juveniles?
- No

Free Tax Filing

Should the IRS create a free electronic tax filing system?
- Yes

Syrian Refugees

Should the U.S. accept refugees from Syria?
- No

Affirmative Action

Do you support affirmative action programs?
- No

Common Core

Do you support Common Core national standards?
- No, education should be handled at the state and local level instead of the national level

Foreign Assassination

Should the US assassinate suspected terrorists in foreign countries?
- Yes

First Amendment

Should the government support a separation of church and state by removing references to God on money, federal buildings, and national monuments?
- No

Capital Gains Tax

Should the government increase the tax rate on profits earned from the sale of stocks, bonds, and real estate?
- No

Animal Testing

Should researchers be allowed to use animals in testing the safety of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and cosmetics?
- Yes

Safe Haven

Should cities open drug "safe havens" where people who are addicted to illegal drugs can use them under the supervision of medical professionals?
- No

Dakota Access Pipeline

Should the government stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline?
- No

Foreign Aid

Should the US increase or decrease foreign aid spending?
- Decrease

ISIS Ground Troops

Should the U.S. send ground troops into Syria to fight ISIS?
- No, we should stay out of this conflict

Overtime Pay

Should the government require businesses to pay salaried employees, making up to $46k/year, time-and-a-half for overtime hours?
- No, and the government is currently over-regulating private businesses

Eminent Domain

Should the government be allowed to seize private property, with reasonable compensation, for public or civic use?
- Yes

Terrorism

Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?
- No, they are not U.S. citizens and do not have constitutional rights

Drones

Should the military fly drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?
- Yes, the U.S. needs to use all means necessary to combat terrorism

Economic Stimulus

Should the government use economic stimulus to aid the country during times of recession?
- Yes

VA Privatization

Should there be more or less privatization of veterans’ healthcare?
- More

Social Security

Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security?
- No

GMO Labels

Should producers be required to label genetically engineered foods (GMOs)?
- No

Universal Pre-K

Should the federal government fund Universal preschool?
- No

Criminal Voting Rights

Should convicted criminals have the right to vote?
- No

Afghanistan

Should the United States pull all military troops out of Afghanistan?
- No

Dual Citizenship

Should immigrants to the United States be allowed to hold dual citizenship status?
- No

Criminal Politicians

Should a politician, who has been formerly convicted of a crime, be allowed to run for office?
- No

Mandatory minimum prison sentences

Do you support mandatory minimum prison sentences for people charged with drug possession?
- No

NAFTA

Should the U.S. continue to participate in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- No

Estate Tax

Should the current estate tax rate be decreased?
- Yes, and we should eliminate it

Nuclear Energy

Do you support the use of nuclear energy?
- Yes, as long as there is no public subsidy

Drug Trafficking Penalties

Should drug traffickers receive the death penalty?
- Yes

Space Exploration

Should the government fund space travel?
- Yes

War on ISIS

Should the U.S. formally declare war on ISIS?
- Yes, and send in ground troops

Cuba

Do you support President Obama’s move to lift the trade and travel embargo on Cuba?
- No

Tariffs

Should the government add or increase tariffs on products imported into the country?
- Yes

China Tariffs

Should the U.S. increase tariffs on imported products from China?
- Yes

Ukraine

Should the U.S. provide military assistance to defend Ukraine from Russia?
- Yes, we should provide them weapons to defend themselves but not send our troops

Domestic Jobs

Should the President offer tax breaks to individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S.?
- Yes

Tech Monopolies

Should the government break up Amazon, Facebook and Google?
- No

NATO

1. Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
- Yes

Federal Reserve

Should the Federal Reserve Bank be audited by Congress?
- Yes

Farm Subsidies

Should the government subsidize farmers?
- Yes

Political Advertising on Social Media

Should social media companies ban political advertising?
- No

Property Taxes

Would you favor an increased sales tax in order to reduce property taxes?
- Yes

NSA Surveillance

Should the U.S. continue NSA surveillance of its allies?
- Yes, surveillance of all foreign countries is essential to tracking potential terrorist threats

Offshore Banking

Should U.S. citizens be allowed to save or invest their money in offshore bank accounts?
- No, too many wealthy citizens are abusing loopholes in offshore banking laws to evade taxes

Pension Reform

Should pension plans for federal, state, and local government workers be transitioned into privately managed accounts?
- Yes

Edward Snowden

Should the U.S. government grant immunity to Edward Snowden?
- No, he should be returned to the U.S. to stand trial and face the consequences of his actions

Charter Schools

Do you support charter schools?
- Yes

Russian Airstrikes in Syria

Should the U.S. prevent Russia from conducting airstrikes in Syria?
- No

Prison Overcrowding

Should non-violent prisoners be released from jail in order to reduce overcrowding?
- Yes

Trans-Pacific Partnership

Do you support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?
- No, this will incentivize companies to move jobs out of the country

India Arms

Should the U.S. sell military weapons to India in order to counter Chinese and Russian influence?
- Yes, selling military weapons to foreign countries will help boost the economy

Government Pensions

Should pension payments be increased for retired government workers?
- No, not until we decrease our national debt

Public Transportation

Should the government increase spending on public transportation?
- Yes

Jerusalem

Should Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel?
- Yes

Online Sales Tax

Should an in-state sales tax apply to online purchases of in-state buyers from out-of-state sellers?
- No

School Truancy

Should the government decriminalize school truancy?
- No

Hong Kong Fugitive Extradition

Should the Chinese government be able to extradite fugitives from Hong Kong?
- No

Corporate Subsidies

Should cities be allowed to offer private companies economic incentives to relocate?
- Yes, but I would prefer lowering corporate taxes to benefit all local companies

F-35

Should the government cancel production of the F-35 fighter?
- No

Bitcoin

Should the government classify Bitcoin as a legal currency?
- No, it provides too high of risk for criminal activity

State Ownership

Should the government acquire equity stakes in companies it bails out during a recession?
- No, the government should never own shares of private companies

Greenland

Should the United States acquire Greenland?
- Yes

Air Force One

Should the military upgrade Air Force One?
- Yes

Sports Betting

Should sports betting be legal?
- Yes, but let each state decide

Endorsements
George Kirn endorsed
Greatest man for America ever! President Trump has my vote
Speeches
Articles

Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration

Nov. 20, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump, ahead of his return to power in January, is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration, including names like Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard and Matt Gaetz.Trump began to roll out his nominees and appointees just days after his election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Among them are some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.Trump will have a Republican-controlled Senate and possibly a Republican-controlled House to help usher his picks through. But he's also urging the incoming Senate leader to embrace recess appointments, which has led to speculation some of his choices may be more controversial.Here is a running list of whom Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration:Secretary of state: Marco RubioTrump announced Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his pick to be secretary of state.Rubio is the vice-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Foreign Intelligence and sits on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He holds hard-line views on China, Iran and Russia, although like other Republicans he has shifted on support for Ukraine's war effort to be more aligned with Trump.Rubio will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Read more about Rubio's experience here.Department of Homeland Security secretary: Kristi NoemTrump announced he has chosen South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be his secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.As Trump's Homeland Security secretary, among Noem's biggest roles is expected to be to oversee Trump's border policies, including the major campaign promise of "mass deportations," alongside Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan and White House deputy chief of staff on policy Stephen Miller.The role would require Senate approval. Read more about Noem here.Secretary of defense: Pete HegsethTrump has selected Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense.He listed Hegseth's experience as a veteran and his media experience as his reasons for the choice. Hegseth served in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and previously served as the director of an advocacy group that has called for more privatization of the Veterans Administration.Hegseth will need to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the role. Read more about Hegseth here.Health and Human Services secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Trump said he has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.HHS oversees major health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, among others.The job requires Senate confirmation. Read more about Kennedy here.'Department of Government Efficiency': Elon Musk and Vivek RamaswamyTrump announced the two men will lead what he's calling a new "Department of Government Efficiency."It will not be a new federal agency, but will provide "outside of government" counsel on reforming departments and cutting waste, Trump said.Read more about Trump's plan here. The president-elect did not detail how this new department would be funded.Attorney general: Matt GaetzTrump has nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general.The Florida Republican is a firebrand and one of Trump's most loyal allies who will now be the head of the Justice Department. Gaetz was the subject of a yearslong Justice Department probe that ended without charges, though he is still under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for the same allegations.Gaetz will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Read more about him here.Education secretary: Linda McMahonPresident-elect Donald Trump announced he is nominating Linda McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive and the former Small Business Services secretary, to lead the Department of Education.McMahon, who served as Trump's Small Business Services administrator for two years, has no teaching or experience but served one year on the Connecticut State Board of Education.Trump has proposed that the Department of Education be eliminated and to "send all education work and needs back to the states," according to his Agenda47 policy platform.McMahon's appointment must be approved by the Senate. Read more about McMahon here.Chairman of the FCC: Brendan CarrPresident-elect Donald Trump announced Brendan Carr as his pick for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Nov. 17.Carr previously served as general counsel for the FCC and as the senior Republican for the FCC.Trump first nominated Carr to the FCC in 2017. The president-elect said in his official announcement this week that although Carr's current term runs through 2029, the president-elect is now designating him as the "permanent chairman."A president chooses a chair from among Senate-confirmed commissioners of the FCC, such that the choice does not require further confirmation from the Senate.Deputy attorney general: Todd BlancheTrump nominated his own personal top defense attorney for the second highest position in the Department of Justice on Thursday.After much speculation, Trump nominated his lawyer who represented Trump in the hush money case and in both of Jack Smith's federal probes.Blanche will need to be confirmed by the Senate.Associate deputy attorney general: Emil BoveTrump announced he nominated Emil Bove for principal associate deputy attorney general.Bove will need to be confirmed by the Senate.Secretary of veterans affairs: Doug CollinsTrump announced he nominated former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs.Collins is a veteran who currently serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, Trump said in a statement."We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said.Collins' position requires Senate confirmation.Energy secretary: Chris WrightTrump announced Chris Wright is his nominee to lead the Department of Energy.Wright, who must be approved by the Senate, is the chief executive of Liberty Energy – the world’s second-largest fracking services company – and is one of the industry’s most outspoken critics of the effort to combat climate change."As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new 'Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace,'" Trump said.Wright has said he doesn't believe there is a "climate crisis" and has argued that policies aimed at combating climate change make energy more expensive and less reliable.Read more about Wright's experience here.Interior secretary: Doug BurgumTrump announced he has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as his interior secretary.Trump also announced that Burgum will be joining his administration as chairman of the "newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council."The council will consist of all departments and agencies "involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation [and] transportation" of American energy, Trump said.Burgum was seen as a possible running mate of Trump's. He was one of his busiest surrogates, campaigning for the former president and raising money for his reelection campaign.The position requires Senate confirmation.Transportation secretary: Sean DuffyTrump announced that he has picked former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy for transportation secretary."He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports," Trump said in a statement. "He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers."Duffy co-hosts "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business and is a Fox News contributor.The position requires Senate confirmation.Solicitor general: Dean John SauerTrump said on Thursday he has selected Dean John Sauer as solicitor general.As Trump's defense attorney, Sauer argued for presidential immunity in front of the Supreme Court earlier this year, in which the high court granted broad immunity for official acts.The Department of Justice position requires Senate confirmation.He marks the third attorney who has worked on Trump's criminal cases nominated for a DOJ position.'Border czar': Tom HomanTrump announced former Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan will serve as "border czar."He will be charged with seeing out the mass deportations Trump promised throughout his campaign.Homan oversaw ICE under the Trump administration for a year and a half, at a time when the administration's "zero tolerance" policy led to parents being separated from their children at the border."Border czar" is not an official Cabinet position, meaning it won't need Senate confirmation. Read more about Homan here.Chief of staff: Susie WilesSusie Wiles will be the first female chief of staff for any White House.Wiles was Trump's co-campaign manager for his 2024 run. Trump also credited her for her work on his 2016 and 2020 White House bids, though his 2024 bid ran smoother and saw fewer shake-ups.Wiles is the daughter of legendary NFL Hall of Famer Pat Summerall. She will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post.Deputy chief of staff for policy: Stephen MillerTrump announced that Stephen Miller will become his deputy chief of staff for policy.Miller is one of Trump's senior advisers and helped craft his hard-line immigration policies during his first term. He will be key in trying to implement Trump's 2024 campaign pledge to mass deport migrants illegally living in the U.S.He will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post. Read more about Miller's background here.Deputy chief of staff: Dan ScavinoJoining Stephen Miller as another top adviser from his campaign being brought to the White House is Dan Scavino, whom Trump selected as deputy chief of staff.Scavino was also a senior aide during Trump's first term in office.Deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel: Taylor BudowichTaylor Budowich also supported Trump's campaign efforts and earned himself a spot at the White House.He previously ran Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc.Deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs: James BlairJames Blair was the political director for Trump's campaign and will seemingly offer similar skills to Trump's administration through the role of deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs.Formerly, he was the founder and president of a political consulting firm.Ambassador to the United Nations: Elise StefanikNew York Rep. Elise Stefanik has been tapped to be Trump's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.Stefanik joined Congress as a moderate Republican but became one of Trump's key defenders after his first impeachment and after his 2020 election loss. She joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference.Stefanik made headlines this past year as she challenged university presidents on their handling of protests over the Israel-Gaza war. She's also accused the United Nations of antisemitism over some of the resolutions passed amid the conflict.Stefanik will have to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the role. Read more about Stefanik here.Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: John RatcliffeTrump has selected John Ratcliffe to serve as director of the CIA.The former three-term Republican congressman from Texas served as Trump's director of national intelligence from mid-2020 until the end of Trump's first term.His path to DNI wasn't a smooth one -- he was nominated to the post in 2019, but he withdrew his nomination after questions from both parties arose about his qualifications for the job and whether he had embellished his record as a federal prosecutor."From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBI's abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public," Trump said in a statement announcing his pick. "When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden's laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American People."Ratcliffe's nomination requires Senate confirmation. Read more about him here.Environmental Protection Agency administrator: Lee ZeldinTrump has tapped former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA.Zeldin represented Long Island's Suffolk County in the House of Representatives for eight years before launching a failed bid for governor against Democrat Kathy Hochul. Before becoming an elected official, Zeldin was an attorney.Zeldin has pledged to eliminate regulations at the EPA he claimed are hampering businesses. He also said he wanted to restore energy independence as well as protect access to clean air and water.Zeldin will need Senate confirmation to serve in the role. Read more about him here.National security adviser: Mike WaltzTrump has picked Florida Rep. Michael Waltz to be his national security adviser.Waltz, who was the first Green Beret elected to the House, sits on the House Intelligence, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. Before becoming an elected official, Waltz served in various national security policy roles.The national security adviser is appointed by the president with no Senate confirmation needed.Ambassador to Israel: Mike HuckabeeTrump announced he has nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel.The role, which will need to be confirmed by the Senate, will be a key appointment as tensions remain high in the Middle East. Like David Friedman, Trump's first ambassador to Israel, Huckabee is an outspoken supporter of the Israeli settlement movement.Director of national intelligence: Tulsi GabbardTrump announced that he had picked Tulsi Gabbard -- a military veteran and honorary co-chair of his transition team -- has been chosen by Trump to be his director of national intelligence.The position requires Senate confirmation. Read more about Gabbard here.Commerce secretary: Howard LutnickTrump announced that he picked Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as his secretary of the Department of Commerce.Lutnick, who leads the investment bank, has been serving as co-chair of the Trump transition team alongside Trump's former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon.The role requires Senate confirmation.Read more here.Director of communications: Steven CheungTrump announced that Steven Cheung, who previously served as the director of strategic response in Trump's first term, will serve as director of communications in his second.Cheung was also the director of communications for Trump's presidential campaign.Presidential Personnel Office head: Sergio GorTrump has announced that Sergio Gor, who ran the pro-Trump Super PAC Right For America, will serve as director of the Presidential Personnel Office.In this role, he joins Cheung as an assistant to the president.In his statement announcing the selection, Trump said, "Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024.”White House counsel: Bill McGinleyTrump has named attorney Bill McGinley as his White House counsel, his transition team announced.McGinley served as the White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first term and has served as general counsel at the National Republican Senatorial Committee."Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement," Trump said in a statement.The White House counsel is appointed by the president.White House staff secretary: Will ScharfTrump announced that one of his own lawyers, Will Scharf, will serve as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary.“Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team,” Trump said in a statement.Scharf helped defend Trump in his federal election interference case and his Supreme Court immunity case.Manhattan US attorney: Jay ClaytonTrump nominated his former SEC chair, Jay Clayton, as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The president-elect made his announcement on social media.The position requires Senate confirmation.Prior to running the SEC, Clayton worked almost exclusively as a corporate attorney, with the exception of a two-year clerkship and a brief internship for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator: Dr. Mehmet OzDr. Mehmet Oz has been selected to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Trump announced.The agency is within the Department of Health & Human Services. Trump indicated that Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on chronic diseases.The position requires Senate confirmation.Ambassador to Canada: Pete HoekstraTrump announced he's nominating former congressman Peter Hoekstra to be the United States ambassador to Canada.The role requires Senate confirmation for approval.Most recently, Hoekstra served as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term.NATO ambassador: Matt WhitakerTrump announced former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker as ambassador to NATO.Whitaker was an active member of Trump's 2024 campaign."Matt is a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States' interests are advanced and defended," Trump said.Source: https://abcnews.go.com/

Trump promised to disrupt Washington. His Cabinet picks would do just that: ANALYSIS

Nov. 20, 2024

Some say it's hardly a surprise.President-elect Donald Trump campaigned relentlessly on a radical overhaul of the federal government.His Cabinet picks, being unveiled at a breakneck pace, reflect he's determined to keep the promises he made to millions of Americans who voted to put him back in the White House."I don't think he's been very nuanced about it," Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House lawyer, told ABC News. "Trump has been consistently saying that he's going to shake it up, that he's going to dismantle the Department of Education, that he's going to blow up the DOJ. All of these things are real."At first, his choices toed a more traditional line. Sen. Marco Rubio, who serves on foreign intelligence and relations committees, for secretary of state. Rep. Michael Waltz, a Green Beret who also sits on related House panels, for national security adviser.Several immigration hard-liners were quickly -- but still somewhat predictably -- tapped to implement his call for mass deportations, including Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and former acting ICE Director Tom Homan as "border czar."But after that came a series of names that shocked even Trump's close Republican allies in Congress: former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee Health and Human Services.While those four lack conventional bonafides to lead some of the country's top political institutions, all possess a skill Trump is said to highly value: being experienced on TV communicating and defending his biggest political goals."This will absolutely be a brand-new era in Washington, from the pledge to remake the civil service to a top-to-bottom change in federal policies. There's nothing like it in recent memory," said Donald Kettl, a professor emeritus at the University of Maryland and former dean of its school of public policy.“The job of a Cabinet secretary involves a lot more than giving interviews," Kettl said. "These are very large, sprawling agencies on which Americans deeply depend. It would take little for them to drift into major crises that would both hurt Americans and give the administration a black eye."Trump recently said the biggest regret of his first term was installing "disloyal people."Internal strife with his own staff was well-documented. He lambasted his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, for recusing himself from the department's Russia investigation. He expressed anger at Defense Secretary Mark Esper for disagreeing with his suggestion to use active-duty military to quell street protests over George Floyd in 2020. They are now viewed as having been key guardrails --keeping Trump's more controversial demands inside traditional lines.In Gabbard, Gaetz and Hegseth, Trump has found potential agency heads (pending Senate confirmation, which could prove tricky for some) who similarly want to root out what he's long accused of being a "weaponized" justice system and a rebellious military.“The last time the transition was very traditional but I think that’s because President Trump really had not been exposed that much to Washington,” said Ron Nicol, who in 2016 directed the agency action team in charge of Trump’s transition. “What he’s doing now is choosing a team that will be focused on getting things done.”Hegseth, an Army veteran, has said in interviews before being named that he advocated a "frontal assault" on the DOD, including firing what he called "woke" generals and eliminating the Pentagon's diversity goals.Gabbard, a former congresswoman who also served in the National Guard, has long railed against the so-called "deep state" Trump has blamed for undermining him in his first term and she's called Democrats a "cabal of warmongers."Gaetz, a conservative firebrand who resigned from Congress just after being named, has claimed the Justice Department is corrupt and even called for the FBI to be abolished. Gaetz himself was the subject of a federal investigation into potential sex trafficking, which ended without charges against Gaetz.Many in the defense and justice communities have balked at the choices -- Gaetz for the nation's top law enforcement official, especially -- while Trump has said they would carry out his desire for reform."If what he means by that is burning them to the ground, then maybe," said Matthew Waxman, who served in senior positions at the state and defense departments during the George W. Bush administration."But if we're talking about serious institutional reform based on American values and careful deliberation, organization management and effectiveness, I don't see them as possessing any of those virtues," Waxman added.Trump on Wednesday attempted to blame Democrats for allegations levied against some of his more controversial Cabinet picks."They dirty them up, they destroy them, and then they spit them out. They are trying that right now with some great American Patriots who are only trying to fix the mess that the Democrats have made of our Country," Trump posted on his social media platform.Barbara Perry, co-chair of the presidential oral history program at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, said Trump appears to be running with what he perceives as a "mandate" from voters."He won, if not by a landslide, decisively. He views that as a compelling case for putting the people he wants who are the most MAGA in his mind," Perry said."No one could argue in terms of presidents putting people they support into these positions, that's their prerogative," Perry added. "What is arguable is in the cases of at least four of these picks, they are unqualified."Donald Trump Jr., speaking with Fox News, said his father's picks will be "actual disrupters" and "that's what the American people want."Cobb, who worked for the Trump administration in 2017 and 2018, contended the president-elect may be "overestimating" the mandate."The three overwhelming issues of consequence in the last election were inflation, immigration and abortion," Cobb said. "Obviously, immigration and inflation are things that people expect Trump to do. I think they discounted the persistent warnings of Trump being on a crusade for vengeance and for his own needs."Source: https://abcnews.go.com/

Why some influencers are talking tariffs ahead of Trump presidency

Nov. 20, 2024

Social media feeds are overflowing with users urging people to stock up on certain products in case President-elect Donald Trump imposes new tariffs once he takes office in January 2025, but even if his campaign promises go through, it could take considerable time before impacts are felt.Chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, Ryan Sweet, reminded American consumers, "There's no reason to panic -- tariffs don't take effect immediately.""Even if President Trump signs an executive order on day one, you're looking towards the tail end of next year, early 2026 before you start to see these prices hike," he said.Walmart, the world's largest retailer, told ABC News it is worried that the possibility of higher tariffs under the next administration could lead to higher prices for consumers, at a time when many are already feeling the impact of lingering inflation.The warning videos trickling in on TikTok show creators voicing concerns of possible price increases on items, which has prompted some shoppers to stock up now, if the president-elect's signature promise goes into effect.Trump has vowed to impose up to 20% tariffs on all products coming into the U.S. and 60% on goods from China.Big railers like Walmart and Lowe's are warning those higher import costs could force them to raise prices for customers.Small businesses are worried, too, including Lisa Jae-Eggert the co-founder of 3 Moms Organics."With these tariffs, there's really going to be a higher cost to me. And ultimately it's gonna fall on the shoulders of the consumer," she explained.The National Retail Federation has reported that clothes, toys, furniture, household appliances, footwear and travel goods are at risk. The retail group has estimated that the price of a $40 toaster oven could go up to $52 with tariffs under President Trump. Another example, a $50 pair of sneakers could cost $62.Trump's transition team has disputed the idea that tariffs will lead to higher prices and said that the goal is to incentivize people to buy more products in the U.S. instead of abroad.Retailers plan out inventory months in advance so shelves will be plenty stocked at current price levels, or maybe even lower, this holiday shopping season.Source: https://abcnews.go.com/

Funding
601,392,178 565,389,517 43,609,965 1,222,022

Financial Summary December 2, 2020 01:03 ET

Period Receipts Disbursements CashOnHand DebtsLoans
601,392,178 565,389,517 43,609,965 1,222,022
601,392,178 565,389,517 43,609,965 1,222,022
Source:Federal Election Commission
Total Raised
Total receipts$533,843,893.29
Total contributions$317,369,398.6459.45%
Total individual contributions$316,611,498.84
Itemized individual contributions$196,602,971.00
Unitemized individual contributions$120,008,527.00
Party committee contributions$0.00
Other committee contributions$757,899.80
Presidential public funds$0.00
Candidate contributions$0.00
Transfers from other authorized committees$214,226,159.3440.13%
Total loans received$0.000%
Loans made by candidate$0.00
Other loans$0.00
Total offsets to expenditures$1,202,262.990.23%
Offsets to operating expenditures$1,202,262.99
Fundraising offsets$0.00
Legal and accounting offsets$0.00
Other receipts$1,046,072.320.2%
Total Spent
Total disbursements$131,078,984.53
Operating expenditures$127,625,062.9897.37%
Transfers to other authorized committees$801.470%
Fundraising$0.000%
Exempt legal and accounting$0.000%
Total loan repayments made$0.000%
Candidate loan repayments$0.00
Other loan repayments$0.00
Total contribution refunds$-19,524.92-0.01%
Individual refunds$-19,524.92
Political party refunds$0.00
Other committee refunds$0.00
Other disbursements$3,472,645.002.65%
Cash Summary
Ending cash on hand$108,123,209.51
Debts/loans owed to committee$0.00
Debts/loans owed by committee$240,512.39