A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday, the Donald Trump transition team held its usual morning telephonic press briefing.
The big news of the day, according to Jason Miller and Sean Spicer: the announcement of James Mattis to run the Pentagon (an announcement that was made last week during a “thank you” rally, on a somewhat less formal basis.)
Mattis, who has held command posts with the United States and with NATO, will be “formally announced this evening in Fayetteville,” Miller said
The Trump team also touted a poll from POLITICO, saying that 60 percent of those polled saw Trump more favorably in light of the Carrier deal, keeping some jobs in Indiana.
On Wednesday, Trump will be back in New York for a transition fundraising breakfast, then a meeting with North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
Thursday and Friday see “thank you” tour events; Saturday will see the president-elect at the Army/Navy game.
Trump is “building his cabinet at the fastest rate since 1968,” Spicer said, with over 80 meetings thus far with prospective administration members.
Trump has named five cabinet nominees thus far, Spicer said, in his fourth week of transition. President Obama had only named one at a commensurate point in 2008.
In response to national media questions, it was stated that Trump is still considering Secretary of State nominees, “meeting with a number of different people,” some candidates, and some with “advice.”
No timetable for decisions has been rendered, but Trump will “take the best and the brightest” of “more potential people who share in his vision.”
“There’s a lot of speculation,” Spicer said, but beyond the “obvious” names, it’s “a little premature” to read much into the meetings.
Regarding the Air Force One contract, which Trump Tweeted was too pricey earlier in the morning, it was stated that a “four billion dollar price tag was a big number,” but more details are pending after Trump is sworn in next month.
