Category: Secretary

White House update: Karoline Leavitt & Secretary Bessent | LiveNOW from FOX

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Bessent provided an update on Tuesday. The White House says President Trump has created 345,000 jobs. President Trump's team shared the following statement: "President Trump has created 345,000 jobs since taking office in January.

  • 188,000 (54%) of these were in non-government and government-adjacent sectors. This is a dramatic improvement from the last two years of the Biden Administration, when three-fourths of all new jobs were in government or government-adjacent sectors. 2,000 of which were mining and logging jobs. 27,000 of which were construction jobs. 9,000 manufacturing jobs were created (compared to the 6,000 manufacturing jobs lost per month from Jan 2023 to Dec 2024).
  • At the same time that there were large private sector job gains, 15,000 federal government jobs were cut.

Tariffs Could Still Go Up From Here: Commerce Secretary Lutnick

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said foreign nations will need to address a host of regulatory and other policies limiting imports of American products in order to secure relief from President Donald Trump’s new reciprocal levies. “These non-tariff trade barriers, they are the monster that needs to be slayed,” Lutnick said in an interview on Bloomberg Television and Radio. “Our teams are talking to all our great trading partners today,” he said. “It is time for them to do some deep soul searching on how they treat us poorly and how to make it right.” Offering specific examples of non-tariff barriers, the Commerce chief said that in the European Union some countries use the region’s 20% value-added tax to subsidize their own manufacturers’ production. Economists at the Council of Economic Advisers and staff at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office have pored over foreign nations’ trade barriers for decades, and that analysis formed the basis for the levies Trump announced Wednesday, Lutnick said. He also offered the example of a 2012 trade deal with South Korea, which involved the US letting Korean cars into its market, with Seoul agreeing to import American agricultural products. Nevertheless, McDonald’s Corp. was unable to bring in french fries because it was deemed to have shown the origin of the potatoes, he said. “You don’t understand the scale and depth of how they keep our products out,” Lutnick said. Asked about the sell-off in equities since Trump unveiled the reciprocal tariffs Wednesday afternoon, Lutnick said the president’s focus is on addressing “the economic pain that the United States of America suffered over decades.” S&P 500 futures were down 3.6% as of 8:52 a.m. in New York, while the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell 1.8% — to the lowest level since October. The Commerce chief also confirmed that the new 34% surtax on China stacks on top of previous levies, including the 20% Trump imposed earlier this year over alleged Chinese production of precursors for illegal fentanyl. “All they have to have is a phone call from President Xi to Trump saying we’re going to stop fentanyl production,” Lutnick said, putting the onus on President Xi Jinping. “And it would drop to 20%,” he said of the tariff rate.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon Makes Historic Visit To Jewish Day School

Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited an Orthodox Jewish Day School in Miami, the first education secretary to do so in years. McMahon reaffirmed this administration's commitment to fighting antisemitism and ensuring Jewish students feel safe on campus. Yehuda Kaploun helped facilitate the visit and joined One America's Stella Escobedo to talk about the historic visit.

Trump’s Treasury Secretary SHUTS DOWN Reporter Trying to Attack DOGE

The Biden government hired 80,000 new IRS agents to make sure YOU followed every one of their complicated tax laws. But when President Trump ordered DOGE to audit the government, politicians and the media squealed! That should speak volumes about what their true priorities are, Glenn says. Glenn and Pat review some of the latest pushback from the establishment, including how Democrats are whining about Elon Musk and how a judge tried to block even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from accessing Treasury data.

Secretary Marco Rubio MEETS Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala City Today!

Marco Rubio meets Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala City, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the United States and Guatemala. The meeting is expected to cover a range of topics, including economic cooperation, regional security, and migration. As a key figure in U.S. foreign policy, Senator Rubio's discussions with President Arevalo could have profound implications for bilateral relations and the broader Central American region. Watch for exclusive insights and analysis of this critical meeting and its potential impact on international relations. Marco Rubio meets Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala City, Guatemala, in a significant diplomatic encounter. This meeting marks a crucial moment in the relationship between the United States and Guatemala, with discussions likely focusing on key issues such as trade, security, and regional cooperation. As a prominent figure in U.S. politics, Senator Marco Rubio's visit to Guatemala underscores the importance of bilateral relations and the potential for future collaborations. Stay tuned for updates on the outcome of this meeting and its implications for both nations. With the complexities of international diplomacy at play, this encounter between Senator Rubio and President Arevalo is set to have lasting impacts on the political landscape of the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio MEETS Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala City | Feb. 5, 2025.

Defense Secretary Hegseth Revokes Gen. Milley’s Security Clearance And Protection

RAMSTEIN-MIESENBACH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 08: General Mark Milley attends a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the U.S. military's Ramstein air base on September 08, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group is a U.S.-led effort to bring together defense leaders from dozens of countries across the globe in order to facilitate military support for Ukraine in its ongoing efforts in fighting Russia's military invasion. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)
General Mark Milley attends a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the U.S. military’s Ramstein air base on September 08, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
2:58 PM – Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pulling the security protections and clearance of retired Joint Chiefs chairman General Mark Milley.

The new defense secretary is also tasking the new acting Inspector General to conduct a review board to determine if enough evidence exists for Gen. Milley to be stripped of a star in retirement based on his actions to “undermine the chain of command” during President Donald Trump’s first term, officials say.

The inspector general review will include “an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination,” Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said.

“The secretary informed Gen. Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well,” he said.

Milley is known for serving as chairman during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The relationship started out strong. However, it worsened over time as Milley tried to advise Trump on multiple issues. 

He’s known for pushing back on the president’s interest in using force domestically to stop protestors after the death of George Floyd, and was at the center of a controversy in 2021 when he made independent calls to his Chinese counterpart. At the time, Trump said the calls were an act of treason, but Milley claimed the calls were routine and part of his responsibilities. 

During his final days as chairman, after Trump had left office, he was outspoken about his former boss. He said at his official retirement ceremony “we don’t take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.”

“We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it,” he said at the time.

According to Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, the decision to strip Milley of his clearance and details was taken because “undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership.”

Additional moves might include getting rid of Milley’s Army chief of staff portrait. Milley’s chairman portrait was stripped from the wall just hours after Trump was sworn in. 

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Trump Names Former Adviser Brooke Rollins As His Pick For Agriculture Secretary

Brooke Rollins, AFPI President & CEO, watches as former US President Donald Trump makes his way off stage after speaking at the America First Policy Institute Agenda Summit in Washington, DC, on July 26, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Brooke Rollins, AFPI President & CEO, watches as former US President Donald Trump makes his way off stage after speaking at the America First Policy Institute Agenda Summit in Washington, DC, on July 26, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
3:47 PM – Saturday, November 23, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins, a former White House domestic policy adviser, to serves as his agriculture secretary in his new administration.

On Saturday, Trump released a statement praising Rollins’ “commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.”

“A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,” the announcement said. “From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.”

Rollins held the roles of director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during the Trump administration.

Following her term in the White House, she co-founded the America First Policy Institute, a think tank dedicated to advancing policies aligned with the administration’s agenda.

Rollins released a statement following the announcement, thanking Trump for the opportunity.

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Trump To Appoint Transition Team Co-Chair Howard Lutnick As Commerce Secretary

Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and Co-Chair of the Trump 2024 Transition Team speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and Co-Chair of the Trump 2024 Transition Team speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, October 27, 2024. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
10:28 AM – Tuesday, November 19, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump will reportedly name Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of his transition team, to the role of commerce secretary, according to multiple sources.

Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, was previously rumored to be a contender for the position of treasury secretary under the incoming Trump administration. Nevertheless, the position ended up going to hedge fund manager Scott Bessent.

As the new commerce secretary, Lutnick will play an important role in enacting Trump’s planned tariffs on imported goods. The rivalry for the treasury secretary position saw different groups of Trump allies pushing for their preferred candidate.

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk came out in support of Lutnick over the past weekend, stating that he “will enact change,” while Bessent would be a “business-as-usual” choice.

“Lutnick, when he was out on the campaign trail with the 45th president, often touted his resilience in business and spoke about the tragedy of losing more than 650 employees — including his younger brother, Gary — in the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks,” Musk stated.

Lutnick has been at Cantor Fitzgerald since the 1980s, after he graduated from Haverford College with an economics degree. Lutnick was also working at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York’s World Trade Center towers during the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks. Hundreds of Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including Lutnick’s brother, were killed on that day.

After the historic attacks, Lutnick became an outspoken supporter of the business community as New York was rebuilding from the tragedy.

Lutnick’s pick was first reported by Punchbowl News.

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Trump Names Attorney Will Scharf As Assistant To The President, White House Staff Secretary

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Will Scharf, Attorney for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on September 06, 2024 in New York City. Trump held a press conference hours after attending a federal appeals court attempting to get a new trial after a jury found he sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll. A nine-member jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages following a two-week trial last year and another jury awarded her $83.3 million in damages after finding Trump defamed her again in 2022. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Will Scharf, Attorney for Republican presidential nominee, President-elect Donald Trump, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on September 06, 2024 in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
3:56 PM – Saturday, November 16, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that William Owen Scharf, a member of his legal team, will take on the role of White House Staff Secretary in the forthcoming administration.

On Saturday, Trump released a statement announcing that Scharf will serve as Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary.

“I am pleased to announce that William Owen Scharf will serve as Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary,” Trump’s statement read. “Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team.”

“Scharf has played a key role in defeating the Election Interference and Lawfare waged against me, including by winning the Historic Immunity Decision in the Supreme Court,” he said. “Will is going to make us proud as we Make America Great Again.”

Scharf, a Princeton University graduate with a law degree from Harvard University, clerked for two federal appeals court judges and served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in St. Louis.

In addition to his prosecutorial experience, Scharf worked for Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (R-Mo.) and was employed by CRC Advisors, a conservative public relations firm.

Scharf recently ran for Missouri Attorney General but lost in the Republican primary to Andrew Bailey (R-Mo.), who went on to defeat Elad Gross (D-Mo.) in the general election earlier this month.

President-elect Trump announced Scharf’s appointment shortly before naming Chris Wright as his pick for Secretary of Energy.

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Kristi Noem speech at RNC: Donald Trump pick for Homeland Security Secretary on conservative vision

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem has been named as President-elect Donald Trump’s next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem delivered a speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in July 15, 2024. She gave her perspective on national policies under both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.