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Image posted, Reuters
Biden said his team “reflects the reality of America’s return.”
The president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, officially presented a series of candidates for important positions in his future government, after President Donald Trump approved the start of the official transfer of power.
Biden chose Avril Haines as the first woman to head the National Intelligence Service and Alejandro Mayorcas as the first Hispanic Interior Minister.
Biden said the team will help set an agenda that reflects that “America is back and ready to lead the world.”
Even so, Trump still refuses to admit defeat. He said the General Services Administration, which oversees the handover, should “do whatever it takes,” but continues to repeat accusations, without proof, that the November 3 elections are “rigged.”
Biden can now dispose of millions of dollars and access reports from the National Security Agency. And public officials can begin preparing for the transfer of power on January 20.
Democrat Biden is expected to beat his Republican rival Trump in the electoral college, by 306 votes to 232. Official results will be released on December 14.
Governor Tom Wolfe approved of Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, one of the top states in the elections, as well as Michigan, which Biden also won.
What did Biden say?
The president-elect has highlighted the need to rebuild alliances, as well as address the coronavirus and climate change. The ministerial choices, which he called, “reflect the reality of America’s return, and he’s ready to lead the world and he will not abandon it,” indicating a departure from President Trump’s “America First” narrative.
“We cannot meet these challenges with old thoughts and habits that have not changed,” he said.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who went down in history as the first woman in office, seemed to be referring to the previous administration when she said that Biden “will be guided by the facts and expect our team to tell the truth regardless of cause.”
Many options include Biden’s colleagues in the Obama administration.
What are your options?
Biden introduced six main characters on Tuesday:
- Anthony Blinken, Secretary of State. Biden said the veteran diplomat would be “ready from day one.” Blinken said the United States will soon reestablish “with equal measures of humility and trust” its relations with other countries.
- John Kerry, Climate Envoy. He was one of the main architects of the Paris climate agreement, from which President Trump withdrew. Kerry, a former secretary of state in the Obama administration, said the world must “come together to end the climate crisis.”
- Avril Haines, director of National Intelligence. “I chose a professional … a fierce advocate of telling the truth,” Biden said.
- Alejandro Mayuras, Minister of the Interior. Biden said this was “one of the toughest jobs in government” and that mayors will play a crucial role in “reforming our dysfunctional immigration system.” Mayuras said the ministry has “a noble mission, to help preserve our security and advance our honorable history as a hospitable country.”
- Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Advisor. Biden hailed him as a “trusted advisor” on the election campaign. Sullivan praised his future boss and said he had taught him a lot about the art of government, but also “what is most important about human nature.”
- Linda Thomas Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Biden said he is an “experienced and distinguished diplomat” who treats everyone with respect and dignity.
One of the expected options, but not yet announced, is the former president of the Federal Reserve (central bank) Janet Yellen, secretary of the Treasury.
Image posted, GETTY IMAGES / ALAMY
Alejandro Mayuras (left) and Avril Haines (right) are officially named; Janet Yellen (center) is expected to be chosen for the locker
Most selections will need Senate approval. The candidate is rarely rejected.
Biden’s first television interview as president-elect will air in the United States on Tuesday night.
According to CNN, Biden has now obtained permission to receive the daily presidential briefing, which provides Trump with details on the latest international threats and developments.
What are the Republicans saying?
As candidates bring decades of diplomatic experience to the White House, they also face criticism from opponents of problems that arise from years of service to the United States government.
Despite this, Republicans in the Senate so far have been mostly quiet about Biden’s options.
President Trump continues to allege widespread voting fraud without evidence, and his legal challenges thus far have proved futile.
In a very brief appearance in the White House press room Tuesday, Trump praised the work of his administration, as well as the Dow Jones Index, for breaking the 30,000 mark, and withdrew without answering questions.
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He praised the military and said, “Like I said, America first. We must not walk away from that … America first.”
Although most of his fellow Republicans had joined in his refusal to accept defeat thus far, some began to split.
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, who is retiring, said the president should “put the country first” and help Biden succeed.
“When you are in public life, people remember the last thing you did,” he added.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said that “at some point, the 2020 elections should end.”
