US President-elect Joe Biden will announce the key job names in the coming days, despite President Donald Trump’s reluctance to admit defeat in the general election. Biden has already appointed Ron Klain as White House Chief of Staff and the transition team is expected to announce nominations soon for some of the top federal government positions, including that of US Secretary of State, a position that currently occupies Mike Pompeo.
These are some of the main contenders for the coveted work:
Susan rice
According to US media reports, Susan Rice is considered the favorite for the secretary of state. The 56-year-old American diplomat served under the Obama administration as a UN ambassador and national security adviser. He also served in the Clinton administration in various capacities.
Rice was seen as a clear option to succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state for the second term of the Obama administration. However, she withdrew her name following a controversy stemming from her defense of the Obama administration’s handling of the 2012 Benghazi attack. Rice checks the checkbox for Biden’s promise of a diverse cabinet, making her a strong candidate for the position.
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Antony blinken
Blinken served as deputy national security adviser from 2013 to 2015 and undersecretary of state from 2015 to 2017 in the Obama administration. He was also present in the photo in the White House Situation Room with Obama during the US military raid that killed the most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden.
The veteran diplomat has been a longtime confidant of Biden, and his work experience in key roles for America’s national security makes him one of the top contenders for secretary of state. However, Biden could also choose him as his national security adviser.
Chris Coons
Coons, a US senator from the state of Delaware, was one of the first lawmakers to endorse Biden for the presidential nomination. Biden’s longtime ally holds the same Senate seat that Biden held for decades. He serves on various committees in the Senate, including Foreign Relations, the Judiciary, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Select Committee on Ethics. The moderate leader has the ability to convince Republicans on key issues, as he is known to work down the hall for years.
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