1 day Ago By ZEKE MILLER and MICHELLE L. Price Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump announced he will nominate former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. A former Republican congressman from Texas, Ratcliffe served as director of national intelligence for the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.
S. government's spy agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions," Trump said in a statement.
"He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH." Trump also will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and longtime friend Steven Witkoff to be a special envoy to the Middle East, Trump announced Tuesday.
Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel, and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Witkoff is a Florida real estate investor who is serving as a chair of Trump's inaugural committee. He also spent time in the world of New York real estate, where Trump first made his mark as a public figure. On Tuesday, Trump also named Bill McGinley, his Cabinet secretary in his first administration, as his White House counsel.
Trump is rolling out a steady stream of appointees and nominees for his upcoming administration, working thus far at a faster pace and without as much drama as his first transition following his 2016 victory. "Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years," Trump said in a statement. "He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him.
Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!" Huckabee has led paid tour group visits to Israel for years, frequently advertising the trips on conservative-leaning news outlets. David Friedman, who served as Trump's ambassador to Israel in his first term, said he was "thrilled" by Trump's selection of Huckabee. Witkoff is also the president-elect's golf partner and was with him when he was the target of a second assassination attempt at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September.
Trump's transition team did not offer details about the Middle East envoy role, but Trump, in a statement said, "Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." The selection of Witkoff follows a pattern for Trump in putting people close to him in pivotal roles on the Middle East portfolio. Eight years ago he appointed his former corporate attorney Jason Greenblatt as his special representative for international negotiations and relied on his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as his personal envoy in talks in the region.
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