Trump likely to reward loyalty with top
appointments
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[November 10, 2016]
By Steve Holland
NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Donald
Trump's early list of potential appointments to top positions appears to
reward people who were loyal to him after a campaign in which many
Republican Party leaders kept their distance.
Jeff Sessions, an Alabama senator who was one of Trump's most fervent
supporters in the U.S. Congress, is said to be under consideration for a
prominent role, perhaps defense secretary, sources familiar with
transition planning said on Wednesday.
Retired General Michael Flynn emerged as a possible pick for Trump's
national security adviser, the sources said.
Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, played a
prominent role during the campaign, often serving as an introductory
speaker at campaign rallies and has provided private counsel on foreign
affairs.
"He has a calming influence on Trump," said a source familiar with
transition planning.
In addition, former House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and U.S.
Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee were also considered potential
selections for secretary of state, the sources said. Corker chairs the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Both Corker and Gingrich had been under discussion as potential vice
presidential picks for Trump, a position that eventually went to Indiana
Governor Mike Pence.
These same sources said Republican National Committee Reince Priebus,
who has emerged as a trusted adviser to the New York businessman, was
being talked about as a potential White House chief of staff.
A Priebus deputy, RNC senior strategist Sean Spicer, was a possibility
for White House press secretary.
Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, who helped bring about a
more disciplined approach to the candidate, was seen as potential White
House senior adviser.
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Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich greets U.S. Republican
presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Sharonville
Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio July 6, 2016. REUTERS/Aaron P.
Bernstein
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who endorsed Trump after dropping
out of the 2016 Republican presidential nomination fight, was a
possible education secretary.
Richard Grenell, a former spokesman for the United States at the
United Nations, was a potential U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations, as was New York Republican Representative Peter King.
Mike Rogers, a former chairman of the House Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, was in the mix for CIA director, the
sources said.
Trump's transition team set up a website
(https://www.greatagain.gov/) and Twitter account (@transition2017),
promising to keep the country posted on plans, Politico reported.
Trump was a prolific user of Twitter during the campaign, sometimes
using it to deliver pithy put-downs of his critics and rivals.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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