Press. voanews.com
A rift on
President-elect Donald Trump's transition team over who will serve as his
secretary of state has gone public, leaving open the future national security
role until differences can be resolved. Rival groups within the president-elect's
transition team are divided between 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt
Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In a Twitter post
Thursday, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway expressed the sentiments of the
faction opposed to Romney.
Messy confirmation
fight
Those
opposed to Giuliani as secretary of state contend his extensive business
relationships with foreign interests would most likely lead to a messy Senate
confirmation fight. They also question whether the 72-year-old has the stamina
to meet the demands of international travel the job requires.
The
president-elect, who has developed a reputation for changing his mind, has
praised both Romney and Giuliani. Trump apparently told aides that Romney
"looks the part" of secretary of state and is said to have spoken
glowingly of Giuliani in recent discussions with associates.
On
Friday, Trump appointed Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland to serve as
deputy national security adviser and Donald F. McGahn to serve as assistant to
the president and White House counsel.
McFarland
has served in national security posts with several previous Republican
administrations, and McGahn is a well-known campaign finance lawyer. No more
announcements are expected until Monday.
As Trump
spent the Thanksgiving Day holiday Thursday with his family at his Florida resort,
he took to Twitter to say he was working to fulfill a campaign promise to
create and preserve jobs. The billionaire real estate mogul said he was
"working hard ... trying to get Carrier A.C. Company to stay in the U.S.
MAKING PROGRESS - Will know soon!"
Donald J.
Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
I am
working hard, even on Thanksgiving, trying to get Carrier A.C. Company to stay
in the U.S. (Indiana). MAKING PROGRESS - Will know soon!
The air
conditioner manufacturer responded on Twitter by saying it has had
"discussions with the incoming administration" but had "nothing
to announce at this time."
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