Trump’s reliance on House to fill Cabinet strains likely majority

WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump is moving quickly to install immigration hardliners into prominent White House posts, suggesting his promise to implement sweeping new restrictions on migration and launch a mass deportation programme could take priority in the first days of his new administration.

Trump plans to name long-time aide Stephen Miller as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, according to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who in a social media post congratulated Mr Miller and credited Trump with a “fantastic pick”. The appointment was first reported by CNN. 

Mr Miller will serve under Ms Susie Wiles, who ran Trump’s campaign, and alongside Mr Tom Homan, who the President-elect announced in a weekend social media post would serve as “border czar”.

Mr Miller, who served as a senior adviser during Trump’s first term, was the chief architect of his controversial Muslim travel ban.

In recent years, his America First Legal non-profit has mounted challenges to corporate diversity, equality and inclusion efforts.

Here is everything happening with Trump’s transition:

Musk questions Stefanik

Billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk questioned the President-elect’s decision to

appoint New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik as his ambassador to the United Nations

, noting that Republicans are unlikely to hold more than a slim majority in the House.

“Elise is awesome, but it might be too dicey to lose her from the House, at least for now,” Mr Musk tweeted on Nov 11 morning.

Republicans struggled over the past congressional term to manage their House caucus with a razor-thin majority as defectors paralysed the chamber and prompted multiple leadership battles.

House Speaker Mike Johnson will need to navigate those conflicts again and do so without the assistance of Ms Stefanik, a Trump loyalist who serves as the fourth-ranking GOP official in the chamber.

Homan defiant

Hours after being named border czar by Trump, Mr Homan appeared on Fox News and discounted criticism over policies he implemented during the President-elect’s first term that separated undocumented migrant children from their family members.

“I don’t care what people think about me. Especially on the left,” Mr Homan said, noting that aggressive measures were necessary “when you have a crisis this big”.

He said he was hopeful that local law enforcement would assist federal authorities in Trump’s promised deportation efforts.

“We’re going to do this job, with or without you,” he said.

Leadership battle

Senator Rick Scott, the Florida lawmaker vying to replace Mr Mitch McConnell as Senate Republican Leader, looked to boost his candidacy with an appearance on Fox News on Nov 11 morning.

Mr Scott said that he was hopeful Trump would weigh in on the leadership battle, where Mr Scott is squaring off against Mr John Thune of South Dakota and Mr John Cornyn of Texas.

“The country voted they want a change. They want the Trump agenda. They want his nominees. They want his policies. We’ve got to do everything we can to get that done,” he said.

Mr Scott has the key endorsement of some Trump allies – including Mr Musk – who believe he would help fast-track the President-elect’s agenda in the Upper Chamber.

But Trump has not yet weighed in, saying just that he wanted the next majority leader to agree to allow temporary presidential appointments when the Senate was not in session.

Mr Scott, a former for-profit healthcare executive and the wealthiest sitting senator, said that experience would benefit him in the leadership post.

“I’m a business guy that had success doing exactly what we need to do in the Senate,” he said.

DOJ warning

Trump transition official Mark Paoletta on Nov 11 warned career lawyers at the Department of Justice (DOJ) that they “would be subject to disciplinary measures, including termination”, if they decline to implement the President-elect’s agenda.

DOJ officials may be tasked with preparing pardons for those convicted of crimes related to the insurrection on Jan 6, 2021, helping to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and helping to ease energy regulations, Mr Paoletta, an attorney who previously served as general counsel in the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, posted on X.

“Hopefully, they will be as committed to helping President Trump implement his agenda as they did for President Biden. Of course, political leadership welcomes feedback to help improve a project. But once the decision is made to move forward, career employees are required to implement the President’s plan,” he continued.

TV auditions

Two candidates for economic posts in the second Trump administration – Mr Scott Bessent and Mr Kevin Hassett – joined former Trump aide Larry Kudlow on Fox Business on Nov 11, arguing that Trump’s victory has led to a stock market rally and positive signs of economic growth.

“Long-term interest rates are coming down even with this growth shock,” Mr Bessent said. “The tax cuts, the deregulation, energy dominance, interest rates are actually going down, and the dollar is still going up.”

Mr Bessent said that he explained the phenomenon to Trump in a conversation on Nov 8, telling the president-elect that “the dollar loves you and we keep increasing the after-tax return on US assets, and it’s going to keep going”.

Mr Bessent also commented on Mr Jay Powell’s statements that Trump would not be able to force him out of his position as Fed chair before his term ends.

“He is going to exit the stage in May of ‘26, and President Trump will have a list of five fine candidates who the market will be happier with than Jay Powell,” he said. BLOOMBERG