New National Security Advisor candidates
After the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump interviewed four potential candidates for the position Sunday.
Three of the candidates are military veterans. Military strategist Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, United States Military Academy at West Point superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr. and retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg are all in the running. Kellogg is currently the acting national security advisor.
John R. Bolton, who was George W. Bush’s ambassador to the United Nations and was previously considered for the secretary of state position, was also interviewed.
Robert S. Harward, a retired vice admiral and former Navy SEAL, turned down the position saying in a statement the job was a commitment he could not currently make.
Trump asked for Flynn’s resignation Monday after it came to light he had misled the White House about calls with Russia during the Trump administration’s transition to the White House. Flynn had been national security advisor for 24 days.
Rally in Florida
After about one month in office, Trump spoke at a rally in the style of his campaign events Saturday in an airport hangar in Melbourne, Florida.
Trump criticized the judges who blocked his temporary travel ban, Democrats fighting his cabinet nominees and national news media.
He also referenced recent terrorist attacks in Europe, such as those in Paris and Brussels.
Trump finished this list by talking about an incident “last night in Sweden.”
It is not clear whether he meant a terrorist attack such as those he had just referred to or some other incident in Sweden.
There was no recent terrorist attack or major security concern over the weekend in Sweden, according to statements from several Swedish officials.
Trump rails against national media
At his press conference Thursday, Trump called most national news outlets dishonest and skirted questions from reporters.
He shamed the press for using classified news leaks in their reporting and called newspapers “out of control” and “disgraceful.”
He also accused reporters of lying. He did not answer questions about controversial relations with Russia.
In a tweet Friday, Trump referred to The New York Times, CNN, NBC and others as fake news and the “enemy of the American people.”
New labor secretary pick
Trump named Alexander Acosta as his new choice for labor secretary Thursday. His previous candidate Andrew Puzder withdrew himself from the confirmation process last Wednesday.
Acosta is currently the dean of Florida International University’s law school. He was previously a member of the National Labor Relations Board and an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department during George W. Bush’s presidency.
Hearings for Gorsuch scheduled
Supreme Court justice nominee Neil Gorsuch’s Senate confirmation hearing will begin March 20, the Judiciary Committee announced Thursday. Trump nominated Gorsuch to fill the seat left vacant by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
