Donald Trump's cabinet picks, so far

President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks so far suggest he considers loyalty paramount.

TRUMP'S CABINET SO FAR:

- WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Reince Priebus

The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Priebus earned Trump's trust and confidence over the campaign. The 44-year-old Wisconsin political operative who has spent his career as a Republican party official, is poised to be one of Trump's most important gatekeepers.

- CHIEF STRATEGIST and SENIOR COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT: Steve Bannon

One of Trump's most controversial hires, Bannon joined Trump's campaign as CEO in August after heading far right outlet Breitbart News. Bannon, 62, worked for Goldman Sachs, then started his own media-focused boutique investment banking firm. After selling up, he became a film producer, which introduced him to conservative publisher Andrew Breitbart and author Peter Schweizer. Jewish groups and a long list of Democratics have denounced Bannon's hiring.

- ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sen. Jeff Sessions

The first senator to endorse the president elect, Alabama's Sessions is known for his tough stance on immigration enforcement.

Sessions, who served as US attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and Alabama attorney general before his election to Congress, is expected to push the Justice Department to the right. Sessions, 69, could, however, face hiccups: His last confirmation hearing, in 1986 for a federal judgship, was derailed over allegations he made racially charged remarks while US attorney in Alabama.

- ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: Michael Flynn

A retired Army lieutenant general and former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Flynn was another early Trump backer and served as his top military adviser during the campaign. After retiring in 2014, Flynn quickly turned on the Obama administration and accused it of being soft on terrorism.In recent public comments, Flynn has emphasised his view that Islamic State extremists pose an existential threat on a global scale and demanded a far more aggressive US military campaign against them. In August, he declared Islam "is a political ideology" and "definitely hides behind being a religion".

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY: Rep. Mike Pompeo

- The Kansas congressman is a relatively new face in Trump's circle. The hard-line Republican shares much of Trump's worldview. He has heavily criticised the landmark Iran nuclear deal, blasted Hillary Clinton over the attack on a US diplomatic outpost in Libya and her use of a private email server and believes Edward Snowden is a traitor who deserves a death sentence.


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Source: AAP



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