Trump picks are ‘disruptors’ aiming to reform, says House Speaker

We have received US media reports that President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by the US to strike Russia.

Our US politics coverage will be paused as we move to cover this latest development on our live page for the war in Ukraine.

As we reported earlier, US President Joe Biden is visiting the Amazon rainforest today.

Here are some images we’ve received:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

As President-elect Donald Trump keeps picking his cabinet, there’s talk that he might select a tech entrepreneur to be the next transport secretary, reports Reuters news agency.

Former Uber executive Emil Michael has been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role earlier this week, with three sources now telling Reuters the businessman is a leading candidate.

Michael, who was a White House fellow during the Obama administration, is a Trump donor. He has also gained the backing of other tech executives who are pushing for his nomination, as per two more Reuters sources.

The debate over Trump’s new administration is still ongoing, but the president-elect appeared to have had a fun evening yesterday.

Trump attended the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in New York City last night to celebrate his election victory.

He arrived at Madison Square Garden to cheers from the crowd.

Trump waved to fans, who chanted “USA” as he made his way to the octagon. He then soaked in the applause and danced as the UFC played footage celebrating his election win over Kamala Harris.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

We’ve been bringing you comments on Matt Gaetz’s nomination for the attorney general role, but he’s not the only one being discussed.

Newly-elected Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin tells ABC’s This Week there’s “concern from senior women officers” about the president-elect nominating former Fox News host Pete Hogseth as defence secretary.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq, warns there’s “real stress” among young servicewomen questioning whether they’ll be able to continue serving on the frontlines if Hogseth is confirmed.

• For context: Hogseth previously said women shouldn’t hold combat roles because they’re not as “capable” as men

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Here’s another comment on Matt Gaetz’s nomination, this time from a Democratic Senator-elect.

Democratic Senator-elect Adam Schiff has called Matt Gaetz “unqualified” for the attorney general role, for which Donald Trump has nominated him.

Speaking to CNN, Schiff says the “whole point” of several of Trump’s nominees is their “qualification” and “their affirmative disqualification” – though he doesn’t name the nominees he’s talking about.

“That’s Trump’s point because what he wants to do with these nominees is establish that the Congress of the United States will not stand up to him with anything,” he says.

Image source, Getty Images

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has urged the US House to release an unreleased ethics report on alleged sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl by Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Mullin said it is “absolutely” necessary for him and his fellow Senators to see the report as they consider Gaetz’s nomination, echoing a growing number of Republican Senators.

“That should definitely be part of our decision making,” Mullin said. However, the Oklahoma Senator was hesitant about whether the report should be made public.

Trump’s nomination of Gaetz has caused a stir in Washington.

Gaetz was under an ongoing ethics investigation in the House of Representatives for allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and misuse of campaign funds.

He abruptly resigned last week, putting an end to the probe.

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

Image source, Reuters

As roles continue to be filled, President-elect Donald Trump still hasn’t picked anyone for the role of treasury secretary.

Elon Musk has expressed his support for the nomination of long-standing Trump ally Howard Lutnick, the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald.

“My view [for what is worth] is that Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas [Howard Lutnick] will actually enact change,” he wrote on X earlier. “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another.”

• For context: Scott Bessent is a hedge fund manager who has become a major donor and adviser to Donald Trump. According to BBC’s US partner CBS, he’s a leading candidate to take over the treasury

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

We’re now hearing new comments about Trump’s team picks.

The House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to CNN about Donald Trump nominating Matt Gaetz as his attorney general.

Gaetz is currently under an ethics investigation in the House of Representatives for allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and misuse of campaign funds.

Johnson is asked whether it’s still important for Republicans to consider the personal morality of their leaders.

He says it’s an “important issue” for anyone in leadership. However, he also notes that those Trump has chosen for his administration are “disruptors” and that the president-elect has the “right” to form his own cabinet.

“They will go into the agencies they’ve been asked to lead and they will reform them,” Johnson says.

Image source, Getty Images

President Joe Biden is set to visit the Amazon rainforest today, marking a historic first for a sitting US president.

On his way to the G20 summit in Rio, Biden is due to land for just a few hours in Manaus, a large city in Brazil.

The White House says Biden will take an aerial tour over part of the Amazon and meet with local and Indigenous leaders working to preserve the region’s ecosystem.

This trip by the outgoing president is seen as a gesture of solidarity with efforts to combat climate change. During his term, Biden helped pass significant climate legislation, with around $375bn (£297bn) over a decade aimed at tackling global warming.

In contrast, Donald Trump has chosen an oil and gas executive to lead the Energy Department. He’s also expected to roll back much of Biden’s climate legislation to fund the tax cuts he’s promised.

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday, US President Joe Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their final meeting before Biden leaves the White House.

They met on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru. Both leaders acknowledged the “ups and downs” in relations during Biden’s four years in office.

In a robust readout of the meeting released afterwards, Beijing said President Xi emphasised that “a new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won. Containing China is unwise, unacceptable and bound to fail.”

Xi also mentioned that a stable relationship between China and the United States is “critical to both parties and the world”.

Image source, Getty Images

Will Scharf, one of the president-elect’s personal lawyers, has been chosen to be assistant to the president and the White House staff secretary, Donald Trump’s campaign has announced.

In a statement on Saturday, posted on X, Trump said Scharf is a “highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team”.

Scharf was one of Trump’s lawyers during a Supreme Court hearing on presidential immunity, where the court ruled Trump was partially immune from prosecution for actions taken while in the White House.

Scharf’s role will reportedly involve managing the paperwork, including briefings and reports, that will go to the president.

Image source, Reuters

Chris Wright, Donald Trump’s new pick for Energy Secretary, says he is “honoured and grateful” for the nomination.

“My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure,” the oil and gas executive wrote on X.

“Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible. Energy matters,” he added.

Wright is a climate change sceptic who has previously said, “there is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”

Image source, Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump has named Chris Wright, an oil and gas executive, to head the US Energy Department.

Wright, the founder and CEO of Liberty Energy, is a climate change sceptic and is expected to help fulfil Trump’s promise to boost fossil fuel production.

Trump stated that Wright will be a “key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace”.

The Trump campaign also announced that Wright will be appointed to a new Council of National Energy. The president-elect said this council would guide the “path to US energy dominance by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy”.

President-elect Donald Trump has been busy this weekend, making more appointments.

Oil and gas executive Chris Wright has been chosen for the Energy Department. Will Scharf, one of Trump’s personal attorneys, has been picked to be assistant to the president and the White House staff secretary.

But it’s not just been about staff decisions for Trump this weekend. Last night, he attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in New York City to celebrate his election victory.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden met with China’s President Xi Jinping yesterday in Brazil. Xi said his nation is “willing to continue to maintain dialogue with the US government”.

Later today, Biden is expected to visit the Amazon rainforest and meet Brazilian indigenous leaders.

Stay with us for updates and reactions as things unfold today.