Us Presidential Elections News

President-elect Donald Trump has named hedge fund billionaire Scott Bessent as his nominee for US Treasury Secretary. "Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda," Trump said on Friday. Bessent is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of New York-based hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. The investor earlier worked for billionaire George Soros.

California is still counting its votes for the November 5 US Presidential Elections, of which Trump has been declared the winner, due to California's vast size and predominance of in-mail voting. In-mail votes require more time and effort to be verified compared to in-person votes. California also allows until December 1 to "cure" problem ballots from voters who made mistakes.

US State Department Secretary Antony Blinken has been criticised as reports said officials upset over Donald Trump's win were given "cry sessions" therapy. A document titled "managing stress during change" was handed out to officials on November 11, reports said. Congressman Darrell Issa called the reports "disturbing", questioning the "personal meltdown over...result of...free and fair election".

US-President-elect Donald Trump pledged he would impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico until they clamp down on drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants crossing the border when he takes office on January 20, 2025. Trump also outlined "an additional 10% tariff, above any additional tariffs" on China.

Kamala Harris, defeated by Donald Trump in the 2024 US Presidential Elections, is planning to run for president again in 2028 or run for California governor in 2026 when Gavin Newsom is termed out, Politico reported. "She instructed aides and those in her inner circle not to close any doors as she explores possible paths forward," the report added.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed appointment of Indian-American Jay Bhattacharya as Director of National Institutes of Health (NIH)- US' top public funder of medical research. Jay would work with Robert F Kennedy Jr to "restore NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research", Trump said. Bhattacharya, who's a Stanford University-trained physician, had criticised COVID-19 lockdown.

President-elect Donald Trump named trade lawyer Jamieson Greer as his new US Trade Representative. Greer served as chief of staff to Trump's ex-US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. "Jamieson played...key role during my first term in imposing tariffs on China and others to combat unfair trade practices," Trump said. This comes after Trump threatened China, Canada and Mexico with new tariffs.

US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as special envoy to Ukraine and Russia amid the war. The 80-year-old served as National Security Advisor to then-Vice President Mike Pence during Trump's first term. "Keith has led a distinguished military and business career...He was with me right from the beginning," Trump said.

On assassination attempts on US President-elect Donald Trump, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said, "Absolutely uncivilised methods [were] used to battle against Trump, up to and including an assassination attempt - and more than once." He added, "In my opinion, he is not safe now." He also said Trump is intelligent and he hopes he remains cautious.

US President-elect Donald Trump has picked Indian-American Kashyap 'Kash' Patel to lead the FBI. Patel, the 44-year-old former government agent, served as the former US Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in the first Trump administration. Current FBI director Christopher Wray would need to resign or be fired so that Patel can take the job.

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former Senator David Perdue to be ambassador to China. Calling Perdue a "loyal supporter and friend", Trump said, "He brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China." The appointment comes after Trump said he would impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods unless Beijing works harder to stop the trafficking of fentanyl.

Billionaire Elon Musk spent at least $270 million to help Donald Trump win the US Presidency, new federal filings showed. This has made the Tesla CEO the country's biggest political donor. Musk contributed $238 million to America PAC, a political action committee he founded to support Trump, according to the filings. An additional $20 million went to the RBG PAC.

US President-elect Donald Trump has been named TIME magazine's 'Person of the Year' for 2024. This is the second time Trump has received the title. "Trump's political rebirth is unparalleled in American history," TIME stated. Kamala Harris, Kate Middleton, Elon Musk, Yulia Navalnaya, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jerome Powell, Joe Rogan, Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Zuckerberg were shortlisted for the title.

Donald Trump was on Monday inaugurated as the 47th President of the US. Trump won 312 electoral college votes in the US Presidential elections held in November last year, defeating Kamala Harris, who won 226 electoral college votes. Trump, who served as the 45th President of US, was defeated by Joe Biden in 2020 elections.