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Trump transition live updates: Former WWE exec Linda McMahon picked for DOE job

McMahon served as Trump's Small Business Services administrator for two years.

Last Updated: November 20, 2024, 1:25 PM EST

President-elect Donald Trump is sticking by his controversial selection of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Trump was asked if he was reconsidering his pick as he attended Tuesday’s SpaceX launch in Texas with Elon Musk. "No," Trump replied.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration, most recently naming nominees for commerce and transportation secretaries and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Nov 12, 3:45 pm

Tracking those Trump has named to serve in his Cabinet, administration

Ahead of his return to power in January, Trump is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration.

They include some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.

Here is a running list of the people Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration.

9:39 AM EST

Stephen Miller indicates Trump would use recess appointments for Cabinet

Stephen Miller, President-elect Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff of policy, joined Hannity on Tuesday evening where he discussed a wide range of topics including several of Trump's day one missions -- including recess appointments to his Cabinet.

Asked if some Cabinet appointments were to become troublesome if Trump would use the recess appointment process, Miller said he would.

"Yes, the president has won a mandate, and he will use all lawful constitutional means to fulfill that mandate on behalf of the people who voted for him in record numbers," Miller said.

Political advisor Stephen Miller speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Novi, Michigan, Oct. 26, 2024.
Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images

Indicating that immigration will be a priority, Miller said mass deportations will occur immediately.

"It is going to be at light speed," Miller said. "The moment that President Trump puts his hand on that Bible and takes the oath of office, as he has said, the occupation ends, liberation day begins."

Miller added that Trump will "immediately sign executive orders sealing the border shut, beginning the largest deportation operation in American history, finding the criminal gangs, rapists, drug dealers and monsters that have murdered our citizens and sending them home."

-Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim

Nov 19, 2024, 10:32 PM EST

Trump is the 'decision-maker,' his press secretary replies when asked about her role

Karoline Leavitt gave her first interview since being chosen as President-elect Donald Trump's press secretary last week.

Asked if there would be daily press briefings during her appearance on Fox News, Leavitt punted to Trump.

"It's certainly something I'll discuss with President Trump. Ultimately, he is the decision-maker, as you know, that was the way in his first White House. It was the way on our campaign, and I will defer to him," Leavitt said.

She didn't address whether they'd knock traditional media aside for right-side broadcasters or podcasters, as some news outlets have indicated.

"We hope there will be decorum, certainly, and we will try to instill that. But we're not shy of the hostile media," she said. "We've dealt with that now in the campaign for the last year. Nobody does it better than President Trump."

Explaining that the most effective communication methods might include "bringing different voices into the press briefing room" and vaguely stating that it might also "include some different rules," she added: "Ultimately, it's about serving the American people and getting President Trump's message across to them."

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soo Rin Kim and Kelsey Walsh

Nov 19, 2024, 9:04 PM EST

Trump picks Linda McMahon for education secretary

President-elect Donald Trump announced he is nominating Linda McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive and the former Small Business Services secretary, to lead the Department of Education.

McMahon, who served as Trump's Small Business Services administrator for two years, has no teaching or experience but served one year on the Connecticut State Board of Education.

Her appointment must be approved by the Senate.

ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soo Rin Kim

Nov 19, 2024, 7:22 PM EST

Texas land commissioner offers 1,400 acres to Trump for 'deportation facilities'

Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is offering the incoming Trump administration 1,402 acres the office has purchased along the Texas-Mexico border to be used for a mass deportation operation, according to a letter on Tuesday to the president-elect.

Buckingham said she's offering the land "to be used to construct deportation facilities."

"My office is fully prepared to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the United States Border Patrol to allow a facility to be built for the processing, detention, and coordination of the largest deportation of violent criminals in the nation's history," Buckingham wrote.

The move shows that despite the governors of border states California and Arizona pledging to not aid the Trump administration's mass deportation plans, the incoming administration will have allies in Republican-led states.

Buckingham said she is "100% on board" with the incoming administration's promise to deport criminals in an interview with Fox News, which was the first to report the news.

The plot of land is in Starr County, about 35 miles west of McAllen, Texas. The Texas General Land Office purchased it from a farmer in October to facilitate Texas' efforts to build a wall.

"It's essentially farmland, so it's flat, it's easy to build on," Buckingham told Fox News. "We can very easily put a detention center on there -- a holding place as we get these criminals out of our country."

-ABC News' Armando García