President-elect Trump considering openly gay man as UN ambassador

The President-elect revealed Sunday night that he had chosen Washington insider Reince Priebus as White House chief of staff and firebrand conservative Stephen Bannon as chief strategist. He faced widespread criticism for giving a top job to Mr Bannon, a fierce critic of House Speaker Paul Ryan. Mr Bannon spearheaded Breitbart News website’s shift into a forum for the “alt-right”, a loose online confederation of Neo-Nazis, white supremacists and anti-Semites.

Democrats have labelled Mr Bannon a promoter of racism and misogyny who is backed by the white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan.

According to an individual familiar with transition planning, Mr Trump is now considering Richard Grenell as United States ambassador to the United Nations, The Associated Press reports. If picked and ultimately confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first openly gay person to fill a Cabinet-level foreign policy post.

Mr Grenell previously served as US spokesman at the UN under former President George W. Bush’s administration. He also briefly served as a foreign policy adviser to Republican Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.

President-elect Trump is also reportedly deciding whether to select Michigan GOP chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, who is the niece of Trump critic and 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She would be the first woman in decades to run the Republican National Committee.

“I’ll be interested in whatever Mr Trump wants,” Ms McDaniel told AP on Monday, adding that she was planning to seek the Michigan GOP chairmanship again.

The appointment of Mr Grenell, who served as a vocal supporter of Mr Trump throughout the presidential race, could begin to ease concerns by the gay community about Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s position on same-sex marriage during his time as Indiana governor.

Appointing Ms McDaniel could be an effort to help the party heal after a volatile campaign during which Mr Trump demeaned women.

Meanwhile, Laura Ingraham, a conservative radio host and Fox News contributor, is a leading contender to become press secretary, CNN reported Monday. She spoke at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, aided Mr Trump with debate preparations and has provided occasional political counsel.

The appointment of Mr Priebus could help the incoming president repair his strained relations with members of the Republican Party establishment in Washington.

While Mr Priebus received the top job, Mr Bannon is expected to wield significant clout and President-elect Trump confirmed the two men would work as “equal partners” — a unique arrangement. Neither brings significant policy experience to the White House.

Mr Priebus defended the media mogul during an interview on Monday, commenting that the two made an effective pair as they steered President-elect Trump past rival Hillary Clinton and ultimately towards the Oval Office.

“Together, we’ve been able to manage a lot of the decision making in regard to the campaign,” Mr Priebus told NBC’s Today. “It’s worked very, very well.”

Vice President-elect Pence said Monday that he is recruiting people with “character and the competence” to implement Mr Trump’s vision for the country.

The Republican Indiana governor, who was named chairman of the presidential transition team on Friday, downplayed his role to reporters in Indianapolis, saying he felt humbled to play a “small part.”

Among those also reported to be under consideration for top posts are former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as a possible secretary of state or secretary of health and human services; Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser under President George W. Bush, as a possible defence secretary; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as attorney general; and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as interior secretary.

Internal deliberations about staffing come one day after Mr Trump’s first televised interview as President-elect, which was watched by nearly 19 million viewers in the US.

The incoming US president is expected to make additional appointments to his team this week.

— With wires.

Originally published as Trump’s ‘history-making’ next move?