US President-elect, Joe Biden, on Tuesday announced six important cabinet nominations just months ahead of his inauguration. While announcing the officials, Biden said the US is “back” and ready to lead the globe. If confirmed, Alejandro Mayorkas will be the first Latino homeland security boss and Avril Haines the first female director of national security. This comes a day after the incumbent President agreed to begin the smooth transition as he asked the GSA to do “what needs to be done.”
Among other nominations were Biden’s former ally, John Kerry as the Secretary of Climate, Antony Blinken as the Secretary of State, Jake Sullivan for the position of White House national security advisor, and Linda Thomas-Greenfield as US ambassador to the UN. Most of them would need senate confirmations, except for Sullivan and John Kerry. But others are also unlikely to face any opposition from the Senate either.
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Meanwhile, the GSA has also said that it will allocate $6.3 million in funds for the Biden transition team and access to offices, meaning that the President-elect will also get top-secret security briefings. Despite his go-ahead for transition, Trump is yet to concede to his rival’s victory and repeated his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and irregularities.
Earlier on Monday, Michigan, a key state in terms of the electors certified Biden’s victory, and on Tuesday, Pennsylvania’s governor also certified his victory in the state. While addressing the nation from his hometown Delaware, Biden highlighted the need of rebuilding the alliances, tackling the pandemic outbreak that has crippled the economic activity, as well as climate change.
He further suggested that the world leaders, including the Pacific and Atlantic, were looking forward to America retaking its role as the global leader. During his interview with a local news channel, President-elect said that during the Trump administration’s it was only “America first” and added that this rhetoric frayed the country’s international alliances, especially with the European and transatlantic alliances.
Referring to the important European issue of Brexit, Biden said he had talked to the British Prime Minister Boris about the critical and sensitive Irish border issue. He further urged Britain to stand by its promises on Brexit, or there will be no trade deal with Washington. Joe Biden also plans to meet the White House coronavirus task-force and get briefed on the current situation of the virus and recent developments on vaccines.
