Trump names pick for Interior Secretary and new National Energy Council
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump has announced who will take on two key roles in his administration. The appointee is North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, according to CNN.
CNN states that Trump officially nominated Burgum as his Interior Secretary candidate and appointed him to lead the newly established National Energy Council.
On the evening of November 14, Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, attended a gala hosted by the American Policy Institute, where Trump unexpectedly revealed his decision. Before the event, Trump spoke to reporters about the connection between energy, national security, and global conflicts, including the US-China rivalry over artificial intelligence.
“We’ve got these wars abroad – both in Russia and Iran – where they’re funding the war against us with their energy and the failed sanctions of the Biden-Harris administration, where they’ve, you know, really increased their revenue during this period to fund terrorism and fund a war,” Burgum said last night.
He also noted that artificial intelligence will be dominated not only by software developers but also by those with adequate electricity to support its operations.
“The last four years, our grid and the power in the grid have really deteriorated,” he added.
On November 15, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for selecting him to serve as Secretary of the Interior and head of the newly formed National Energy Council.
“I am deeply grateful to President Donald Trump for this amazing opportunity to serve the American people and achieve ENERGY DOMINANCE!” Burgum wrote on the social platform X.
Trump explained that the newly created council will include representatives from all departments and agencies involved in permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation of all forms of American energy. The council will oversee how the US advances energy dominance by cutting “red tape,” increasing private-sector investment across all sectors of the economy, and focusing on innovation rather than outdated and unnecessary regulations.
Trump’s team appointments
On November 14, Trump also announced his picks for Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Deputy Attorney General. He named attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove to these roles.
RBC-Ukraine had earlier reported that Trump might lack sufficient votes to confirm his choice for Attorney General. Trump is reportedly considering nominating Matt Gaetz for this position.
