President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-demands-next-gop-senate-leader-allow-recess-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indicated</a> that he wants to use recess appointments to install <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cabinet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cabinet</a> members, bypassing the typical confirmation process of hearings and votes, even with a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> that will be controlled by Republicans.
Over the weekend, Trump demanded that the next leader of the upper chamber break with what has become the routine under both parties for years: scheduling <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/research-tools/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro forma sessions</a> during extended off-periods, essentially keeping the Senate from entering a recess and thus <a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preventing</a> the president from making appointments in their absence.
&#8220;Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a post to X</a>.
&#8220;This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership,&#8221; he added. &#8220;THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!&#8221;
Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-enters-race-to-become-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> (R-SD), who was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-thune-elected-senate-majority-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> to be the next Senate majority leader on Wednesday, signaled an openness to recess appointments. But he suggested recess appointments — which <a href="https://www.history.com/news/constitution-congress-recess-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have taken place in the past</a> — should only happen when alternative options have been exhausted.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s Cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments,&#8221; he said in a statement <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-demands-next-gop-senate-leader-allow-recess-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obtained</a> by The Daily Wire.
Trump has wasted no time in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/youre-hired-follow-along-for-live-updates-as-trump-builds-his-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announcing a host of nominees</a> for top roles in his coming administration, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for secretary of state, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security, and now-former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense.
One firebrand pick in particular — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/matt-gaetz-resigns-from-congress-following-attorney-general-nomination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now-former</a> Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/matt-gaetz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Gaetz</a> (R-FL) for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-nominates-matt-gaetz-for-attorney-general" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attorney general</a> — has dismayed Democrats and even some members of Trump&#8217;s own party.
&#8220;I don’t think he’s a serious candidate,&#8221; Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said of Gaetz, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-senate-republicans.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.
&#8220;I was shocked by the announcement — that shows why the advice and consent process is so important,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), adding, &#8220;I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.&#8221;
It remains to be seen whether a nominee like Gaetz can muster enough votes to achieve confirmation in the Senate. A simple majority is needed. If not, the Constitution <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C3-1/ALDE_00001144/#:~:text=Article%20II%2C%20Section%202%2C%20Clause,End%20of%20their%20next%20Session." target="_blank" rel="noopener">grants</a> the president the authority to make temporary appointments to fill vacancies when the Senate is in recess.
But a 2014 Supreme Court ruling <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/25/us/annotated-supreme-court-recess-decision.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affirmed</a> the Senate could schedule pro forma sessions — in which a single member essentially just gavels in and no business gets conducted — every few days during long breaks to block recess appointments in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/us/supreme-court-president-recess-appointments.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebuke</a> of then-President Barack Obama&#8217;s appointments to the National Labor Relations Board.
Longtime Capitol Hill reporter Jamie Dupree <a href="https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1855737851452801444" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a> in <a href="https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1855741459456315487" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posts</a> to X that the Senate majority leader &#8220;has no power&#8221; to allow a president to make recess appointments because Congress must approve an adjournment resolution for breaks of more than three days, which could be filibustered in the upper chamber.
One potential workaround, however, is the president using <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-2/section-3/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution</a> to adjourn both chambers of Congress if they cannot agree on a time to do it — an idea that Trump actually <a href="https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1250553262400471050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">floated</a> at the end of his last term, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-threatens-to-adjourn-congress-to-get-his-nominees-through/2020/04/15/e3bfc4c6-7f6a-11ea-9040-68981f488eed_story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noting</a> such an unprecedented move would likely end up in court.
&#8220;After 10 days, Trump could then fill any vacant administration posts,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1855979319522197839" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dupree</a> said of such a <a href="https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1855979927985688599" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scenario</a>. &#8220;The downside of that presidential power move is that most of the people getting recess appointments could not be paid (that&#8217;s in federal law). And their time on the job would expire on Jan. 3, 2027 &#8211; unless the Senate approves their specific nominations.&#8221;

President-Elect Donald Trump

This Is How Recess Appointments Work — And How They Could Help Trump Fill His Cabinet

Cabinet

Congress

Donald Trump

John Thune

Matt Gaetz

Politics

Presidential nomination

U.S. Senate

On Wednesday, Republicans picked <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) as their nominee in the race for the speakership in the next session of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a> beginning next year.
Johnson received unanimous support in a voice vote, <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1856807263350001778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to <a href="https://x.com/MZanona/status/1856808289251500468" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>, locking him in for the full House vote that will likely take place in early January.
Hours earlier, President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> had met with House Republicans on Capitol Hill and told them that he was with Johnson &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-hes-with-speaker-johnson-all-the-way" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all the way</a>,&#8221; according to multiple reports.
The conservative Freedom Caucus, which <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/12/congress/freedom-caucus-backs-off-challenger-plan-00189231" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> had wanted a challenger to Johnson or at least a secret ballot, did not end up putting up a fight against a voice vote, per <a href="https://x.com/mzanona/status/1856809590052065416?s=46&amp;t=z5YS3Gq8Y9sGYCPA7C8RlQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Punchbowl News&#8217; Melanie Zanona</a>.
POLITICO&#8217;s Olivia Beavers <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1856817827262366094" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> she heard a deal was brokered that would preclude amendments to &#8220;punish members&#8221; in exchange for raising the threshold for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-republican-wont-rule-out-motion-to-vacate-against-speaker-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">motion to vacate</a> to nine members.
The Republican-led House first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-elects-mike-johnson-as-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> Johnson to be the speaker in October 2023 after then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was cast out of the role by his peers.
Johnson grappled with a Democrat-led Senate and President Joe Biden, but the GOP will control the upper chamber and White House in the next session after 2024 election victories.
In his <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speaker-Johnson-Dear-Colleague-11.6.24.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to fellow GOP lawmakers seeking their report, Johnson listed a number of policy priorities in line with Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Make America Great Again&#8221; agenda.
&#8220;The mandate that has been delivered shows that a majority of Americans are eager for secure borders, lower costs, peace through strength, and a return to common sense,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;With unified Republican government, if we meet this historic moment together, the next two years can result in the most consequential Congress of the modern era,&#8221; Johnson added.
Other House GOP leadership elections took place on Wednesday, too. Majority Leader <a href="https://x.com/juliegraceb/status/1854319650235990478" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Scalise</a> (R-LA) and Majority Whip <a href="https://x.com/liz_elkind/status/1854497864606462098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Emmer</a> (R-MN) each secured another term in their respective role.
With Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selecting</a> House GOP Conference Chair <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> (R-NY) as his nominee for U.N. ambassador, Republicans voted on who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/candidates-line-up-for-race-to-replace-stefanik-in-house-leadership-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would be her successor</a> in the leadership position.
Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-proposes-banning-foreign-flags-on-house-floor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kat Cammack (R-FL)</a>, both of whom just won a third term in Congress, competed to replace Stefanik. McClain won out in the end, <a href="https://x.com/MZanona/status/1856820868363817253" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> through a 146-67 vote.
&#8220;I am honored to be chosen by my colleagues,&#8221; McClain <a href="https://x.com/RepLisaMcClain/status/1856820377277866283" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X, adding later: &#8220;I am excited to lead our unified team alongside President Trump and [Speaker Johnson] to pass the America First agenda.&#8221;
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I am honored to be chosen by my colleagues to serve as the Republican Conference Chairwoman and I thank my constituents in MI-09 for their continued support. I am excited to lead our unified team alongside President Trump and <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> to pass the America First agenda. <a href="https://t.co/p6unxBkwGS">pic.twitter.com/p6unxBkwGS</a>
&mdash; Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLisaMcClain/status/1856820377277866283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The GOP Conference chair, the holder of which &#8220;<a href="https://www.house.gov/leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heads</a> organization of all Republican Party members in the House,&#8221; has been held by Stefanik since she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newest-gop-leader-were-unified-in-working-with-trump-cheney-still-part-of-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took over</a> from then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) in 2021.
McClain, the <a href="https://mcclain.house.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sitting</a> House GOP Conference secretary, has a <a href="https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/search/118?query=Lisa%20McClain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70%</a> in the Heritage Action Scorecard. She was <a href="https://x.com/HagemanforWY/status/1856105963616416037" target="_blank" rel="noopener">touted</a> by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) for supporting Trump &#8220;early and helped to turn a &#8216;blue&#8217; state red.&#8221;
Rep. <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1854621553750606212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Palmer</a> (R-AL) <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1856828725834174556" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> his bid for re-election as Republican Policy Committee chairman to Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) while Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) <a href="https://x.com/cami_mondeaux/status/1856829951258894413" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> another stint as House GOP Conference vice chair.
After backing out of the race for chair of the GOP Conference chair, Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) <a href="https://x.com/RyanSchmelzFOX/status/1856841967637823998" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) to become its secretary. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) <a href="https://x.com/NRCC/status/1856826048492486929" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won</a> a second term as NRCC chair.
Republicans are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-projected-to-win-house-complete-2024-sweep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> to have at least a two-seat majority in the House after the 2024 election. However, with Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/youre-hired-follow-along-for-live-updates-as-trump-builds-his-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picking</a> multiple GOP members for his administration, it may complicate that picture next year.
House Democrats are <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/1854642092674318387" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slated</a> to hold their leadership elections next week. In the upper chamber, Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-thune-elected-senate-majority-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picked</a> Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as leader of their conference.

House Speaker Mike Johnson

House GOP Sticks With Mike Johnson For Speaker, Picks Successor To Elise Stefanik In Leadership Role

Elise Stefanik

House Republicans

Mike Johnson

U.S.

U.S. House of Representatives

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ufo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFO</a> hunter who <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Written-Testimony-Elizondo.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worked in</a> the Pentagon testified under oath to Congress on Wednesday that he signed documents limiting what he could say about crash retrievals of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), formerly described as unidentified flying objects (UFO).
Luis Elizondo, an author and former Department of Defense (DoD) official, appeared for a <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/unidentified-anomalous-phenomena-exposing-the-truth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing</a> on Capitol Hill, titled &#8220;Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth,&#8221; alongside other witnesses.
Under questioning from Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nancy-mace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nancy Mace</a> (R-SC), who chaired the hearing and asked about secret UAP crash retrieval programs, Elizondo said he signed documents three years ago restricting what he could say.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Secret UAP Crash Retrieval Programs
&quot;Were they designed to identify and reverse engineer alien craft? Yes or no?&quot; &#8211; Rep. Nancy Mace
&quot;Yes.&quot; &#8211; Lue Elizondo <a href="https://t.co/FeAb8PNFv4">pic.twitter.com/FeAb8PNFv4</a>
&mdash; Mike Colangelo (@MikeColangelo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeColangelo/status/1856752950154064003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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He did say &#8220;yes&#8221; to the questions of whether the U.S. government has conducted covert UAP crash retrievals and whether these programs were designed to identify and reverse engineer &#8220;alien&#8221; craft.
Elizondo emphasized that for him to speak more candidly, he would have to do so in a closed session and stressed that he was only allowed to discuss what the Pentagon approved for disclosure for his recent book.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
During another exchange, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) got Elizondo to testify that the &#8220;U.S. government&#8221; gave him the documentation to sign that prevented him from speaking further on crash retrieval programs.
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If none of this UAP stuff exists, if it’s all false, why at every turn are people trying to stop transparency? You can’t talk about fight club if there’s no fight club. <a href="https://t.co/otPGNbwu71">pic.twitter.com/otPGNbwu71</a>
&mdash; Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMoskowitz/status/1856761419137495406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Elizondo said he did not have a copy of the record and that it was stored in a SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility). He said the DoD had it, but indicated he could not reveal much more than that publicly.
&#8220;You specifically said that the document said that you can&#8217;t talk about crash retrievals. Well, you can&#8217;t talk about fight club if there&#8217;s no fight club,&#8221; Moskowitz quipped, making a &#8220;Fight Club&#8221; movie reference.
Elizondo also said, while facing questions from Mace, he would &#8220;prefer&#8221; to address whether U.S. contractors have been involved in retrieval programs in a closed setting. And he affirmed there have been injuries.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kT2iWKZr0qA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;In your book, you mention government employees who have been injured by UAPs, placed on leave, and receiving government compensation for their injuries, is that correct?&#8221;
After Elizondo replied in the affirmative, Mace asked, &#8220;How can the government deny that we have recovered craft if they are paying people because they&#8217;ve been injured by recovered craft?&#8221;
Elizondo said: &#8220;That&#8217;s why I think we&#8217;re here — again — because I&#8217;ve seen the documentation by the U.S. government for several of these individuals who have sustained injuries as the result of a UAP incident.&#8221;
In posts to X that followed, Mace <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1856756113162866795" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declared</a>, &#8220;If I hear closed session conversation one more time I am going to lose it,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1856794705251766766" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and</a>, &#8220;I’m fed up with the government’s efforts to hide this from American taxpayers.&#8221;
The congresswoman also <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1856771509735375148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a>: &#8220;If it doesn&#8217;t exist, why are we spending taxpayer dollars on something that isn&#8217;t real? And if it does exist, why is it being deliberately hidden from the public?&#8221;
Got a UFO tip worth investigating? Submit it <a href="https://tips.dailywire.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?_gl=1*5y7b8e*_gcl_au*NzM1OTIxOTE0LjE3MjYzMjUwNDI.*_ga*MTEzOTk1NjkxNi4xNzI2MzI1MDQz*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMTUyODY0OC4yMzUuMS4xNzMxNTMwMTcyLjUwLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Lue Elizondo

Former Pentagon Official Testifies Govt Is Restricting What He Can Say About UFO Retrievals

Department of Defense

Jared Moskowitz

Nancy Mace

National Security

Pentagon

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> reportedly told House Republicans on Wednesday that he backs House Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA).
During a closed meeting on Capitol Hill, Trump said he is with Johnson &#8220;all the way,&#8221; according to <a href="https://x.com/juliegraceb/status/1856718932465328518">journalists</a> <a href="https://x.com/MZanona/status/1856719685565268275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posting</a> to X ahead of GOP leadership elections later in the day.
Trump added, <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1856726979208208653" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per</a> POLITICO&#8217;s Olivia Beavers, &#8220;Mike you’re going to have a tremendous year. Tremendous two years.&#8221; He also told everyone: &#8220;Get it all done. Unify.&#8221;
Johnson is running to retain the speaker&#8217;s gavel, as the Republicans are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-projected-to-win-house-complete-2024-sweep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> to maintain a majority in the House via the 2024 election.
The GOP-led House first <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-elects-mike-johnson-as-speaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elected</a> Johnson to be the speaker in October 2023 after then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was cast out of the role.
Johnson grappled with a Democrat-led Senate and President Joe Biden, but the GOP will control the upper chamber and White House in the next session.
&#8220;Everybody knows the coattails were enormous,&#8221; Trump told House Republicans on Wednesday, Punchbowl News&#8217; Jake Sherman <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1856714105203159450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on X.
&#8220;Not only did he win back the majority of the Senate, a 53-seat majority, which is something we can really work with, but he also got us the majority as well,&#8221; Trump added.
He continued: &#8220;Everybody knows that, and so we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He&#8217;s a singular figure in American history.&#8221;
Sherman <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1856725973611209101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> Trump also praised House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN). Trump emphasized: &#8220;All of you just stick together.&#8221;
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selected</a> House GOP Conference Chair <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> (R-NY) as U.N. ambassador. Members will vote to pick her successor as the No. 3 House Republican later in the day.
POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/11/12/congress/freedom-caucus-backs-off-challenger-plan-00189231" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on Tuesday that the conservative House Freedom Caucus had backed off a plan to put up a challenger against Johnson in the race for speaker.
Instead, the outlet noted, they decided to pursue an internal vote on Johnson&#8217;s speakership through a secret ballot process in lieu of a voice vote.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
It was not immediately clear whether Trump throwing his support behind Johnson would cause House Republicans to rally behind Johnson.
A full House election on the speakership is expected in January. Multiple votes are possible if a majority cannot be reached.
In his <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Speaker-Johnson-Dear-Colleague-11.6.24.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to fellow GOP lawmakers seeking their report, Johnson listed a number of policy priorities in line with Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Make America Great Again&#8221; agenda.
&#8220;The mandate that has been delivered shows that a majority of Americans are eager for secure borders, lower costs, peace through strength, and a return to common sense,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;With unified Republican government, if we meet this historic moment together, the next two years can result in the most consequential Congress of the modern era,&#8221; Johnson added.

President-Elect Donald Trump Meets With Biden, Congressional Leaders In Washington

Trump Says He’s With Speaker Johnson ‘All The Way’

Executive

Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host and <a href="https://www.airandspaceforces.com/trump-national-security-team-takes-shape-hegseth-named-as-secdef/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Army National Guard veteran</a> who President-elect Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-taps-pete-hegseth-fox-host-and-army-vet-as-defense-secretary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">picked</a> on Tuesday to be his secretary of defense, wrote the literal book on how woke ideology has conquered the military.
In &#8220;The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men who Keep us Free,&#8221; Hegseth&#8217;s fifth book, he wrote about personally witnessing the military go through changes. In fact, he says he was pushed out of the Army because of those changes.
&#8220;I joined the Army in 2001 because I wanted to serve my country. Extremists attacked us on 9/11, and we went to war. I became an infantry officer in 2003. I guarded terrorists at Guantánamo Bay in 2004. I led men in combat in Iraq in 2005. I pulled bodies out of burning vehicles in Afghanistan in 2012. I held a riot shield outside the White House in 2020,&#8221; he wrote in the introduction.
&#8220;And in 2021, I was deemed an ‘extremist’ by that very same Army,&#8221; he added, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/new-book-war-warriors-pete-hegseth-highlights-woke-military" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per Fox News</a>. &#8220;Yes, you read that right. Twenty years … and the military I loved, I fought for, I revered … spit me out. While writing this book, I separated from an Army that didn&#8217;t want me anymore. The feeling was mutual — I didn&#8217;t want this Army anymore either.&#8221;
&#8220;The War on Warriors&#8221; was released in early June and quickly rose to the top of the New York Times bestseller list with more than 60,000 copies moved in its first week, <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/media/pro-trump-fox-news-host-barrels-into-first-place-on-new-york-times-bestseller-list/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Mediate</a>.
Earlier this year, ahead of the book&#8217;s release, Hegseth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/woke-ideology-as-part-of-training-ben-shapiro-talks-wokeness-in-the-military-with-fox-news-pete-hegseth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke with</a> Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro about how the military underwent a &#8220;fundamental transformation&#8221; starting in the Obama administration, shifting away from being an &#8220;institution more focused than any other in our government, in our society, on meritocracy, on lethality, on readiness.&#8221;
Hearkening back to the run-up to President Joe Biden&#8217;s inauguration in 2021, Hegseth recalled being ordered as part of the National Guard to defend the event — that is until a commander called and said he was no longer needed. Hegseth said that during the writing of his book, he &#8220;spoke to someone who was privy to the decision-making&#8221; and this person said the chain of command went through his social media and saw that he had the Jerusalem cross and dubbed it a &#8220;white extremist tattoo&#8221; and that he was a &#8220;threat and an extremist,&#8221; leading to the revocation of his orders.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;So I signed up 20 years ago to fight extremists, put my life on the line, and now I&#8217;m deemed one because of what I believe — because of my Christian faith or because I work for Fox News or because I support Donald Trump? Any one of those is a wrong answer. Like, I&#8217;ve worn this uniform for the better part of 20 years for this country, and you&#8217;re calling me an extremist. If they&#8217;ll do that to me, they&#8217;ll do it to anybody. And they did,&#8221; he said.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="How The Military Went Woke | Pete Hegseth" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vhVMY0AxZd0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hegseth said that &#8220;especially under Obama, the focus became, ‘No, no, no, no, what about these gender issues? What about these trans issues? What about these women in combat issues? What about climate change?’ And certainly under Biden, it’s been, ‘What about extremism?'&#8221;
Young soldiers joining the armed forces are bombarded with “woke ideology” during training, he said, adding: &#8220;You mentioned the warriors are just as good as they’ve always been. I agree, kind of. The challenge is because it’s a top-down organization, you start pushing things like DEI, now your young lieutenants and your young privates going through basic or going through ROTC or going through West Point are getting that woke ideology as part of their training.&#8221;
Hegseth also explained how the death of George Floyd in 2020 led Department of Defense leadership to address a supposed &#8220;systematic problem&#8221; of racism in the military: &#8220;The Left knows that by pushing DEI, now they’ve got black soldiers looking at white soldiers and white soldiers looking at black soldiers wondering who really deserved what or why they’re in a position, which is really toxic for an organization primed on unity.&#8221;

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pick For Defense Secretary, Wrote The Book On Pentagon’s Fall To Wokeness

Books

Military

Wokeness

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republicans</a>, who are now projected to keep control of the lower chamber, are demanding that top officials across the outgoing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden administration</a> retain documents and communications for potential investigations in the next session of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Congress</a>.
Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) announced on Tuesday that he and other GOP leaders sent a letter to every Cabinet secretary, telling each one to preserve records ahead of President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> beginning his second term in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a> early next year.
&#8220;As we begin preparation for a new Trump Administration and new Congress, we fully expect your cooperation in a smooth transition of power. To that end, it is imperative that during the transition you fully comply with all statutory record retention requirements, including but not limited to the Federal Records Act. In addition to compliance with federal record retention laws, we are also expressly directing that all necessary steps be taken to preserve relevant Department documents and communications,&#8221; they wrote.
&#8220;During the 118th Congress, House Committees conducted robust oversight concerning the Biden-Harris Administration’s disastrous border policies, tragic Afghanistan withdrawal, collusion with social media companies to suppress free speech, and weaponization of federal agencies against its political opponents, as well as the antisemitism at our nation’s universities enabled by leading Democrats,&#8221; the GOP lawmakers added.
&#8220;In the waning days of this Congress, House Committees will continue to seek compliance with many of the subpoenas with which you largely declined to cooperate. Likewise, as the 119th Congress begins, the Committees may determine that it is necessary to reissue certain subpoenas as they continue with their oversight efforts,&#8221; they continued, before signing off: &#8220;Thank you in advance for your compliance with this request.&#8221;
Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) announced on Monday, nearly one week after Election Day, that Republicans were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-projected-to-win-house-complete-2024-sweep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected to retain</a> command of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a>. As of press time, the GOP will have <a href="https://election.dailywire.com/?_gl=1*1d2dz3j*_gcl_au*MjE0Mjc3Mjk2OC4xNzMwMDM5MjE4*_ga*MTEyNTQ2Njg5Ni4xNjgyODYyMjcx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMTQ0NjU5MS4xMTQ3LjEuMTczMTQ0NjU5Mi41OS4wLjA." target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least a two-seat majority</a>. A handful of races have yet to be called. The Republicans completed a 2024 sweep that also included the GOP retaking the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> and Trump winning back the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a>.
GOP leadership elections in the House are expected to take place on Wednesday. House Democrats are <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/1854642092674318387" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slated</a> to hold their leadership elections next week. Johnson is running to keep the speaker&#8217;s gavel, but the House likely will not vote on that role until January. It remains to be seen if anyone challenges him.

House Republican Leadership Holds Press Conference On Capitol Steps Following Election

House Republicans Demand Biden Admin Preserve Documents

2024 Election

Biden Administration

President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> faced blowback on Tuesday for his response to a journalist asking about an Israeli hostage deal with Hamas more than a year after the group&#8217;s October 7 terrorist attacks.
The bizarre exchange took place in the White House as Biden, 81, met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
&#8220;President Biden, do you think we can get a hostage deal by the end of your term?&#8221; asked Neria Kraus, a reporter for Israel&#8217;s Channel 13.
Biden&#8217;s reply was somewhat muddled. According to Kraus, he said: &#8220;Do you think that you can get hit in the head by the camera behind you?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I asked President Biden if he thinks that he can get a hostage deal done by the end of his term. He answered, commenting on the number of cameramen in the room: “do you think that you can get hit in the head by the camera behind you?” <a href="https://t.co/B3DCJoHdaw">pic.twitter.com/B3DCJoHdaw</a>
&mdash; Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) <a href="https://twitter.com/NeriaKraus/status/1856387921953128480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The White House, which has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-harris-admin-altered-transcript-of-bidens-garbage-insult-could-have-broken-law" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced controversy</a> for altering a transcript of Biden&#8217;s infamous &#8220;garbage&#8221; insult against supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, offered a slightly different version.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
&#8220;Do you think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a — a camera behind you?&#8221; Biden said in reply, according to the White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/11/12/remarks-by-president-biden-and-president-isaac-herzog-of-the-state-of-israel-before-a-meeting/">transcript</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
QUESTION: President Biden, do you think we can get a hostage deal by the end of your term?   PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Do you think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a &#8212; a camera behind you? <a href="https://t.co/JjD0pSIVJW">pic.twitter.com/JjD0pSIVJW</a>
&mdash; Matt Viser (@mviser) <a href="https://twitter.com/mviser/status/1856410273562644846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
After the exchange, Biden began delivering remarks, declaring that his commitment to Israel is &#8220;ironclad&#8221; and introducing Herzog.
Kraus <a href="https://x.com/NeriaKraus/status/1856387921953128480" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> video of their exchange on X, noting Biden was commenting on &#8220;the number of cameramen in the room.&#8221;
The clip quickly went viral, with many users — including journalists — describing Biden&#8217;s remark as odd, rude, or just plain combative.
&#8220;Huh? weird,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1856404022175117762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> PunchBowl News co-founder Jake Sherman.
&#8220;Biden unburdened by what has been,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/TocRadio/status/1856409546585190778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quipped</a> The Washington Examiner&#8217;s Christian Datoc.
&#8220;What a complete a**,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceBJones3/status/1856399930463559738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Fox News host Lawrence Jones.
&#8220;Seems aggressive,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/ZitoSalena/status/1856405836383350903" target="_blank" rel="noopener">observed</a> journalist Salina Zito.
&#8220;This man has jello for brains and was still a better candidate than Kamala,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/RubinReport/status/1856405805068685524" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> commentator Dave Rubin.
The exchange happened one week after Biden&#8217;s vice president, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamala Harris</a>, lost to Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Biden had been running for a second term but dropped out in July after a fumbling debate performance against Trump while facing pressure from allies who raised concerns about his age, mental acuity, and electability.
In his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhmvTbWFJNo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarks</a> that followed Biden&#8217;s introduction, Herzog noted there were still 101 hostages in Gaza and emphasized that bringing them home is a priority — a stance with which the U.S. president said he agreed.

President Joe Biden

WATCH: Biden Gives Bizarre Response To Reporter Asking About Israeli Hostage Deal

Gaza

Global Politics

Hamas

Israel

Joe Biden

White House

Nearly one week after Election Day, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/house-republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans</a> were projected to keep control of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a>, completing a 2024 sweep that also included the GOP winning the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> and President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> securing another term in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/white-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a>.
Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1856128087311651064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it determined at 7:13 p.m. ET on Monday that Republicans would take at least 218 seats, just enough for the majority, when Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) was <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1856128056881979512" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> to win re-election. Shortly afterwards, DDHQ <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1856159039744307436" target="_blank" rel="noopener">projected</a> Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) to win his race.
A handful of races have yet to be called, so the final makeup of the lower chamber — which has <a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20voting%20representatives,of%20the%20Northern%20Mariana%20Islands." target="_blank" rel="noopener">435 voting </a><a href="https://www.house.gov/representatives#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20voting%20representatives,of%20the%20Northern%20Mariana%20Islands." target="_blank" rel="noopener">members</a> — was not immediately clear. As of press time, Democrats had taken 209 seats. Republicans face the prospect of grappling with another slim majority.
GOP leadership elections in the House are expected to take place on Wednesday. House Democrats are <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/1854642092674318387" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slated</a> to hold their leadership elections next week. Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-running-again-for-speaker-readies-gops-biggest-offense-of-our-lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a> to keep the speaker&#8217;s gavel, but the House likely will not vote on that position until January.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-running-again-for-speaker-readies-gops-biggest-offense-of-our-lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Mike Johnson Running Again For Speaker, Readies GOP’s ‘Biggest Offense Of Our Lives’</a>
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) sent a <a href="https://punchbowl.news/wp-content/uploads/Steve-Scalise-Dear-Colleague-November-6-2024.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> to GOP colleagues last week, seeking their support for another stint in his leadership role and laying out a &#8220;First 100-Day Agenda&#8221; that aligns with Trump&#8217;s agenda on tax cuts, energy, and border security.
Trump has selected Reps. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stefanik-aims-to-restore-america-first-peace-through-strength-as-trumps-u-n-ambassador" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik (R-NY)</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-taps-green-beret-veteran-as-national-security-adviser" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Waltz (R-FL)</a> to be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and national security adviser, respectively. If those picks are finalized, The New York Times reported <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/us/politics/trump-michael-waltz-national-security-adviser.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">special elections</a> will be held to determine their replacements in safe districts for the GOP.
DDHQ <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/1854025606142509127" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously called</a> the Senate for the Republicans just before midnight on Election Day and — as of Monday evening — it said the GOP had a net gain of three seats, leaving Republicans with 52 seats while the Democrats and the independents who caucus will have 47 members.
The one Senate race DDHQ has not called is the contest in Pennsylvania. With more than 95% of the vote counted, it showed Republican challenger Dave McCormick leading Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) by 3,370,959-3,335,896 votes or 49%-48.5%.
However, the Associated Press did already <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dave-mccormick-wins-pennsylvania-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">call the race</a> in favor of McCormick, and the Republican declared victory. Casey, who is seeking a fourth term, so far has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wsj-editorial-board-accuses-dems-of-election-denial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refused to concede</a> the race while there were <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/casey-not-conceding-ballot-counting-continues-pennsylvanias-senate-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener">still ballots left to count</a>.

Speaker Mike Johnson and other members of House GOP Leadership

Republicans Projected To Win House, Complete 2024 Sweep

Republicans

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> (R-NY) pledged to uphold President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a>&#8216;s foreign policy of &#8220;America First peace through strength leadership&#8221; after he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selected</a> the congresswoman on Monday to serve as his U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Less than a week after winning a second term in the White House, Trump has quickly begun to put together a team for his Cabinet. Stefanik, who just won a sixth term and currently holds the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/candidates-line-up-for-race-to-replace-stefanik-in-house-leadership-role" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House Republican Conference chair position</a>, was one of his first picks, along with former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-will-restore-american-energy-dominance-trump-taps-lee-zeldin-to-lead-epa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lead the EPA</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My statement on accepting President Donald J. Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as Ambassador to the United Nations:
I am truly honored to earn President Trump&#39;s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. During my conversation with…
&mdash; Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) <a href="https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1856083025844678895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In a <a href="https://x.com/elisestefanik/status/1856083025844678895?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>, Stefanik said she was &#8220;truly honored&#8221; to be picked, adding, &#8220;During my conversation with President Trump, I shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and that I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate.&#8221;
She declared &#8220;Trump’s historic landslide election has given hope to the American people and is a reminder that brighter days are ahead — both at home and abroad. America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek.&#8221;
If confirmed by the Senate — or installed via <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-demands-next-gop-senate-leader-allow-recess-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recess appointment</a> — Stefanik would take on the role held by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who has served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under the Biden administration since being confirmed by the Senate in early 2021.
&#8220;The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries,&#8221; Stefanik said. &#8220;I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations.&#8221;
Much of the rest of Stefanik&#8217;s statement focused on being a member of Congress for the past decade, including becoming the <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/midterm-election-2014-republican-elise-stefanik-becomes-youngest-woman-ever-elected-to-congress/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youngest woman</a> elected to Congress at the time in 2014, and representing New York&#8217;s 21st Congressional District.
&#8220;My family and I are excited for this next chapter in New York and Washington to work hard to serve our country on President Donald Trump&#8217;s team,&#8221; Stefanik said. &#8220;No matter where this journey takes us, Upstate New York — the cradle of the American Revolution v will always be my heart and home.&#8221;
Trump also released a statement, announcing that he was nominating Stefanik to be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
&#8220;I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is a strong and very smart America First fighter. She graduated from Harvard University, with honors, was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, and is the highest ranking woman in Congress, as the House Republican Conference Chair,&#8221; he said.
Stefanik &#8220;was the first Member of Congress to endorse me, and has always been a staunch advocate,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;Elise is a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses. She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nations, delivering Peace through Strength and America First National Security policies!&#8221;

Rep. Elise Stefanik

Stefanik Aims To Restore ‘America First Peace Through Strength’ As Trump’s U.N. Ambassador

New York

United Nations

Republicans are throwing their hats into the ring to replace Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/elise-stefanik" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elise Stefanik</a> (R-NY) as the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> GOP&#8217;s No. 4 leader now that she has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-offers-elise-stefanik-u-n-ambassadorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selected</a> by President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> to serve as his U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
The Republican Conference chair position, the holder of which &#8220;<a href="https://www.house.gov/leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heads</a> organization of all Republican Party members in the House,&#8221; has been held by Stefanik since she <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newest-gop-leader-were-unified-in-working-with-trump-cheney-still-part-of-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took over</a> from then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) in 2021.
Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-proposes-banning-foreign-flags-on-house-floor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kat Cammack (R-FL)</a>, who was just elected to serve a third term in the lower chamber, <a href="https://x.com/Kat_Cammack/status/1856093763980144745" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> her candidacy on Monday.
&#8220;With the mandate the American people gave President Trump and my fellow Republicans on Tuesday, we need to deliver results now more than ever,&#8221; Cammack said in a <a href="https://x.com/Kat_Cammack/status/1855996224760873464">post</a> to X. &#8220;We need to be one team, one mission. I’m all in to be our next House Conference Chair and I look forward to executing on the America First agenda we have been sent to Washington for.&#8221;
Rep. Lisa McClain, another member fresh off winning a third term, also declared. McClain is already <a href="https://mcclain.house.gov/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serving</a> in GOP leadership as secretary of the House Republican Conference.
&#8220;Pres. Trump &amp; I brought together a unified coalition of voters in Michigan that represents the modern Republican party,&#8221; McClain <a href="https://x.com/LisaForCongress/status/1856061088913338461" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on X. &#8220;I’m running to be Conference Chair because this is the approach we need to retain and grow our Conference. I&#8217;m ready for the challenge!&#8221;
<a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1856013350762696788" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple</a> <a href="https://x.com/MZanona/status/1855996518840373735" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a> said Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), who just won a second term, is competing in the race, too.
In a letter to colleagues, Houchin pledged to ensure House GOP messaging is &#8220;conservative and clear&#8221; if she is chosen, according to the <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2024/11/11/indiana-us-rep-erin-houchin-running-for-house-republican-conference-chair/76197650007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indianapolis Star</a>. She also said: &#8220;I am committed to working with each of you to support President Trump, hone our message, communicate it effectively, and support all your communication needs.&#8221;
Heritage Action Scorecard, which rates members based on &#8220;how conservative&#8221; they have been in votes and co-sponsorships, gave <a href="https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/search/118?query=kat+cammack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cammack 91%</a>, <a href="https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/search/118?query=Lisa%20McClain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McClain 70%</a>, and <a href="https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/search/118?query=Erin%20Houchin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houchin 66%</a> for the 118th congressional session from 2023 to 2024.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), who first won her seat in 2022 after defeating Cheney in the primary, <a href="https://x.com/HagemanforWY/status/1856105963616416037" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> McClain while noting how she &#8220;supported President Trump early and helped to turn a &#8216;blue&#8217; state red.&#8221;
Yet another Trump ally — Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3736985-stefanik-wins-election-as-gop-conference-chair/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost</a> to Stefanik for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-house-of-representatives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">House</a> Republican Conference chair the last time — is <a href="https://x.com/maxpcohen/status/1856051534150414612" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly backing</a> Cammack.
A potential fourth contender, Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), has <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1856014437704184106" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> <a href="https://x.com/ben_guggenheim/status/1856010924118651061" target="_blank" rel="noopener">been</a> making calls to colleagues about a run.
The Hill&#8217;s Emily Brooks also <a href="https://x.com/emilybrooksnews/status/1856094103332892978" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> on X that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is not discounting a campaign of her own, telling the reporter: &#8220;I haven’t ruled out running, many people are saying I should. Whoever it is, I believe it’s important that the conference chair supports President Trump from the very beginning.&#8221;
GOP leadership elections in the House are expected to take place on Wednesday. House Majority Leader <a href="https://x.com/juliegraceb/status/1854319650235990478" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Scalise</a> (R-LA), House Majority Whip <a href="https://x.com/liz_elkind/status/1854497864606462098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Emmer</a> (R-MN), and Republican Policy Committee Chairman <a href="https://x.com/Olivia_Beavers/status/1854621553750606212" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gary Palmer</a> (R-AL) are seeking another stint in their roles.
Speaker <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mike-johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Johnson</a> (R-LA) is also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-running-again-for-speaker-readies-gops-biggest-offense-of-our-lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">running</a> to stay put, though whoever gets the gavel will be determined by the entire House, likely in January.
House Democrats are <a href="https://x.com/AndrewSolender/status/1854642092674318387" target="_blank" rel="noopener">slated</a> to hold their leadership elections next week. Jockeying for top roles is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-demands-next-gop-senate-leader-allow-recess-appointments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">also underway</a> in the Senate, which the GOP won back last week.

Rep. Elise Stefanik and other House GOP leaders

Candidates Line Up For Race To Replace Stefanik In House Leadership Role

The Republican Party is &#8220;now more diverse than it&#8217;s ever been in modern times,&#8221; NBC News National Political Correspondent Steve Kornacki explained on Sunday after President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> won re-election last week.
Kornacki <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-november-10-2024-n1311007" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> with &#8220;Meet The Press&#8221; moderator Kristen Welker about how data show minority groups have shifted toward the GOP over the past eight years while Democrats have attracted more white and college-educated voters.
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Trump &#8220;did it by transforming the Republican Party. It is now more diverse than it&#8217;s ever been in modern times, and certainly much more than when Donald Trump first came on the scene eight years ago,&#8221; Kornacki said.
Using a screen behind him, which displayed election statistics, Kornacki went over how the results from &#8220;pre-Trump&#8221; in 2012 compared to now showed more voters under the age of 30, those with an income of less than $50,000, and people with no college degree gravitate to the GOP.
Kornacki discussed race and ethnicity, highlighting the growing &#8220;diversity&#8221; in the Republican Party.
&#8220;Again, pre-Trump versus now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The black vote still overwhelmingly Democratic, but that&#8217;s a 15-point shift. It used to be 87 points for the Democrats, down to 72. How about this? You&#8217;ve heard a lot about it this week. This is what the numbers look like. Hispanic voters were 44 points Democratic before Donald Trump. Now, basically a toss-up constituency. And Asian Americans, a 32-point shift there as well. That&#8217;s what&#8217;s happened to the Republican Party since Donald Trump became its standard bearer eight years ago. This has been the movement.&#8221;
Kornacki explained how &#8220;the story is the opposite&#8221; for the Democratic Party, going over results showing that more white voters — though not a majority — are turning blue, as are college-educated voters and people earning more than $100,000. He also got into how Trump &#8220;swept&#8221; the swing states, highlighting Wisconsin as an example, and &#8220;pulled off&#8221; becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years, pointing to the &#8220;giant strides&#8221; he makes in blue states like California.
Welker mentioned that the results are in and &#8220;they&#8217;re not going to change,&#8221; but she also noted that counting is still happening in some places.
&#8220;Yeah. I mean, if you remember from 2020, it took about a month till we got all the national popular vote,&#8221; Kornacki said. &#8220;And let me just show you, nationally here, one thing we&#8217;re waiting on, big — we know California is a Harris state. But as I said, still some votes to come: 75% is in. That means there are millions more votes just from California. And there are other states like this. A lot of it has to do with vote by mail, those ballots taking a long time for some of these states. So when you look at where the current popular vote stands, you know, you&#8217;ve got there — probably another 10 million or so, when all is said and done, are going to be added to this. This has been the story for a while in states like California. They take a very long time.&#8221;

NBC’s Data Whiz Breaks Down How GOP Became More Diverse Under Trump

Democrats

Diversity

Republican Party

President-elect <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump</a> weighed in on the race for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate</a> leader, declaring on Sunday he wants whoever takes on the role — now that the GOP has won back control of the upper chamber — to allow recess appointments.
If his demand is met, it would break with what has become the routine under both parties for years: scheduling <a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/research-tools/glossary.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pro forma sessions</a> during extended off-periods, essentially keeping the Senate from entering a recess and thus <a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preventing</a> the president from making appointments in their absence.
&#8220;Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a post to X</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner. Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is…
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1855692242981155259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,&#8221; he added. &#8220;This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY! Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/now-schumer-demands-senate-act-bipartisan-heres-his-bipartisan-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Now Schumer Demands Senate Act ‘Bipartisan.’ Here’s His ‘Bipartisan’ History.</a>
Trump has not publicly endorsed any candidate for the role as of press time, but multiple GOP lawmakers are vying for the spot in the upcoming leadership elections. Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mitch-mcconnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mitch McConnell</a> (R-KY), who is the current leader of the Senate GOP, is not competing this time. Three other Republicans are running: Sens. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rick-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Scott</a> (R-FL), <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-cornyn-announces-bid-to-replace-mcconnell-as-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Cornyn</a> (R-TX), and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thune-enters-race-to-become-senate-gop-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Thune</a> (R-SD).
Scott responded to Trump&#8217;s post on X, saying he agreed with the president-elect&#8217;s demand. &#8220;100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible,&#8221; Scott <a href="https://x.com/SenRickScott/status/1855693759281053758" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Thune, the sitting Senate Republican whip, said in a statement obtained by The Daily Wire: &#8220;I’ve spent eight months carefully listening to my colleagues about their vision for the next chapter of the Senate Republican Conference, especially as we hit the ground running with President Trump. One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s Cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments. We cannot let Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats block the will of the American people.&#8221;
On Saturday, before Trump called for allowing recess appointments, Cornyn said in <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1855424788358897926" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posts to X</a> that he would keep the Senate in session until Trump&#8217;s Cabinet is filled if elected majority leader.
&#8220;The first order of business in the new Senate should be confirming President Trump’s cabinet. If I am the majority leader, I will keep the Senate in session until those confirmations occur,&#8221; Cornyn said. &#8220;No weekends, no breaks. Democrats can cooperate in the best interest of the country, or continue the resistance, which will eventually be ground down. Take your pick.&#8221;
In a <a href="https://x.com/JohnCornyn/status/1855730861028569391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to X</a> on Sunday, after Trump expressed his position, Cornyn said: &#8220;It is unacceptable for Senate Ds to blockade President @realDonaldTrump‘s cabinet appointments. If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments.&#8221;
He added: &#8220;Article II, Section 2, Clause 3: The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mike-johnson-running-again-for-speaker-readies-gops-biggest-offense-of-our-lives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RELATED: Mike Johnson Running Again For Speaker, Readies GOP’s ‘Biggest Offense Of Our Lives’</a>
Democrats still control the Senate for now, with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as majority leader. They <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/08/us/politics/senate-democrats-judges.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can move forward</a> with confirming judges, although their narrow majority could make a final blitz difficult. President Joe Biden has <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/11/08/president-biden-names-fifty-sixth-round-of-judicial-nominees/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to announce</a> judicial nominees after his vice president, Kamala Harris, lost the 2024 presidential contest to Trump.
Tech executive Elon Musk, who owns X and supported Trump&#8217;s 2024 campaign, also replied to Trump with an explanation for why he supports the call for recess appointments.
&#8220;Without recess appointments, it will take two years or more to confirm the new administration!&#8221; Musk <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1855694053268169146" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;This would make it impossible to enact the change demanded by the American people, which is utterly unacceptable.&#8221;

Trump Demands Next GOP Senate Leader Allow Recess Appointments

John Cornyn

Rick Scott

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Daniel Chaitin