Trump says transition is going well; team is working on appointments
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump and aides say the presidential transition team is on track and planning to make major announcements soon.
Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, the transition chairman, are taking a "structured" and "methodical" approach to putting together a presidential administration, spokesman Jason Miller said, and "we're not going to rush" the process.
"We’re going to make sure that they’re people that we are confident will pass confirmation and they’re going to be people that we think can implement the president-elect's vision," Miller said.
On social media, Trump said a "very organized process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!"
On a day of meetings at Trump Tower, Trump heard from one of his critics: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said he had a "candid" meeting with the president-elect about his "concerns."
They included proposed tax cuts that benefit the wealthy, stepped-up deportation plans, support for "stop-and-frisk" police policies, and a possible registry of Muslim migrants, said de Blasio, who pledged to be "open-minded" but "vigilant" about the Trump presidency.
Can President Trump undermine abortion rights? Not so fast
Top aides have drifted in and out of Trump Tower in the week since Trump's election, many of them potential appointees themselves.
Among them: Ex-New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is up for secretary of State; Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a possible attorney general or defense secretary; retired Gen. Michael Flynn, being discussed for the Pentagon as well as national security adviser; and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a former Republican primary rival of Trump's who is also being talked about for attorney general.
Cruz declined to address speculation about his future, saying that "I look forward to working very closely with the president-elect, the Vice President-elect to repeal Obamacare and to confirm a strong conservative Supreme Court justice to protect the rights of all Americans."
Another question: What role, if any, might Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner play in the new administration?
As part of a tweet storm Wednesday, Trump cited some of the nations whose foreign leaders have spoken with him since the election. His list: Russia, the United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The transition put out a list of 29 world leaders who have spoken with Trump or Pence since last week's election.
Amid reports of turmoil, Trump and Pence reshuffle transition team
Trump also had another dust-up with the press on Tuesday, going to a dinner at a Manhattan restaurant without taking a press pool.
"One week after the election, it is unacceptable for the next president of the United States to travel without a regular pool to record his movements and inform the public about his whereabouts," said Jeff Mason, president of the White House Correspondents Association.
Patrons at the restaurant applauded Trump, who told one group: "We'll get your taxes down -- don't worry about it!"
Pence, meanwhile, spent part of Wednesday in Washington at a lunch with current Vice President Biden and the ir wives.
Afterward, Biden told reporters that "no administration is ready on Day One -- we weren't ready on Day One, I've never met one that's ever been ready on Day One -- but I'm confident on Day One everything will be in good hands and they'll be able to handle everything."
The nascent administration plans to move forward amid reports of back-biting, rivalries, and other troubles within his transition team,
Last week, Trump bumped New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from the chairman's job in favor of Pence.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., who left the transition team this week, told CNN: “Is there a little confusion in New York right yet? I think there is, but I think this is growing pains ... And once they integrate people who have been doing it [in Washington] with people in New York I think you'll see a smoother transition.”
Another Christie ally, attorney Kevin O’Connor, also left the transition team as he worked on staffing the Justice Department.
Miller disputed claims of disarray, saying the process in "calm" and "structured."
Said the spokesman: "Anyone saying anything else is either, a, bitter because they’re not on the inside and they’re not being considered, or, they’re someone who’s just bitter because the election was last week and they didn’t get the result that they wanted."