Trump builds out foreign policy team with picks of Hegseth for Pentagon, Ratcliffe for CIA

That is a very big difference in the first administration when he was very dependent on other people —on their advice on who to pick. He didn’t know it was going on,

McGhee White said

I’ve gotta say I've been very impressed with all of Trump’s picks so far, perhaps with the exception of Kristi Noem. I’m a little bit worried for the dogs here in Washington, D.C.,

McGhee White joked, referring to Noem's account of euthanizing her own dog

I am pleased to announce that William Joseph McGinley will serve as my White House Counsel. Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement."

Trump also announced William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel, stating

Pete Hegsethfox News host and Army veteran

Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country."

While nominating Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, Trump said

Pete is a graduate of Princeton University and has a Graduate Degree from Harvard University. He is an Army Combat Veteran who did tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. For his actions on the battlefield, he was decorated with two Bronze Stars, as well as a Combat Infantryman's Badge. Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our Military and Veterans."

he added

He served in my first term as White House Cabinet Secretary and played a major role in our election victory as the RNC's Outside Counsel for Election Integrity. Bill has served as General Counsel at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has been a partner at two international law firms, and will work with me as we Make America Great Again!"

he added

I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations. I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!,

he added

I am pleased to announce that former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation to catching the FBI's abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public,

Trump said in a statement

They don't want to talk about the fact that Pete has gone to Harvard, and he went to Princeton, and he's a combat veteran, and he knows about how the military works,

said McFarland

There's a plaque on the Jordan River, there's a little olive tree that was planted, [about] 30 years ago, and it's a plaque in honor of Mike Huckabee, who was rebaptized at the Jordan River at the same place that John the Baptist baptized Jesus,

McFarland said

Everyone that he's chosen understands what their role is,

McFarland said

In a transition, normally the jobs that are are appointed first are secretary of the Treasury, secretary of State, [or] Commerce, ... In this case, President Trump has gone to the national security world, the people who are going to be advising him on the national security issues."

McFarland said on "Wake Up America."

From there, Secretary Austin will make his fourth visit to the Philippines, where he will advance security objectives with Philippine leaders and meet with US and Philippine forces,

he added

Secretary Austin's trip comes as the United States builds on unprecedented cooperation with like-minded countries to strengthen regional security,

he added

As part of his twelfth official visit to the region, Secretary Austin will first travel to Darwin, Australia, for multilateral meetings with regional allies and engagements with US Marines from the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin,

he said

Secretary Austin will conclude his trip in Fiji, marking the first-ever visit by a U.S. Secretary of Defense, and will meet with key Fijian leaders to deepen the bilateral defense relationship,

it said

I don't think [Trump] really knows yet who he wants for defense secretary,

one source familiar with the transition process said