Trump taps businessman and former Abraham Accords negotiator as hostage point-man, and more noms
[IsraelTimes] Adam Boehler, who also helped lead talks with the Taliban during Trump’s first term, previously suggested a US military operation to rescue American hostages held by Hamas
US President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday he would appoint Adam Boehler, one of the lead negotiators of the Abraham Accords, as special presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
In a post on his social network Truth Social, Trump said Boehler “has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NO ONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader,” adding, “Adam will work tirelessly to bring our Great American Citizens HOME.”
The announcement came two days after the president-elect warned there would be “all hell to pay” for those holding hostages if they weren’t released by the time he enters office on January 20, with Gaza terrorists continuing to hold 100 hostages, living and dead — including seven Americans, three of whom may be alive.
Boehler currently serves as CEO of the healthcare investment firm Rubicon Founders, and is a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.
During Trump’s first term, he helped to lead US talks with the Taliban, as well as negotiations between Israel and several Muslim nations that resulted in the Abraham Accords normalization agreements.
He also served as CEO of the newly created US International Development Finance Corp, and was involved in the administration’s response to the Covid pandemic. In college, he was briefly roommates with Jared Kushner, the president-elect’s son-in-law, who also led negotiations on the Abraham Accords.
In recent months, Boehler has criticized the Biden administration for its approach to the ongoing hostage issue in Gaza, and has floated the idea of a US military operation to rescue the American citizens that Hamas still holds captive in the enclave.
Asked in a radio interview last week about the ongoing war, Boehler said that “the next step for Israel, and for the United States, is to make sure that we get the hostages back,” and called for the elimination of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well.
Daniel Driscoll of North Carolina has been tapped by Trump to serve as the next Secretary of the Army. He is a venture capitalist and Army veteran. Mr. Driscoll served in the 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has also served as Senior Advisor to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.
Returning to the Trump Administration is Peter Navarro, who will take his old position of Trade Advisor. Navarro recently served four months in federal prison for a misdemeanor contempt of Congress charge.
Rounding out this batch of nominations is Jared Isaacman, a billionaire philanthropist and an associate of Elon Musk. Trump has selected Isaacman to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). is a private astronaut and piloted the SpaceX Polaris mission, the first private-sector manned space flight.
Trump continues to name appointments to his incoming administration at a record pace. On Wednesday afternoon, he named former Fox anchor, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs during Trump’s first term, and New York Times bestselling author Monica Crowley to the role of Assistant Secretary of State. According to a Trump-Vance transition team email, Crowley will oversee many important international events, including the Olympics:
Trump names former PayPal COO David Sacks as White House ‘AI and crypto czar’
[IsraelTimes] The wealthy tech entrepreneur will take on a newly created role advising the Trump administration on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.
“David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness,” Trump says in a social media post.
“He will safeguard Free Speech online and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.”
Sacks will also lead a presidential council of advisors on science and technology, according to Trump.
Posted by: trailing wife 2024-12-06 |