Donald Trump Names First Women for Cabinet: Nikki Haley and Betsy DeVos
Donald Trump has unveiled the names of the first women in his incoming administration.
Betsy DeVos has been nominated as education secretary and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as US envoy to the UN.
Both of them are former critics of Donald Trump, with Nikki Haley once saying she was “not a fan”, and Betsy DeVos branding the Manhattan tycoon an “interloper”.
Donald Trump’s presidential primary rival Ben Carson also hinted he would soon be named for a post.
Ben Carson wrote on Facebook: “An announcement is forthcoming about my role in helping to make America great again.”
Photo AP
Donald Trump tweeted on November 22 that he was “seriously considering” Ben Carson for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The appointments of Nikki Haley and Betsy DeVos will need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Donald Trump called Nikki Haley “a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals”.
“She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage,” he added.
Nikki Haley, 44, said she was “moved” to accept the assignment and would stay on as South Carolina governor, pending her congressional confirmation.
During the Republican primaries, Nikki Haley supported Florida Senator Marco Rubio and then Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
She also strongly attacked Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigrants, describing it as “un-American”.
In response, Donald Trump had called her “very weak on illegal immigration” and said people in South Carolina were “embarrassed” by her.
Nikki Haley is the first minority and female governor of South Carolina.
Born Nimrata “Nikki” Randhawa to Indian parents, Nikki Haley was raised in a Sikh household and now identifies as a Christian.
She was praised by members of both parties in 2015 when she ordered the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the state capitol.
Betsy DeVos said she was honored to accept her appointment.
The billionaire Republican donor from Michigan once described Donald Trump as an “interloper” who “does not represent the Republican Party”.
Betsy DeVos also contributed to Donald Trump’s rivals – Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush – during the election race.
She previously supported the Common Core education standards that Donald Trump and many conservatives have pilloried.
Donald Trump, however, said Betsy DeVos would be “a brilliant and passionate education advocate”.
Betsy DeVos’ husband is heir to the Amway fortune, with a wealth estimated by Forbes at $5.1 billion.
So far, Donald Trump has appointed Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Mike Pompeo for CIA director, Reince Priebus for Chief of Staff for his top team.
More announcements are expected after the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend.