The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Tip for top Trump job
Politics: New administration making good progress, he claims
A former Aberdeen University student is tipped to become Donald Trump’s ambassador to the EU.
Theodore Roosevelt Malloch, known as Ted, is reportedly President Trump’s preferred choice for the high-powered role.
Donald Trump has mounted a vigorous defence of his presidency and accused America’s news media of being “out of control”.
At a White House news conference yesterday, he vowed to bypass the media and take his message “straight to the people”.
Nearly a month into his presidency, Mr Trump said his new administration had made “significant progress” – and took credit for an optimistic business climate and a rising stock market.
He pushed back against widespread reports of a chaotic start to his administration marked by a contentious executive order – now tied up in a legal fight – to place a ban on travellers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
“This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine,” Mr Trump declared, adding he would soon announce a “new and very comprehensive order to protect our people”.
Meanwhile, the president announced that Alexander Acosta, dean of the Florida International University law school, would be his nominee for labour secretary. That came a day after fast-food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew after losing support among Republican senators. If confirmed, Mr Acosta would be the first Hispanic member of Mr Trump’s Cabinet.
The US Senate yesterday confirmed Mr Trump’ s pick to run the White House budget office, giving the Republicans’ “tea party” wing a voice in the president’s cabinet.
Armed services committee chairman John McCain, who is emerging as the most vocal critic of the Trump administration, opposed Representative Mick Mulvaney for past votes supporting cuts to Pentagon spending.
Mr Mulvaney’s first tasks include finding the cash to satisfy Mr Trump’s request for a quick start on his oftpromised US-Mexico border wall.
The vote came a day after Mr Trump’s pick to head the labour department, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination in the face of Republican opposition.
Mr Puzder faced questions over taxes he belatedly paid on a former housekeeper not authorised to work in the US.
Mr Mulvaney has managed to survive questions about his failure to pay more than $15,000 (£12,000) in payroll taxes for a nanny more than a decade ago. He has since paid the taxes.
Mr Trump, the reality television star and real estate mogul with major Scottish developments in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, was elected as an outsider intent on change.
Yesterday he opened his hastily arranged news conference to attack coverage by the media.
He accused reporters of not telling the truth and only serving special interests.
“The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about it, weare doing a tremendous disservice to the American people,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump also yesterday warned in a pair of tweets that “low-life leakers” of classified information will be caught.
As journalists were being escorted out of the breakfast meeting, Mr Trump responded to a reporter’s question on the subject by saying: “We’re going to find the leakers” and “They’re going to pay a big price”.
“The press is so dishonest that if we don’t talk about it, we are doing the people a disservice”