Donald Trump's transition: The latest news

Line forms to the right: A stream of potential candidates for cabinet positions met with Trump Monday. Among those seen entering Trump Tower in New York were ex-Texas Gov. Rick Perry; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin; former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao; and former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic representative from Hawaii, also met with Trump.
 
Who is up for Treasury: According to a story from Bloomberg, there are three people being considered for the position of Treasury secretary. Steven Mnuchin, a member of the transition team's executive committee, is thought to be the most likely choice, the story says. The other two candidates are investor Wilbur Ross  and David McCormick, president of Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund.
 
Candidates for Defense: Trump had kind words Sunday for retired Marine Corps Gen.  James Mattis after meeting with the general at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf resort. Mattis is believed to be first on the list to run the Pentagon as secretary of defense. Rick Perry is also thought to be under consideration for the job, as is Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.  

What about Romney: Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for president  in 2012, met with Trump on Saturday. Vice President-elect Mike Pence said on several Sunday news shows that Romney is under serious consideration for secretary of state. Romney is believed to be interested in that position. Trump and Romney both said the meeting was "great," despite harsh comments made by both about the other during the campaign. Others under consideration to head the State Department, according to sources, are Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
 
Announced Friday: Three appointments were announced Friday by the Trump transition team. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., was chosen for attorney general; retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was picked for national security adviser; and Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., was nominated to lead the CIA.
 
Going Hollywood: Ari Emanuel, a Hollywood agent and the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of Chicago and one-time chief of staff for President Obama, met with Trump on Sunday.  Trump said Emanuel is a longtime friend.
 
Popular vote: The Associated Press reports that Hillary Clinton has received 1.5 million more votes than Trump in the popular vote. As of Saturday, Clinton had received 63,390,669 votes, while Trump received 61,820,845 votes -- a difference of 1,569,824.

Nov. 14 - Priebus, Bannon named; Laura Ingraham being considered for press secretary

On Sunday, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and former Brietbart News executive Steven Bannon were named chief of staff and “chief strategist and senior counselor," respectively, for the Donald Trump administration.

Other appointments to Cabinet positions are expected to be announced any time this week, sooner rather than later, according to sources within the transition team.

Here’s the latest news on the transition.

Priebus, Bannon chosen: Over the weekend, the Trump transition team announced that Reince Priebus had been named  chief of staff and Steven Bannon would be  "chief strategist and senior counselor." While Priebus' appointment has been cheered, Bannon's has been questioned. Bannon was named to the Trump campaign in August. According to The Associated Press, he quickly became a member of Trump's inner circle, frequently traveling with the candidate and working to re-shape his message to emphasize Trump's populist and outsider appeal.

>>Click here to read what people are saying about Steve Bannon’s appointment.

Ingraham for press secretary: Radio host Laura Ingraham is being considered for the position of press secretary in Donald Trump's White House, according to The Hill.  Ingraham has been a staunch supporter of Trump's during the campaign. She is a contributor to Fox News, and runs a website, LifeZelle.com, in addition to her conservative radio program.

What about Kellyanne: Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, announced on Twitter Thursday that she has been offered a White House post, but she has not said which position. She exchanged tweets with a journalist who wrote that sources said she would be returning to her polling business.

Considering an openly gay man: According to The AP, Trump is considering appointing Richard Grenell as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. If Grenell is nominated, he would be the first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level foreign policy post. Grenell worked in President George W. Bush's administration.

Nov. 11  -  Chris Christie is out; Trump meets with Obama; Pence takes over

By law and by tradition, the peaceful transition of power is a hallmark of American democracy.

At noon on Jan. 20, 2017, we will see the end of Barack Obama’s presidency and the start of Donald Trump’s presidency happen simultaneously. The work of making that change is not easy, but it is quick.

Here’s the latest news on the transition.

Christie's out: It was announced Friday that Vice President-elect Mike Pence is replacing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as the head of the transition team. Pence, along with Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, will take over from Christie, who had served as transition chairman since May. It is believed the recent conviction of two of Christie's top aides for closing a bridge and thereby causing a traffic jam, may have been the reason for Christie's demotion. Prosecutors said the bridge was closed in retaliation against a Democratic mayor who didn't endorse Christie in his 2013 re-election.

New vice chairmen: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Defense Intelligence Agency Director Michael T. Flynn and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson were all named vice chairmen Friday after Christie was demoted.

The two met: President Barack Obama met with President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday to talk about the transition of power from one to the other. It was the first time the two had ever met, Trump said. The meeting lasted about 90 minutes. It had been scheduled for 15 minutes. Trump's wife, Melania, met with first lady Michelle Obama in the White House residence.

A new website: Trump and his team launched a White House transition website and Twitter account on Thursday. The site, greatagain.gov, details the incoming Trump administration's plans and will offer position papers and an update on who may be asked to serve in Trump's Cabinet.

Been working for a while: The Trump team did not just start the transition on Wednesday. Trump's campaign has had dozens of staffers working in government-provided space in Washington since August in the event Trump would win the election. The staffers have been developing policy papers and personnel lists and making other plans.

Help wanted: Some 4,000 jobs will have to be filled in a new Trump administration. Around 1,000 of those jobs are political appointments, which need to be made by Jan. 20. The most senior positions require Senate confirmation. 

An invite: The British prime minister's office said Donald Trump has invited Theresa May to visit him "as soon as possible" after he takes office. May's office said in a statement that Trump "set out his close and personal connections with, and warmth for, the U.K."

Been there, done that. Got the T-shirt: Jimmy Carter said President-elect Trump needs Americans' "support and our prayers" as he prepares to take office. Carter briefly discussed the election at a conference on Thursday. He said he spoke to Trump and Hillary Clinton on Wednesday and said he understood how both candidates felt because he had both won and lost an election. "We have a lot in common," Carter said.