Trump Taps Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik, Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz for Key National Security Roles

President-elect Donald Trump named Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and has reportedly appointed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) as his Secretary of State and national security adviser, respectively. He has also tapped South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Homeland Security Secretary.

The Details: Stefanik has accepted the nomination, according to The New York Post (Lean Right bias). Trump’s appointment of Rubio was reported by The New York Times (Lean Left bias), which cited “three people familiar with his thinking.” The appointment of Waltz was reported by The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) and Reuters (Center bias). CNN (Lean Left bias) reported on Noem's appointment based on two anonymous sources.

For Context: So far, Trump has made a few other key appointments, including Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff and former ICE Director Tom Homan as “border czar.”

Waltz, Rubio Media Framing: Both BBC News (Center bias) and The Guardian (Lean Left bias) described Rubio as a “hawk” towards Iran and China. They both also described Waltz as having a hard stance on China. The New York Post described Rubio and Waltz as prepared to be tough on the “threat” from China.

Stefanik Media Framing: Truthout (Lean Left bias) framed Stefanik as a “pro-war neocon” and highlighted neoconservative think tanks she has worked at. The New York Post framed her as someone “who helped force out two Ivy League presidents with her sharp questioning on campus antisemitism.” BBC prominently noted that Stefanik “has minimal experience in foreign policy and national security.”