RFK Jr faces pushback to nomination from the right

Robert F Kennedy Jr is facing criticism from proand antiabortion activists, arguing he is not a conviction politician

- KELLY RISSMAN

Donald Trump last night announced that Doug Burgum will lead the Interior Department and be chair of the newly-created National Energy Council. If confirmed, the North Dakota governor would be responsible for both federal lands and maximising energy extraction, with the president-elect reiterating his call to “drill baby drill”.

Mr Trump’s selection of scandal-plagued Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general continues to cause a stir in Washington DC with speaker Mike Johnson saying he will request the House ethics committee to not release its report into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use made against the former Florida congressman.

Meanwhile, Robert F Kennedy Jr was branded “dangerous” and “unserious” by Democratic Senator Ed Markey after Mr Trump announced he had picked the vaccine-sceptic to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Former vice-president Mike Pence has also spoken out over the choice, given Mr Kennedy’s stance on abortion.

Others included in the string of controversial picks for the future cabinet, include veteran and Fox News contributor Pete Hegseth as defence secretary, Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, and billionaire Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead a new Department of Government Efficiency.