President-elect Donald Trump has asked his running mate, Mike Pence, to take over the transition team efforts from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, ABC News has confirmed.
The announcement, which was initially reported by The New York Times, comes amid speculation over whether members of Trump's inner circle will tapped for cabinet positions.
"I am proud to have run the pre-election phase of the transition team along with a thoroughly professional and dedicated team of people," Christie said in a statement.
"As we now enter the post-election phase, I look forward to working with Vice-President Elect Pence and the rest of the leadership team to implement that template as we prepare for January 20, 2017," he said.
Along with Christie, who was named a vice chair of the transition, the five others announced with that title are all well-known Trump surrogates: Dr. Ben Carson, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Jeff Sessions.
A statement from the Trump campaign also announced that a number of Trump's family members and other longtime supporters have been named to the transition team executive committee, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric, Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner. RNC chairman Reince Priebus, Trump campaign CEO Steve Bannon, tech billionaire Peter Thiel, and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi were also on the list.
Sen. Jeff Sessions and Gen. Keith Kellogg will also have expanded roles in the transition efforts as well, sources said.
Today's announcement comes after Pence was with Trump when he met with President Obama in the White House. Pence met with Vice President Joe Biden. From there, Trump and Pence met with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Capitol Hill.
"Mike’s presence in the meeting... is an indication of the role Mike will play," an aide said immediately following their trip to Capitol Hill. "I think you will see Mike having a very active role as a liaison on Capitol Hill with both Leader McConnell and with Speaker Ryan."
Poster Comment:
Rumor has it that there was a disagreement over Christie wanting to hire #NeverTrump people, so he got fired.
#1: Vicomte13 To: hondo68 (#0)
Vicomte13 posted on 2016-11-11 20:40:43 Reply Private Reply
#2: sneakypete To: hondo68 (#0)
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-11 20:57:37 Reply Private Reply
#3: sneakypete To: Vicomte13 (#1)
Given Trumps history as a businessman,chances are he will treat Pence more like his second in command/senior assistant than a VP.
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-11 20:59:30 Reply Private Reply
#4: Vicomte13 To: sneakypete (#3)
Vicomte13 posted on 2016-11-11 21:39:40 Reply Private Reply
#5: sneakypete To: Vicomte13 (#4)
I think it would be a real challenge for him (Trump) to do worse than most people expect.
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-11 23:57:31 Reply Private Reply
#6: Vicomte13 To: sneakypete (#5)
That's a good point.
I mean, isn't he already negotiating for the cattle cars and ovens?
Vicomte13 posted on 2016-11-12 05:50:27 Reply Private Reply
#7: misterwhite To: hondo68 (#0)
Rumors? Speulation? Disinformation? On the Internet?
misterwhite posted on 2016-11-12 09:38:59 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: Vicomte13 (#6)
If they really do believe that's what he's going to do, why not give them what they expect?
misterwhite posted on 2016-11-12 09:41:34 Reply Private Reply
#9: misterwhite To: Vicomte13 (#4)
Sure. As long as Pence isn't able to convince Trump that the best way to get legislation passed is to compromise.
For the next 4-8 years, "compromise" should be defined as "the way Obama passed Obamacare".
misterwhite posted on 2016-11-12 09:44:39 Reply Private Reply
#10: CZ82 To: sneakypete (#2)
But he's so fat you couldn't get in the door if he were a doorstop.
CZ82 posted on 2016-11-12 09:50:15 Reply Private Reply
#11: sneakypete To: Vicomte13 (#6)
Did you happen to see Michael Moore on tv after the election? He looked like he was going to cry,while whining about all "De sufferin de poor peep-pulls will be doing". Shithead has a vacation house on a lake that is worth more than a million bucks,and he doesn't even live there more than a few weeks a year,and here he is trying to pretend he cares about ghetto rats. I'd be willing to bet money that if someone chartered a small bus and delivered him a busload of homies to keep him company at his lake front house he would have a stroke. I'd also be willing to bet he takes every tax advantage possible to him,and even fudges and tries to claim some that are questionable.
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-12 11:24:59 Reply Private Reply
#12: sneakypete To: misterwhite (#8)
Because this is America?
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-12 11:25:48 Reply Private Reply
#13: sneakypete To: CZ82 (#10)
I didn't say a doorstop for MY door.
Maybe for someone in alligator country?
sneakypete posted on 2016-11-12 11:27:05 Reply Private Reply
#14: Vicomte13 To: sneakypete (#12)
Yeah!
Vicomte13 posted on 2016-11-12 11:39:28 Reply Private Reply