Trump Adds Another Woman To Team, K.T. McFarland Named National Security Adviser
President-elect Donald Trump has named K.T. McFarland as deputy national security adviser for the Trump administration. The move brings yet another woman to the inner circle of the Trump team and adds some much needed national security experience to the table. McFarland was an aide in the administrations of presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and was formerly a security analyst for Fox News.
If personnel is policy, Don McGahn as WH Counsel & @ktmcfarland as Deputy Director of NSA says it all. Brilliant choices, #PEOTUS. Congrats!
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) November 25, 2016
CNN reports that K.T. McFarland had been selected as deputy national security adviser by President-elect Donald Trump. A move that brings not only more diversity to Trump’s team, but also decades of experience. McFarland was an aide during the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations, and has worked in a variety of security and defense positions over the years. McFarland will be joining Trump’s more controversial selection for national security adviser, retired Lt. General Michael Flynn.
According to NBC, Flynn has been criticized by some for an “extreme anti-Muslim rhetoric,” conflicts of interest due to his lobbying relationships with foreign governments and a purported “unstable temperament.” However, others have praised Flynn, noting that he is a retired three-star Army general who is widely respected in the military community.
So proud & honored to have KT McFarland as part of our National Security team. She will help us #MAGA
— General Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 25, 2016
Though Trump has been accused of having a transition team and inner circle that is “too white” and “too male,” McFarland is not Trump’s first female appointment to his administration. Trump has already included two women in his cabinet. The Washington Post notes that Trump has selected philanthropist Betsy DeVos for education secretary and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Both high level appointments bring increased diversity to Trump’s team, with Haley also bringing racial diversity given her Indian heritage.
Learn more about the President-elect’s pick for Education Secretary. https://t.co/zttIdDM6ns pic.twitter.com/tLhxxcbfsN
— Transition 2017 (@transition2017) November 23, 2016
As it currently stands, according to the Washington Post, Trump has filled seven cabinet positions. Five of those positions are being held by white men, with two being held by women. The Post notes that the latest selections may show that Trump is moving to diversify his administration and that the president-elect is not afraid to add some former critics to his team. Governor Nikki Haley was notably opposed to Trump leading into the election and had harsh criticism for the candidate before the Republican National Convention. However, that hasn’t stopped Trump from tapping Haley as a potential ally regarding the United Nations.
Following the appointment of McFarland to deputy security adviser, the new Trump administration member says Trump “gets no credit” for his abilities and that she is “honored and humbled” to be chosen as part of his team.
“He has the courage, brilliance and energy to Make America Great Again, and nobody has called foreign policy right more than President-elect Trump, and he gets no credit for it. I’m honored and humbled that he has asked me to be part of his team.”
In addition to announcing K.T. McFarland as a security adviser, Trump also revealed that attorney Donald McGahn was asked to serve as his White House counsel. The appointment of McGahn as the White House counsel comes as no surprise as he currently serves as the Trump campaign’s personal lawyer and is also currently advising the transition team efforts.
What do you think about the Trump administration selections so far? Do you think Trump will diversify his team further as future announcements are made.
[Featured Image by Angel Chevrestt/AP Photo]
