From Trump’s new cabinet picks to a presidential meeting in the Oval Office: Stories you may have missed

Donald Trump fills several key positions on his cabinet

Over the last few days, President-elect Donald Trump has announced various important cabinet officials that will serve in his upcoming administration.

ABC News reports that many of these individuals are staunch supporters and advisors to Trump, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who was selected to be Secretary of State.

Trump also nominated New York Representative Elise Stefanik to be Ambassador to the United Nations and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem for the position of Department of Homeland Security Secretary.

Florida Representative Matt Gaetz was nominated by Trump to be his Attorney General and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was selected to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, according to ABC News.

Among the government officials that Trump selected, the President-elect also chose several Washington outsiders to be in his cabinet.

According to CNN, weekend Fox News Host Pete Hegseth was named as Trump’s Secretary of Defense, a name that surprised some Senate Republicans.

NPR reports that Trump also announced his intention to create the “Department of Government Efficiency,” which would be led by former Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump meet at the White House

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump held a short meeting at the White House on November 13, a little over a week since Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

According to CBS News, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the nearly two-hour meeting “substantive” and said the two leaders discussed national security and domestic policy issues.

USA Today reports that Biden had congratulatory words for Trump.

“Well, Mr. President-Elect and Former President, Donald,” Biden said, shaking hands with Trump. “Congratulations, and I’m looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition, doing everything we can to make sure you’re accommodate get what you need.”

Trump returned the warm remarks to Biden, as reported by Reuters.

“Politics is tough, and its many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much- a transition that's so smooth it’ll be as smooth as it can get. And I very much appreciate that, Joe,” Trump said.

The traditional courtesy of the President inviting the President-elect into the Oval Office was not extended by Trump to Biden in 2020, according to Reuters.

It is also tradition for the First Ladies to meet before the transition of power, according to CBS News. First Lady Jill Biden did extend a handwritten letter of congratulations for former First Lady Melania Trump, who did not accept the invitation to meet.