President-elect Donald Trump has made several key announcements for his administration, which includes three women of color for his Cabinet.
South Carolina’s governor Nikki Haley was selected to be the new administration’s US Ambassador to the UN.
“Gov. Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country,” Trump said in a statement. “She is also a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals. She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.”
Haley, (r), who is the daughter of Sikh immigrants from Punjab, India was the first woman governor in South Carolina’s history.
Taiwanese immigrant, Elaine Chao, the former secretary of labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2009, was asked to join the administration as transportation secretary. Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) since 1993, was the first Asian-American woman to serve in a Cabinet position.
“Secretary Chao’s extensive record of strong leadership and her expertise are invaluable assets in our mission to rebuild our infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner,” Trump said in a statement.
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Trump’s third cabinet member is also an Asian woman.
He named Seema Verma, the daughter of Indian immigrants as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Verma is Trump’s pick as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and of founder/CEO of a health policy consulting firm, SVC Inc. Through her company, Verma worked with Vice President-elect Mike Pence to expand Medicaid in Indiana under the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0.
“I am pleased to nominate Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,” Trump said in a statement. “She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems.”
This Thursday, Trump plans to kick off a “thank you” tour by visiting supporters in critical swing states including Cleveland and Des Moines.
