Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says he won't rule out a Cabinet position
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said today that he has not ruled out a Cabinet position in the Trump administration. He also said he has made it clear he’d be ready to serve in any capacity Trump needs in his new administration.
“I’m in public service. I’m not trying to play quiet,” Rubio said in an interview on NBC’s “TODAY” show this morning. “I’m in public service. I like to serve our country.”
Rubio has been coy about what could come next and has said he has not spoken directly to Trump about a potential slot.
“I’m going to work with the Trump administration in whatever capacity they feel is best. I’m not presumptuous to say they’re going to pick me,” he said in an interview on Fox News. “Donald Trump makes that decision, and he makes good decisions about the people that work for him.”
Trump says there’s ‘no price tag’ for his mass deportation plan
President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that one of his first priorities upon taking office in January would be to make the border “strong and powerful.” When questioned about his campaign promise of mass deportations, Trump said his administration would have “no choice” but to carry them out.
Trump said he considers his sweeping victory over Vice President Kamala Harris a mandate “to bring common sense” to the country.
“We obviously have to make the border strong and powerful and, and we have to — at the same time, we want people to come into our country,” he said. “And you know, I’m not somebody that says, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ We want people to come in.”
As a candidate, Trump had repeatedly vowed to carry out the “largest deportation effort in American history.” Asked about the cost of his plan, he said, “It’s not a question of a price tag. It’s not — really, we have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here. There is no price tag.”
Trump team considering options for attorney general
Former Trump acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker and Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., are both under consideration to be Trump’s pick for attorney general, according to multiple sources familiar with the deliberations.
Three sources tell NBC News that Whitaker is engaged in talks after taking over for outgoing AG Jeff Sessions in November 2018. He remained in the role for four months. Whitaker also served as a Trump campaign surrogate over the last year and recently traveled with Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Two sources told NBC News that Schmitt is also under consideration and has elevated himself as a respected favorite inside of Mar-a-Lago over the last months. Schmitt has traveled on Trump’s plane in recent weeks and appeared on the campaign trail with him, including at Madison Square Garden.
Giuliani says he's open to serving in new Trump administration
As he left court in Manhattan for his defamation trial, Rudy Giuliani said he was open to serving in the new Trump administration.
"I would, if that’s what he wanted. I’m not offering myself for anything, but I would, you know, I’m very dedicated to him. I believe America has been delivered from the worst era we’ve had in terms of suppression of our rights," he said.
He also added that he has spoken to the now president-elect. He did not specify what the two of them discussed, saying that is between him and Trump.
Sen. Rick Scott says he hopes Trump supports his leadership bid
Florida Sen. Rick Scott said in a Fox News interview that he has been talking to Trump and hopes the president-elect will support his bid for Senate majority leader.
“I’m hoping he’ll support me this time. But he’s doing the right thing right now. He won his race, so we’re texting back and forth. So, but, I’m doing everything I can to make sure his agenda gets accomplished,” he said.
An ally of Scott’s, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is also calling on Trump to endorse Scott publicly.
"We've got to do big things. We have to deliver. We need outside-the-box, paradigm-shifting type of thinking in the United States Senate," Johnson said. "Working with President Trump, he's going to need something like Rick Scott."
Scott challenged Mitch McConnell in 2022 for the GOP leader position but received only 10 votes.
On Tuesday, the three candidates including Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Scott will participate in a closed-door candidate forum. The majority leader election is currently scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 13, assuming all the Senate races have been decided by then.
Biden believes he made the right decision to withdraw from the 2024 race, White House press secretary says
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at today's press briefing that Biden believes he did the right thing when he decided to drop out of the 2024 presidential race in July.
"The president believes that he made the right decision when he decided to step aside and immediately endorsed the vice president," she said when asked if Biden believes he could have beaten Trump in the general election.
"He believed it was the right thing for the American people," she said.
Asked if he has any regrets, she said, "This was not the outcome that our team had wanted. So are we disappointed? Yes," she said, but added that the White House respects the election outcome and what Americans voted for.
Putin congratulates Trump, says he is ready to hold discussions
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the president-elect on his victory during a rambling hourslong press conference at the Valdai discussion club in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi today.
He said he was open to dialogue and ready to have discussions with Trump, and that Trump's desire to facilitate an end to the crisis in Ukraine "deserves attention."
“I do not consider it shameful for me to call him myself," Putin said. "I just do not do it, because the leaders of Western countries called me almost every week at some stage, until they stopped all of a sudden."
Putin also said he believed Trump was "bullied" during his first term, but commended his behavior during the assassination attempt in July, when Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally.
"He is brave," Putin said. He proved himself, "like a man."
Turning to nuclear weapons, Putin said it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will approach nuclear stability, but that talks on the reduction of nuclear arms should include the U.K.'s and France's nuclear arsenals. Putin has repeatedly raised the specter of using nuclear weapons if Russia were attacked.
Sen. Bob Casey's and Dave McCormick's campaigns both predict outstanding vote will bring them victory
It will be awhile before we know who wins the Pennsylvania Senate race, but the campaigns of both Bob Casey, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican Dave McCormick are projecting optimism about their chances.
Casey’s campaign points to a combination of military and overseas ballots that could still swing his way because those ballots will be accepted until Nov. 12. But the real wild card they are watching are the provisional ballots, especially out of bluer Philadelphia and Allegheny areas.
Allegheny estimates that about 12,680 provisional ballots were cast, and Philadelphia is expected to release its numbers tomorrow, so Casey’s campaign says there could be enough of a margin to put him over the edge.
“We’re buckled in. Our path to victory requires patience,” said one Casey campaign official.
McCormick’s team, meanwhile, believes the number of votes left to count in the Philadelphia area will not be enough to swing the race in Casey’s direction. They said in a statement that they believe a chunk of the outstanding vote is in redder parts of the state that will add to McCormick’s current margins.
The secretary of the commonwealth has until 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 to declare a recount, which would be triggered if a candidate is defeated by half a percentage point or less. At this hour, McCormick’s lead is not large enough to avert a recount. Both campaigns are in legal territory with tight margins that could set off challenges.
Howard University students thank Harris for running
Students at Howard University, Harris' alma mater, thanked the vice president for her run for president. In a video posted to X, many said they were inspired by Harris and that she made them proud.
Harris gave an emotional concession speech at the university yesterday.
Rep. Don Davis wins re-election in North Carolina, NBC News projects
Democratic Rep. Don Davis has won re-election in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, NBC News projects.
With 91% of the vote reported, Davis beat Republican challenger Laurie Buckhout, 49.5% to 47.9%. Buckhout is a retired Army colonel and combat commander.
It was considered a toss-up race by the Cook Political Report.
The district is in the northeastern part of the state, which borders Virginia. Davis has held the seat since January 2023, and previously served in the state Senate.