President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that he plans to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as the next secretary of the interior and chairman of the newly formed National Energy Council.
The National Energy Council will include departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation of American energy.
“This Council will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” Trump said in a statement. “With U.S. Energy Dominance, we will drive down Inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China (and others), and expand American Diplomatic Power to end Wars all across the World.
“The Radical Left’s War on American Energy has hurt our Allies by forcing them to buy from our adversaries, who in turn use those profits to fund Wars and Terror,” Trump added. “ENERGY DOMINANCE will allow us to sell Energy to our friends, including all European Nations, which will make the World a safer place. As Chairman of the National Energy Council, Doug will have a seat on the National Security Council. As Secretary of the Interior, Doug will be a key leader in ushering in a new “Golden Age of American Prosperity” and World Peace.”
Earlier Friday, Trump announced that Steven Cheung would return to the White House as an assistant to the president and director of communications. Cheung was the director of communications on the Trump-Vance 2024 Presidential Campaign and previously served in the Trump White House as director of strategic response.
Meanwhile, Sergio Gog will serve as assistant to the president and director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Previously, Gor was CEO of Winning Team Publishing while running the pro-Trump Super PAC, Right For America.
“Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024,” President Trump said. “I am thrilled to have them join my White House as we, Make America Great Again!”