President-elect Donald Trump has revealed plans to appoint Alina Habba, one of his defense attorneys in the New York hush money case, as counselor to the president. Habba, 40, has been a steadfast legal spokesperson for Trump and has been closely engaged with him since the election, including time spent at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.
In a post on his social network, Truth Social, Trump praised Habba for her loyalty and determination during what he described as numerous legal challenges. He noted, “Few understand the Weaponization of the ‘Injustice’ System better than Alina,” highlighting her involvement in his legal battles.
Trump made history as the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony charges when a New York jury found him guilty of 34 counts related to an alleged scheme to unlawfully influence the 2016 election through hush money payments.
During his first term, the counselor position was held by Kellyanne Conway. Habba’s background is notable as she has Iraqi ancestry and is part of the Chaldean community, which is the largest Christian denomination in Iraq.
Furthermore, Trump announced other key appointments, including the return of Michael Anton as director of policy planning at the State Department, along with Michael Needham, a former chief of staff for Senator Marco Rubio, who will serve as counselor at the State Department. Rubio has been designated by Trump as his choice for secretary of state.
This development reflects Trump’s ongoing strategy to surround himself with loyal advisors as he navigates the complexities of his legal and political challenges. Habba’s appointment and other staff decisions indicate Trump’s commitment to reinforce his administration with familiar faces who share his vision.
With these appointments, there is potential for a unified team moving forward, as Trump aims to reaffirm his influence and governance approach in a time of significant scrutiny.