US President -elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday he has appointed nine close campaign aides to key White House positions as he fleshes out a diverse leadership team less than a week after naming his chief of staff.
“ America faces great challenges, and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these challenges and emerging on the other side a stronger , more united nation , ” Biden said in a statement .
The new appointees — some of the first among hundreds that Biden will name to the White House in the coming months — include his 2020 campaign manager Jen O ’ Malley Dillon being named deputy chief of staff.
The 44- year -old will serve under White House chief of staff Ron Klain, whom Biden appointed last week.
A veteran of seven presidential campaigns, O ’ Malley Dillon served as deputy campaign manager for Barack Obama’ s successful 2012 reelection effort .
Campaign co- chair Cedric Richmond, a House Democrat from Louisiana , was named senior advisor to the president .
The African -American lawmaker , 47, will leave his seat in Congress to take his White House job when Biden is inaugurated on January 20.
Biden also named Mike Donilon , a chief strategist for his campaign and a veteran Democratic tactician , to serve as senior advisor to the president .
“ The team we have already started to assemble will enable us to meet the challenges facing our country on day one, ” Klain said in the statement .
Other appointments include the chief of staff and senior advisor to incoming First Lady Jill Biden , a counsel to the president and a director of Oval Office operations .
The appointments come as President Donald Trump continues to challenge the results of the November 3 election and refuses to concede the race to Biden , and as his administration has declined to formally cooperate with Biden ’ s transition team.
AFP
