The three — Jeff Sessions, Mike Pompeo, Michael Flynn — have been fierce critics of Obama’s handling of terrorism, international relations
President-elect Donald Trump signaled a sharp rightward shift in the U.S. national security policy on Friday, naming Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to head the CIA and former military intelligence chief Michael Flynn as his national security adviser.
All three have been fierce critics of President Barack Obama’s handling of terrorism and international relations.
Mr. Trump is a foreign policy novice and his early moves on national security are being closely watched both in the U.S. and overseas. Mr. Sessions and Mr. Pompeo would both require Senate confirmation before assuming their designated roles; Mr. Flynn would not.
Mr. Flynn, who has called Islam a “political ideology” that “hides behind being a religion,” will work in the West Wing and have frequent access to Mr. Trump as he makes national security decisions.
Mr. Trump said in a statement on Friday that Mr. Flynn would be “by my side as we work to defeat radical Islamic terrorism, navigate geopolitical challenges and keep Americans safe at home and abroad.”
Like Mr. Trump, Mr. Flynn has called for the U.S. to work more closely with Moscow. But his warmth toward Russia has worried national security experts, particularly after he traveled to Moscow to join Russian President Vladimir Putin at a celebration for RT, a Kremlin-backed television channel. Mr. Flynn said he had been paid for taking part in the event and brushed aside concerns that he was aiding a Russian propaganda effort.
Mr. Sessions was the first senator to endorse Mr. Trump, rallying behind the Republican’s hardline immigration policies. On Friday, Mr. Trump called Mr. Sessions “a world-class legal mind.
Like Mr. Trump, Mr. Flynn has called for the U.S. to work more closely with Moscow. But his warmth toward Russia has worried national security experts, particularly after he traveled to Moscow to join Russian President Vladimir Putin at a celebration for RT, a Kremlin-backed television channel. Mr. Flynn said he had been paid for taking part in the event and brushed aside concerns that he was aiding a Russian propaganda effort.
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